The real-time in situ observations of polyethylene under deformation and fracturing were carried out by using powerful methods;x-ray scattering observation using synchrotron radiation x-ray source and transmission electron microscope installed specially designed equipment for stretching a polymer sample during observation. The fracturing behavior was mainly focused on these observations.
This study shows that there are three types of fracturing behavior concerning low density polyethylene, and they could be classified according to structure factors like degrees of short-chain branching and long-chain branching.
In this report,we describe the relationship between fracturing behavior and strength of polyethylene materials.
( by Tatsuya KASAHARA, Noboru YAMAGUCHI, Kouji MIZUNUMA, Takeshi FUJII )

Twaron^® ,p-aramid fiber,is a product of Twaron Products Co., a member of Acordis Group - formerly the fiber division of Akzo Nobel of Netherlands. Twaron^® has been marketed in Japan by Nippon Aramid Co., a joint venture company of Acordis and Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. We at Tsukuba Research Laboratory are providing technical support and application research service for Twaron^®.
Twaron^® TPL sheet, which is Twaron^® pulp/PTFE lubricating sheet,is a fruit of such application research. Twaron^® TPL sheet has many outstanding characteristics such as good mechanical properties, good thermal resistance, good chemical resistance, and excellent friction and wear properties. The sheet can be applied for various sliding parts such as sleeve bearings, thrust washers, and lined metal bearings.
( by Kosaku ASAGI, Toshiharu YAMABAYASHI )

Nowadays, environmental problems are getting serious. So, ecologically friendly and zero-emission type chemicals are especially needed. Sumirez Resin^® SPI-100, a formaldehyde-free printability improvement agent for coated papers, is newly developed by Sumitomo Chemical Co.,Ltd. In this paper, we describe the properties of Sumirez Resin^® SPI-100 and discuss the mechanism of printability improvement for coated papers by addition of this new product with some experimental data.
( by Akira TANIKAWA, Yoshihumi YOSHIDA )

Dermatophagoides species, house dust mites, cause public health concern as sources of allergic diseases in the fields of pediatrics, dermatology, otolaryngology, and internal medicine. In order to know the mite population in house dust, the number of mites has been counted with a microscope after separated from other dust constituents by the saturated saline flotation method. However, it was impossible for this method to detect the feces of mites and the small pieces of bodies which are more important allergens. Furthermore, this method requires the technical skills for separation and identification of mites, resulting in data variation from one technician to another.
MITEY CHECKER^® which has been developed by Shinto Fine Co., Ltd. is a tool for examining mite contamination levels in house dust by a chromato-immunoassay method using anti-Der 2 monoclonal antibody specific for Dermatophagoides species. MITEY CHECKER^® provides a sensitive, quick and simple measurement to be used in general homes. The results of measurement will show physicians information about the exposure of patients to mite allergens, and they will be able to advise patients on the improvement in hygienic environment of their dwellings.
( by Kozo UEHARA, Mariko TERASAKI )

As a part of efforts for more efficient evaluation in preliminary teratology studies, a soft X-ray television inspection apparatus (Softex-TV) was introduced to shorten the examination term because Softex-TV, unlike the conventional methods of skeletal examinations,does not need stained skeletal specimen.
We developed a specimen rotation apparatus to set up with the device, and applied for a patent on the Softex-TV system for skeletal examination.
The Softex-TV system enabled a real-time and three-dimensional skeletal examination as the conventional method, but without needing the process of skeletal specimen.
Taking advantage of a non-destructivet-test function, we will seek further application of the system to a variety of studies.
( by Noriyuki KISHIMOTO, Hashihiro HIGUCHI, Satoshi KAWAMURA, Takaki SEKI, Akira KOHDA )

We have developed several kinds of chiral stational phases (CSPs) from low molecular chiral selector for the enantiomer separation by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The first group CSPs are comprised of amide and urea derivatives of amino acids bonded to silica gel. The second group CSPs are chiral ligands in the form of copper coated on octadecylsilylated silica gel (ODS). The third group CSPs are comprised of cyclodextrin derivatives bonded to silica gel via sugar spacer. The direct separation of a wide range of racemic compounds, such as amino acid, carboxylic acid, alcohol, ester, amine, ketone and amino alcohol was accomplished on these CSPs.
In this review, we describe the developing processes, characteristics, separation mechanisms and application technique of these CSPs.
( by Ryota NISHIOKA, Fumiko AOKI, Naoko KISU, Hisako NAKASHIMA, Yonezo MATSUMOTO )

The present simultaneous multi-element analysis conditions and its problems are reviewed in point of the industrial analysis for inorganic materials.
XRF, DCA-CID, GD-MS, ICP-AES, ICP-MS are adopted for industrial analysis and utilized for the quality control and quality assurance. But these methods have merits and demerits in view of these stability of the analytical precision, speed and cost which are required for the industrial analysis. For the future, the developments of the pretreatment techniques, for example sample digestion, extraction techniques etc., and the progress of apparatus will increase the usage of ICP-MS.
( by Kazuhiro CHIKAISHI, Yasuo NOAMI, Katsuaki YOSHIOKA, Hajime MURAKAMI )

Such a safety sensor was developed to secure the safety of worker, as detects the excessive approach of human body to the operating section, where the human body or a part of it (hand, foot or the like), has to be brought near or close, under unavoidable circumstances of working steps, to the operating section. Since this sensor does not react with non-conductive substances, no detection is made to the resin, rubber, etc. at the material feeding step to the machine or at the product adjustment work of resin, rubber, etc. and only the human body or a part of it is detected with this sensor.
Furthermore, this safety sensor has fail-safety function, in that it is provided with the self-diagnostic function to surely detect the sensing level change by the trouble of sensing device or due to the transition in installation environments.
( by Takashi SUZUKI, Ichiro WASHIZAKI, Shigeo UMEZAKI )

The exaggerated response to "endocrine disruptor (ED) issue" by mass media appears to have been calmed down recently due to the rational and cool views on this issue by the governments in Japan, USA as well as European Community. In this report, the official views and policies on ED issue of the governments are summarized. Since the testing method to distinguish the candidate EDs from non-ED chemicals is a matter of the highest priority, the strategy for screening of candidate EDs from enormous number of daily-use chemicals and the state of testing method development are also noted.
The views of both domestic and foreign chemical industries and the way how they participate the research works on this issue are mentioned.
( by Hajime KAWASAKI )

Recently, needs for environmentally friendly textiles are increasing in order to protect the earth environment. So dyeing industry demands ecological dyes to produce environmentally friendly textiles. Reactive dyes occupy an important position for dyeing cellulosic fibers. However, reactive dyes require much amount of salt in dyeing and the fixation yield is lower than that of other kinds of dyes. So the effluence of reactive dyeing involves much amount of salt and colored discharge which pose environmental questions. And then the reactive dyes having high fixation yield with lower salt have been needed. Last year, we released "Sumifix HF", a reactive dye with very low salt requirements and high fixation yield. This paper highlights the development and the performance of "Sumifix HF".
( by Tetsuya MIYAMOTO, Jyun-ichi SEKIHACHI, Takeshi WASHIMI )

Lano^® Tape is a new type of pesticide formulation containing 1g/m2 of pyriproxyfen as an active ingredient and was developed by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.for whitefly control in greenhouse. Lano^® Tape placed near crops attracts the adults of whiteflies to the Tape by its yellow color then transfer the active ingredient to them.This means that it controls whiteflies without sprayng the active ingredient. This formulation has advantages of labor-saving,long-term excellent control and usefulness in integrated pest management (IPM) programs. The present report describes the development of Lano^® Tape by focusing on its design of formulation, physico-chemical properties, application methods and efficacies.
( by Masao INOUE, Satoshi NAKAMURA )

Pyridine bases are widely used in pharmaceuticals, insecticides, and herbicides due to their high bioactivity. In this paper, some typical synthetic methods for pyridine bases, recent advances of catalysts having a shape selectivity of pentasil zeolite (ZSM-5) with a similar pore diameter to pyridine ring, and some considerations on their catalysis are described.
( by Nobuyuki ABE )

Since the discovery of highly active homogeneous catalyst systems based on metallocene and methylalumoxane,many studies have been made from the point of view of both scientific interest and industrial use. This review describes mainly a recent progress in the studies of olefin polymerization with metallocene catalyst systems and stereoregulation mechanisms of the propylene polymerization. Novel non-metallocene catalysts and new polymer synthesis with such catalysts are also described.
( by Tatsuya MIYATAKE, Akio IMAI )

Needs for aromatic sulfur compounds are increasing for use in highly functional materials such as pharmaceuticals, agricultural chemicals, materials with high-refractive index, anti-oxidants and the like.
On the other hand, concerning the synthetic techniques of the aromatic sulfur compounds, conventional methods have been lacking in general-purpose use, because each compound was manufactured by a specific method different from the others.
The present technique relates to the development of new widely-used synthetic methods of high-functional aromatic sulfur compounds basically comprising two processes of "Introduction of thioalkyl group and cleavage of thio-alkyl bond", using an alkylmercaptan as a sulfur source.
( by Hiroshi GODA, Hirokazu KAGANO )