An electrically conductive rubber composition is provided, which is usable for production of a transfer roller of a highly flexible foam satisfying requirements for cost reduction and weight reduction and having smaller foam cell diameters and, hence, ensuring higher-quality image formation with smaller environment-dependent variations in roller resistance. A transfer roller produced from the electrically conductive rubber composition, a production method for the transfer roller, and an image forming apparatus including the transfer roller are also provided. The electrically conductive rubber composition contains a rubber component including SBR and/or BR, EPDM and epichlorohydrin rubber, a crosslinking component, and 4 to 6 parts by mass of a foaming agent and 1.5 to 2.7 parts by mass of a foaming assisting agent based on 100 parts by mass of the rubber component. The transfer roller (1) is produced by extruding the electrically conductive rubber composition into a tubular body and performing an in-can vulcanization process on the tubular body. The image forming apparatus incorporates the transfer roller.

The present invention aims to provide a method for producing a masterbatch with improved rubber physical properties such as tensile strength at break, rigidity, and fuel economy at high productivity by enhancing the amount of fillers incorporated into rubber and the dispersibility of fillers in rubber, as well as related products. The present invention relates to a method for producing a masterbatch, including: step (1) of mixing a rubber latex having a zeta potential of 100 to 20 mV with a filler dispersion having a zeta potential of 120 to 10 mV to prepare a latex compound; step (2) of adjusting the zeta potential of the latex compound obtained in step (1) to 30 to 0 mV; and step (3) of solidifying the coagulum obtained in step (2) with an organic solvent.

Provided is a resin composition, a prepreg for a printed circuit and a metal-coated laminate. The resin composition includes: a silicone aryne resin, a polyphenylene ether resin with unsaturated bonds, and a butadiene polymer. The resin composition is used such that the prepared metal-coated laminate can have at least one of the following characteristics: a low dielectric loss factor, high heat resistance, and a low coefficient of thermal expansion.

An object of the present invention is to provide an expansion ratio improver for a polymer material that can impart an excellent expansion ratio to polymer materials. Another object of the present invention is to provide a resin composition for obtaining a foam having a high expansion ratio and fine (dense) cells. An expansion ratio improver for a polymer material, comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of a pyrazolone-based compound and a salt of the compound. A resin composition comprising component (a): polyethylene, component (b): a chemical foaming agent, and component (c): a pyrazolone-based compound, the resin composition containing 0.1 parts by mass to 50 parts by mass of component (b) and 0.1 parts by mass to 50 parts by mass of component (c) based on 100 parts by mass of component (a).

Provided are a solid electrolyte composition containing an inorganic solid electrolyte having a conductivity of an ion of a metal belonging to Group I or II of the periodic table and a binder having a specific hydrocarbon polymer segment and a specific segment, a solid electrolyte-containing sheet in which the same solid electrolyte composition is used and a manufacturing method therefor, an all-solid state secondary battery and a manufacturing method therefor, a polymer having a specific hydrocarbon polymer segment and a specific segment, and a non-aqueous solvent dispersion thereof.

The present invention relates to a solvent separation apparatus and a solvent separation method, and the solvent separation apparatus and the solvent separation method according to the present application can reduce the used amount of cooling water and the used amount of steam, in a process of separating a polymer and a solvent.

There is provided a conductive film having conductivity in a surface direction, being deformable, having excellent durability, and transmitting visible light. A conductive film includes a film substrate and a conductive material layer. The conductive material layer is provided on a first substrate surface of the film substrate. A plurality of through holes penetrating the film substrate and the conductive material layer in a thickness direction are formed in the conductive film. The conductive material layer has a plurality of conductive portions, and the conductive portions are present between adjacent layer opening portions. The number of the conductive portion is 400 per 1 mm.sup.2, and an opening ratio of the conductive material layer is at least 40%.

Provided are a polymer ready for introduction into a kneading machine which is milled with good milling efficiency in a kneading machine and which provides a kneaded mixture with excellent filler dispersion, and a rubber composition and a pneumatic tire containing the polymer. The present invention relates to a polymer ready for introduction into a kneading machine, excluding natural rubber, the polymer having a temperature within the range of 20 C. to 80 C. and satisfying the following formula (I):

(Tip clearance d of kneading machine).sup.3(Volume V of polymer ready for introduction into kneading machine)2.010.sup.4 cm.sup.3(I).

A masterbatch for use in a process of preparing a composite material may contain a blend of a first amorphous polymer with carbon nanotubes. At least 5% by weight of carbon nanotubes may be present in the masterbatch, based on a total weight of the masterbatch. The masterbatch may exhibit a high load melt flow index HLMI1 of less than 40 g/10 min determined at 200 C. under a load of 21.6 kg according to ISO1133. The first amorphous polymer may have a melt flow index MFI1 of at least 10 g/10 min determined at 200 C. under a load of 5 kg according to ISO1133H.

The present invention provides, inter alia, a method for producing a masterbatch in which the dispersibility of microfibrillated plant fibers is further increased to obtain excellent processability and improved rubber properties such as fuel economy, tensile strength, and elongation at break. The present invention relates to a method for producing a masterbatch, the method including step (I) of mixing a rubber latex with microfibrillated plant fibers oxidized with an N-oxyl compound to obtain a mixture, and coagulating the mixture by adjusting its pH to 2 to 6.