A component of an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine. The component comprises an exhaust system structure having an interior through which exhaust gases flow and an exterior, and a thermal insulating wrap for thermally insulating at least a portion of the exterior of the exhaust system structure. The thermal insulating wrap comprises an aqueous mixture comprising an inorganic binder and inorganic filler particles, and a fabric comprising inorganic fibers. The fabric is impregnated with the aqueous mixture so as to form a pliable binder wrap. The pliable binder wrap is wound completely around at least a portion of the exhaust system structure. It can be desirable for the component to further comprise at least one thermal insulator comprising inorganic fibers, where the thermal insulator is disposed between the pliable binder wrap and the exterior of the exhaust system structure.

A composition and method for reducing the coefficient of friction and required pulling force of a wire or cable are provided. A composition of aqueous emulsion is provided that is environmentally friendly, halogen free and solvent free. The composition is compatible with various types of insulating materials and may be applied after the wire or cable is cooled and also by spraying or submerging the wire or cable in a bath. The composition contains lubricating agents that provide lower coefficient of friction for wire or cable installation and continuous wire or cable surface lubrication thereafter.

The invention relates to an insulation element (1) with low electrical conductivity for the electrical insulation of an electrotechnical component in the high voltage range. The insulation element (1) comprises artificial fibres (2) and electrically conductive particles (3) having an electrically non-conductive core (5) and an electrically conductive or semi-conductive cladding (6) surrounding the core (5). Moreover, the insulation element (1) comprises a cationic polymer (4).

A method for manufacturing a connection body, and a method for connecting a component, which can secure conduction reliability by trapping conductive particles even when the bump size is minimized. The method includes a disposing step of disposing a filler-containing film having a filler-aligned layer in which individual independent fillers are aligned in a binder resin layer between a first component having a first electrode and a second component having a second electrode; a temporary fixing step of pressing the first component or the second component to sandwich the filler-aligned layer; and a final compression boding step of further pressing the first component or the second component after the temporary fixing step to connect the first electrode and the second electrode.

A production method for a treatment solution for forming an insulating coating. The method includes mixing a solution A containing, on a PO.sub.4.sup.3− basis, 0.20 mol/L or more and 10 mol/L or less of at least one of (i) phosphoric acid and (ii) a phosphate salt, and containing, on a metal basis, less than 0.50 mol/L of one or more particulate metal compounds, and a solution B containing, on a metal basis, 0.50 mol/L or more and 20.0 mol/L or less of the one or more particulate metal compounds, and containing, on a PO.sub.4.sup.3− basis, less than 0.20 mol/L of at least one of (i) phosphoric acid and (ii) a phosphate salt, and stirring with a turbine stator-type high-speed stirrer such that a peripheral speed of a turbine reaches 10 m/s or more within 60 seconds after starting the mixing of the solution A and the solution B.

An insulating paste of the present invention contains an elastomer composition containing silica particles (C) and a solvent.

A flame-retardant resin composition may include a base resin composed of polyethylene and an acid-modified polyolefin, a silicone compound, a fatty acid-containing compound, and a hindered amine-based compound that includes a hindered amine structure. The polyethylene may include a high-density polyethylene, a medium-density polyethylene and a low-density polyethylene, where the high-density polyethylene has a density of 945 kg/m.sup.3 or more, the medium-density polyethylene has a density of 914 kg/m.sup.3 or more and less than 945 kg/m.sup.3, and the low-density polyethylene has a density of 864 kg/m.sup.3 or more and less than 914 kg/m.sup.3. The base resin may contain the high-density polyethylene in an amount of 40 mass % or more and 60 mass % or less, the medium-density polyethylene in an amount of 1 mass % or more and 35 mass % or less, and the low-density polyethylene in an amount of 10 mass % or more and 30 mass % or less.

A dielectric composite material includes an electrical insulator and primary nanoparticles. The primary nanoparticles are dispersed, without forming agglomerates, within the electrical insulator. The primary nanoparticles are of one more of the following types: aluminum, aluminum oxide, or aluminum coated with a surface oxide layer, and the electrical insulator being a dissimilar material from the primary nanoparticles.

The invention provides a hydrogel network comprising a plurality of hydrogel objects, wherein each of said hydrogel objects comprises: a hydrogel body, and an outer layer of amphipathic molecules, on at least part of the surface of the hydrogel body, wherein each of said hydrogel objects contacts another of said hydrogel objects to form an interface between the contacting hydrogel objects. A process for producing the hydrogel networks is also provided. The invention also provides an electrochemical circuit and a hydrogel component for mechanical devices comprising a hydrogel network. Various uses of the hydrogel network are also described, including their use in synthetic biology and as components in electrochemical circuits and mechanical devices.

The invention provides a hydrogel network comprising a plurality of hydrogel objects, wherein each of said hydrogel objects comprises: a hydrogel body, and an outer layer of amphipathic molecules, on at least part of the surface of the hydrogel body, wherein each of said hydrogel objects contacts another of said hydrogel objects to form an interface between the contacting hydrogel objects. A process for producing the hydrogel networks is also provided. The invention also provides an electrochemical circuit and a hydrogel component for mechanical devices comprising a hydrogel network. Various uses of the hydrogel network are also described, including their use in synthetic biology and as components in electrochemical circuits and mechanical devices.