Polypeptide particles of the present invention are particles of a polypeptide derived from spider silk proteins, and have an average particle size of 1000 nm or less. A method for producing polypeptide particles of the present invention includes: a solution production step in which the polypeptide is dissolved in at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of DMSO, DMF, and these with an inorganic salt, so as to obtain a solution of the polypeptide; a step in which the solution produced in the solution production step is substituted with a water-soluble solvent so as to obtain an aqueous solution of the polypeptide; and a step in which the aqueous solution of the polypeptide is dried. Thereby, the present invention provides polypeptide particles suitable for application to a living body and capable of being applied to cosmetics, etc., while identifying the properties of the polypeptide particles, and a method for producing the same.

Polypeptide particles of the present invention are particles of a polypeptide derived from spider silk proteins, and have an average particle size of 1000 nm or less. A method for producing polypeptide particles of the present invention includes: a solution production step in which the polypeptide is dissolved in at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of DMSO, DMF, and these with an inorganic salt, so as to obtain a solution of the polypeptide; a step in which the solution produced in the solution production step is substituted with a water-soluble solvent so as to obtain an aqueous solution of the polypeptide; and a step in which the aqueous solution of the polypeptide is dried. Thereby, the present invention provides polypeptide particles suitable for application to a living body and capable of being applied to cosmetics, etc., while identifying the properties of the polypeptide particles, and a method for producing the same.

A method for producing a resin particle dispersion includes: preparing a phase-inverted emulsion by phase inversion emulsification of a resin using an organic solvent and an aqueous medium; and removing the organic solvent from the phase-inverted emulsion contained in a distillation tank by reduced pressure distillation. During the reduced pressure distillation, the rate of pressure reduction in an environment in which the pressure inside the distillation tank is equal to or higher than vapor pressure and equal to or lower than (the vapor pressure+5 kPa) when the concentration of the organic solvent in the phase-inverted emulsion is in the range of 30% by mass or less to 1% by mass or more is from 0.01 kPa/min to 0.5 kPa/min inclusive until the pressure inside the distillation tank reaches a preset reduced pressure for the reduced pressure distillation.

A method for producing a resin particle dispersion includes: preparing a phase-inverted emulsion by phase inversion emulsification of a resin using an organic solvent and an aqueous medium; and removing the organic solvent from the phase-inverted emulsion contained in a distillation tank by reduced pressure distillation. During the reduced pressure distillation, the rate of pressure reduction in an environment in which the pressure inside the distillation tank is equal to or higher than vapor pressure and equal to or lower than (the vapor pressure+5 kPa) when the concentration of the organic solvent in the phase-inverted emulsion is in the range of 30% by mass or less to 1% by mass or more is from 0.01 kPa/min to 0.5 kPa/min inclusive until the pressure inside the distillation tank reaches a preset reduced pressure for the reduced pressure distillation.

A method for producing a resin particle dispersion includes: preparing a phase-inverted emulsion by phase inversion emulsification of a resin using an organic solvent and an aqueous medium; and removing the organic solvent from the phase-inverted emulsion by reduced pressure distillation. The reduced pressure distillation is performed using a reduced pressure distillation device including: a distillation tank that contains the phase-inverted emulsion; a heating unit that heats a tank wall of the distillation tank by causing a heated fluid to flow inside the heating unit; and an agitating unit disposed inside the distillation tank, the agitating unit including an agitating shaft and one or plural gutter-shaped agitation impellers that are attached to the agitating shaft, rotate to agitate the phase-inverted emulsion, and draw up the phase-inverted emulsion to form a liquid film of the phase-inverted emulsion on a heat transfer surface of the distillation tank in a portion above a liquid level of the phase-inverted emulsion. The aqueous medium is added to the phase-inverted emulsion contained in the distillation tank during the reduced pressure distillation.

An emulsion is disclosed which comprises a non-aqueous phase comprising a solid silicone resin and a siloxane carrier vehicle having an average of at least one silicon-bonded functional group per molecule and capable of carrying the solid silicone resin, an aqueous phase comprising water, and a surfactant, wherein the emulsion is substantially free from organic solvents. Various methods relating to the emulsion and end uses thereof are also disclosed. A composition comprising the emulsion and an organic binder, as well as related methods, are further disclosed.

An emulsion is disclosed which comprises a non-aqueous phase comprising a solid silicone resin and a siloxane carrier vehicle having an average of at least one silicon-bonded functional group per molecule and capable of carrying the solid silicone resin, an aqueous phase comprising water, and a surfactant, wherein the emulsion is substantially free from organic solvents. Various methods relating to the emulsion and end uses thereof are also disclosed. A composition comprising the emulsion and an organic binder, as well as related methods, are further disclosed.

The present invention provides an aqueous dispersion of a polyester-type elastic material, the aqueous dispersion comprising an aqueous medium, a non-ionic surface active agent and a polyester-type elastic material, wherein the aqueous dispersion comprises 1 to 20 parts by mass of the non-ionic surface active agent relative to 100 parts by mass of the polyester-type elastic material. The present invention also provides: a method for producing an aqueous dispersion of a polyester-type elastic material; a molded article produced from the aqueous dispersion; and a method for producing a molded article.

A fluororesin-metal oxide mixed dispersion (sol) with excellent operability and workability provided in a coating step is obtained by mixing aqueous dispersion of fluororesin particle, and particle sol of metal oxide with suitable pH value that is any one of titanium oxide, zirconium oxide, lanthanum oxide, neodymium oxide, cerium oxide, or tin oxide. Both the fluororesin particle and the metal oxide particle float and disperse without coagulation precipitation, gelation and solidification, and/or phase separation. The floating and dispersion state is stably maintained under room temperature storage for three days or more. Water contact angle of a solid product obtained by evaporation and scattering of a solvent from the fluororesin-metal oxide mixed dispersion is 130 degrees or less, and surface resistivity is 2.0×10.sup.12Ω/□ (ohm/square) or less.

A fluororesin-metal oxide mixed dispersion (sol) with excellent operability and workability provided in a coating step is obtained by mixing aqueous dispersion of fluororesin particle, and particle sol of metal oxide with suitable pH value that is any one of titanium oxide, zirconium oxide, lanthanum oxide, neodymium oxide, cerium oxide, or tin oxide. Both the fluororesin particle and the metal oxide particle float and disperse without coagulation precipitation, gelation and solidification, and/or phase separation. The floating and dispersion state is stably maintained under room temperature storage for three days or more. Water contact angle of a solid product obtained by evaporation and scattering of a solvent from the fluororesin-metal oxide mixed dispersion is 130 degrees or less, and surface resistivity is 2.0×10.sup.12Ω/□ (ohm/square) or less.