An object of the present invention is to provide a method for a carbon nanofiber composite, which can obtain a carbon nanofiber composite with high productivity and high activity, and which does not require removal of fluidizing materials or dispersing materials. The present invention also provides a carbon nanofiber composite having improved dispersibility. The method for producing the carbon nanofiber composite includes bringing at least one catalyst and at least one particulate carbon material into contact with at least one gas containing at least one gaseous carbon-containing compound while mechanically stirring the catalyst and the particulate carbon material in a reactor. The carbon nanofiber composite includes carbon nanofibers and at least one particulate carbon material, wherein the particulate carbon material has 70% by volume or more of particles with a particle diameter of 1 m or less, and/or a median diameter D50 by volume of 1 m or less.

Foamed, opacifying element comprising a thermal colorant image is prepared using a porous substrate having an opposing external surface and an internal surface, and a dry foamed composition disposed on the internal surface of the porous substrate as a dry opacifying layer that has a light blocking value of at least 4 as well as a luminous reflectance that is greater than 40% as measured by the Y tristimulus value. A thermal colorant image is provided on either the opposing external surface, the dry opacifying layer, or both the opposing external surface and the dry opacifying layer, by thermal colorant transfer from a thermal donor element comprising a colorant donor layer having one or more thermal colorants.

A coating composition for forming a lubricating layer (3) on the surface of a base material (1) formed in a predetermined shape so as to exhibit improved sliding property to fluid substances, the coating composition containing, as a dispersion medium, a liquid (5) that is a component constituting the lubricating layer (3), and the dispersion medium containing solid particles (7) dispersed therein as a component constituting the lubricating layer (3). The lubricating layer (3) formed by using the coating composition exhibits more improved sliding property to fluid substances. The coating composition, therefore, can be favorably used for forming the lubricating layer (3) on the inner surfaces of the packing materials such as containers and lids.

A light-shielding film for optical element includes at least a resin and a colorant. The light-shielding film for optical element has an average extinction coefficient of 0.03 or more and 0.15 or less as an average of extinction coefficients of the whole light-shielding film for light having wavelengths ranging from 400 to 700 nm.

There is provided a silver powder which has a small average particle diameter and a small thermal shrinkage percentage, and a method for producing the same. While a molten metal of silver heated to a temperature (1292 to 1692 C.), which is higher than the melting point (962 C.) of silver by 330 to 730 C., is allowed to drop, a high-pressure water is sprayed onto the molten metal of silver (preferably at a water pressure of 90 to 160 MPa) to rapidly cool and solidify the molten metal of silver to powderize silver to produce a silver powder which has an average particle diameter of 1 to 6 m and a shrinkage percentage of not greater than 8% (preferably not greater than 7%) at 500 C., the product of the average particle diameter by the shrinkage percentage at 500 C. being 1 to 11 m.Math.% (preferably 1.5 to 10.5 m.Math.%).

Foamed, opacifying element comprising a thermal colorant image is prepared using a porous substrate having an opposing external surface and an internal surface, and a dry foamed composition disposed on the internal surface of the porous substrate as a dry opacifying layer that has a light blocking value of at least 4 as well as a luminous reflectance that is greater than 40% as measured by the Y tristimulus value. A thermal colorant image is provided on either the opposing external surface, the dry opacifying layer, or both the opposing external surface and the dry opacifying layer, by thermal colorant transfer from a thermal donor element comprising a colorant donor layer having one or more thermal colorants.

Disclosed herein is a sliding member that has a coating layer serving as a sliding surface thereof so that even when foreign matter enters between the coating layer and a partner member, smoothness between them is maintained to prevent the occurrence of seizing. When the coating layer has an elastic recovery ratio of less than 60%, foreign matter that has entered between the coating layer and the sliding surface of a partner member is efficiently embedded in the coating layer. When the coating layer is formed of a resin composition, the resin composition contains a binder resin, a solid lubricant, and metal particles having a Young's modulus of 10 GPa or more but 100 GPa or less.

A solid surface comprises (i) from 45 to 80 volume fraction percent of polymethylmethacrylate or unsaturated polyester or a combination of both, (ii) from 25 to 55 volume fraction percent of inorganic filler particles distributed evenly throughout the solid surface, and (iii) from 0.75 to 8 volume fraction percent of a siloxane fluid, wherein, when the filler has a major dimension of from 30-50 micrometers, the siloxane has a molecular weight of from 40,000 to 150,000 or when the filler has a major dimension of from 10-15 micrometers, the siloxane has a molecular weight of from 25,000 to 100,000 or when or when the filler has a major dimension of from 1-10 micrometers, the siloxane has a molecular weight of from 5,000 to 100,000.

The present invention relates to a powder of polyamide PA (homopolyamide or copolyamide) derived at least partially from renewable materials, in which the particles have a nonspherical shape and a volume median diameter of less than or equal to 20 m. The present invention also relates to a process for preparing such a powder.

Provided is an infrared radiation blocking material including a plurality of microspheres. The particle size of each of the microspheres is 1000 nm to 2600 nm. The microspheres have a light transmittance of at least 50% within the light wavelength range of 400 nm to 700 nm and have a blocking rate of greater than 40% within the light wavelength range of 700 nm to 1500 nm.