A lignin derivative that is extracted from biomass and is used for rubber reinforcement or for use in a molding material is provided. Such a lignin derivative has a number average molecular weight of 300 to 2,000, and contains a component that is soluble in a polar organic solvent, in an amount of 80% by mass or more. When such a lignin derivative is incorporated, a lignin resin composition, a rubber composition, or a molding material, all of which have excellent low hysteresis loss characteristics, elastic modulus, or tensile properties, can be obtained. Furthermore, when a component that is thermofusible is used as the soluble component, a lignin resin composition, a rubber composition, or a molding material, all of which have superior aforementioned characteristics, can be obtained.

A polycarbonate composition includes: a continuous polycarbonate phase; discontinuous first domains distributed in the continuous phase, and comprising a core-shell silicone-(meth)acrylate impact modifier comprising a silicone elastomer core and a (meth)acrylate copolymer shell, wherein the first domains have an aspect ratio of at least 1.7, preferably at least 1.8; and discontinuous second domains distributed in the continuous phase, and comprising an alkenyl aromatic-olefin block copolymer impact modifier, wherein the second domains have an aspect ratio of at least 3, preferably at least 4, and a domain size of 6400 square nanometers or less, more preferably 5700 square nanometers or less. Optionally, the polycarbonate composition includes: a polycarbonate; a brominated polycarbonate different from the polycarbonate; a poly(carbonate-siloxane) comprising 30 to 70 weight percent of siloxane blocks; a core-shell silicone-(meth)acrylate impact modifier comprising a silicone elastomer core and an (meth)acrylate copolymer shell; and an alkenyl aromatic-olefin block copolymer impact modifier.

The electrophotographic electroconductive member includes a support having an electroconductive outer surface, and an electroconductive layer on the surface of the support. The electroconductive layer has a matrix containing a crosslinked product of a first rubber, and domains dispersed in the matrix, and the domains each contain a crosslinked product of a second rubber and electroconductive particles. The matrix has a volume resistivity R1 of more than 1.0×10.sup.12 Ω.Math.cm, and the domains each have a volume resistivity R2 lower than the volume resistivity R1 of the matrix. The electroconductive layer further has a pore, and an inner wall of the pore is constituted by a part of the matrix and a part of the domains. The domains constituting the inner wall protrude into the pore at sites on the inner wall.

Used is an electro-conductive member for electrophotography including: a support having an electro-conductive outer surface; and an electro-conductive layer on the outer surface of the support, wherein the electro-conductive layer includes: a matrix containing a first crosslinked rubber product and having a volume resistivity greater than 1.0×10.sup.12 Ωcm; and domains dispersed in the matrix, wherein the domain includes a second crosslinked rubber product and an electron conductive agent; and the electro-conductive layer includes a region T in which the volume resistivity of the matrix decreases in a depth direction from the outer surface of the electro-conductive member.

The invention relates to a light-diffusing material, having a high transmission of UVA light, useful for horticultural lighting. The light-diffusing material has a hiding power of greater than 50% at 350 nm and a transmission of light at 350 nm of at least 30 percent, and preferably at least 50%. Additionally the light-diffusing material also transmits and diffuses at least 50% of light at 300 nm, 465 nm, and at 800 nm. The light-diffusing material is especially useful as a glazing for horticultural use.

The invention relates to a light-diffusing material, having a high transmission of UVA light, useful for horticultural lighting. The light-diffusing material has a hiding power of greater than 50% at 350 nm and a transmission of light at 350 nm of at least 30 percent, and preferably at least 50%. Additionally the light-diffusing material also transmits and diffuses at least 50% of light at 300 nm, 465 nm, and at 800 nm. The light-diffusing material is especially useful as a glazing for horticultural use.

A resin composition includes a resin (A), a resin (B), and resin particles (C), and has a continuous phase containing the resin (A) and dispersed phases containing the resin (B), in which when a cross section of the resin composition along an extrusion direction in producing the resin composition is observed, an area circle equivalent diameter d.sub.80, which is an area circle equivalent diameter corresponding to 80% from a small diameter side in a number cumulative distribution of area circle equivalent diameters of the dispersed phases, is 600 nm or less.

Nanocellulose dispersion compositions containing a partitioning agent and a nanocellulose, and methods of making the nanocellulose dispersion compositions, are disclosed. These compositions can promote improved dispersibility of the nanocellulose fibrils and nanocellulose crystals in polymer matrices, such as in elastomer formulations for use in tire production.

A method for forming a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composite by distributing carbon fibers or nanotubes into a molten polymer phase comprising one or more molten polymers; and applying a succession of shear strain events to the molten polymer phase so that the molten polymer phase breaks the carbon fibers successively with each event, producing reactive edges on the broken carbon fibers that react with and cross-link the one or more polymers. The composite shows improvements in mechanical properties, such as stiffness, strength and impact energy absorption.

The present invention is a molded article containing a polyarylene sulfide resin, a thermoplastic resin other than the polyarylene sulfide resin, and a metal oxide containing at least one of copper or chromium. The polyarylene sulfide resin forms a continuous phase, and a dispersed phase containing the thermoplastic resin and the metal oxide is present in the continuous phase. The present invention is also a polyarylene sulfide resin composition for providing it, a molded article having a roughened surface, a laminate of the molded article and metal, and methods for producing them. According to the present invention, there is provided a molded article that has superior heat resistance of a polyarylene sulfide resin, on which the speed of plating deposition is practical, and with which a laminate with potentially maintained adhesiveness of plating can be obtained and a method for producing it, as well as a polyarylene sulfide resin composition.