A plant structure includes a ceramic member including at least one of an oxide or an oxide hydroxide as a main component and substantially including no hydrate, and a plant-derived substance directly fixed to the ceramic member without interposing an adhesive substance different from a ceramic material making up the ceramic member. A building member and an interior member each include the plant structure.

A molding material for producing the carbon clusters using biomass as the main raw material, comprising the biomass and a binder as the derived raw material, wherein the molding material is graphitized, the electrical resistivity of the molding material is equal to or less than 100 μΩm, the diffraction pattern of the molding material by powder X-ray diffraction method has one peak between 2θ(θ is the Bragg angle) of 26 to 27°, and the value of ⅓ width divided by the base of the peak is equal to or less than 0.68. The method for producing the molding material for producing the carbon clusters according to any of claims 1 to 6, comprising following steps of: obtaining a molded precursor containing a calcined biomass and a binder; optionally, further baking the precursor; and graphitizing the precursor at a temperature of 2500° C. or higher.

A process for the production of highly carbonaceous material, including combining a structured precursor including fibres and an unstructured precursor, in the form of a fluid, wherein the fluid has a viscosity of less than 45,000 mPa.Math.s.sup.−1 at the temperature at which the combination step occurs, and including at least a cyclic organic or aromatic compound in the molten state, or in solution at a concentration by weight of less than or equal to 65%, in order to obtain a combined precursor corresponding to the structured precursor covered by the unstructured precursor, wherein the process further includes step of thermal and dimensional stabilization of the combined precursor in order to obtain fibres covered with a cyclic organic or aromatic compound deposit, and a step of carbonization of the fibres covered with a cyclic organic or aromatic compound deposit in order to obtain a highly carbonaceous material.

A heating element is used, a periphery of the heating element is covered with a net-shaped conductor, the conductor and a carbon fiber bundle are electrically connected with a connecting tool at one end of the heating element, a periphery of the conductor is covered with an outer skin having flexibility, thermal conductivity and an insulating property, and the other end of the heating element is provided with a power supply terminal configured to supply power.

A heating element is used, a periphery of the heating element is covered with a net-shaped conductor, the conductor and a carbon fiber bundle are electrically connected with a connecting tool at one end of the heating element, a periphery of the conductor is covered with an outer skin having flexibility, thermal conductivity and an insulating property, and the other end of the heating element is provided with a power supply terminal configured to supply power.

A process for the production of highly carbonaceous material, including combining a structured precursor including fibres and an unstructured precursor, in the form of a fluid, wherein the fluid has a viscosity of less than 45,000 mPa.Math.s.sup.1 at the temperature at which the combination step occurs, and including at least a cyclic organic or aromatic compound in the molten state, or in solution at a concentration by weight of less than or equal to 65%, in order to obtain a combined precursor corresponding to the structured precursor covered by the unstructured precursor, wherein the process further includes step of thermal and dimensional stabilization of the combined precursor in order to obtain fibres covered with a cyclic organic or aromatic compound deposit, and a step of carbonization of the fibres covered with a cyclic organic or aromatic compound deposit in order to obtain a highly carbonaceous material.

A friction material including two or more kinds of titanates and a ceramic fiber. The friction material includes no copper component. The two or more kinds of titanates may optionally include two or more kinds of alkali metal titanates, or the two or more kinds of titanates may optionally include an alkaline earth metal-alkali metal titanate and an alkali metal titanate.

A system for producing dry durable carbon from organic material and methods for making and using the same. The system can be configured for initiating a combustion reaction for a feedstock having a first portion being disposed within a zone of reaction of the combustion reaction and a second portion being disposed outside of the zone. A temperature of the combustion reaction can be increased to a predetermined temperature, and a gas pathway can be formed through the zone of reaction for permitting a reactive gas to react with the first portion of the feedstock at the predetermined temperature to produce a first portion of a dry durable carbon product. The system advantageously can enable a feedstock volatile component expelled from the second portion of the feedstock to enter the zone of reaction and react with the reactive gas to form a reacted gas that excludes bio-oil and tar.

A molding material for producing the carbon clusters using biomass as the main raw material, comprising the biomass and a binder as the derived raw material, wherein the molding material is graphitized, the electrical resistivity of the molding material is equal to or less than 100 m, the diffraction pattern of the molding material by powder X-ray diffraction method has one peak between 2 ( is the Bragg angle) of 26 to 27, and the value of width divided by the base of the peak is equal to or less than 0.68. The method for producing the molding material for producing the carbon clusters according to any of claims 1 to 6, comprising following steps of: obtaining a molded precursor containing a calcined biomass and a binder; optionally, further baking the precursor; and graphitizing the precursor at a temperature of 2500 C. or higher.