The present invention relates to novel composite materials comprising elemental gold in the form of single crystals, amyloid fibrils and a polymer. This composite material is similar to glassy plastics yet lighter than aluminum and has a golden shining similar to 18K gold. Due to its unique properties, this composite is termed “light gold”. This composite material suits, for example, watches, jewelry, radiation shielding, catalysis and electronics. The invention further provides for environmentally friendly methods to manufacture such composite materials.

The present invention relates to novel composite materials comprising elemental gold in the form of single crystals, amyloid fibrils and a polymer. This composite material is similar to glassy plastics yet lighter than aluminum and has a golden shining similar to 18K gold. Due to its unique properties, this composite is termed “light gold”. This composite material suits, for example, watches, jewelry, radiation shielding, catalysis and electronics. The invention further provides for environmentally friendly methods to manufacture such composite materials.

Methods for producing highly spherical particles that comprise: mixing a mixture comprising: (a) nanoclay-filled-polymer composite comprising a nanoclay dispersed in a thermoplastic polymer, (b) a carrier fluid that is immiscible with the thermoplastic polymer of the nanoclay-filled-polymer composite, optionally (c) a thermoplastic polymer not filled with a nanoclay, and optionally (d) an emulsion stabilizer at a temperature at or greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the thermoplastic polymer of the nanoclay-filled-polymer and the thermoplastic polymer, when included, to disperse the nanoclay-filled-polymer composite in the carrier fluid; cooling the mixture to below the melting point or softening temperature to form nanoclay-filled-polymer particles; and separating the nanoclay-filled-polymer particles from the carrier fluid.

Methods for producing highly spherical particles that comprise: mixing a mixture comprising: (a) nanoclay-filled-polymer composite comprising a nanoclay dispersed in a thermoplastic polymer, (b) a carrier fluid that is immiscible with the thermoplastic polymer of the nanoclay-filled-polymer composite, optionally (c) a thermoplastic polymer not filled with a nanoclay, and optionally (d) an emulsion stabilizer at a temperature at or greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the thermoplastic polymer of the nanoclay-filled-polymer and the thermoplastic polymer, when included, to disperse the nanoclay-filled-polymer composite in the carrier fluid; cooling the mixture to below the melting point or softening temperature to form nanoclay-filled-polymer particles; and separating the nanoclay-filled-polymer particles from the carrier fluid.

The invention relates to a food packaging unit (20) comprising a food container (1) for receiving a liquid, pasty or free-flowing food. The injection-moulded, single-component, cup-shaped base body (2) of the food container surrounds, with a wall (5), a bottom (6) and an outwardly projecting collar (7), an opening (4) which is closed by a food-container-covering film (10) applied to the collar (7). The food container (1) is injection-moulded in a single layer from a polymer blend comprising two components, a first component of which being PVOH or a PVOH copolymer. The food-container-covering film (10), which can be applied to the plastic food container (1) in order to close the opening (4) by sealing, welding or adhesion, comprises a cellulose-containing layer which is coated with PVOH, or a PVOH polymer blend layer.

The invention relates to a food packaging unit (20) comprising a food container (1) for receiving a liquid, pasty or free-flowing food. The injection-moulded, single-component, cup-shaped base body (2) of the food container surrounds, with a wall (5), a bottom (6) and an outwardly projecting collar (7), an opening (4) which is closed by a food-container-covering film (10) applied to the collar (7). The food container (1) is injection-moulded in a single layer from a polymer blend comprising two components, a first component of which being PVOH or a PVOH copolymer. The food-container-covering film (10), which can be applied to the plastic food container (1) in order to close the opening (4) by sealing, welding or adhesion, comprises a cellulose-containing layer which is coated with PVOH, or a PVOH polymer blend layer.

The invention relates to a food packaging unit (20) comprising a food container (1) for receiving a liquid, pasty or free-flowing food. The injection-moulded, single-component, cup-shaped base body (2) of the food container surrounds, with a wall (5), a bottom (6) and an outwardly projecting collar (7), an opening (4) which is closed by a food-container-covering film (10) applied to the collar (7). The food container (1) is injection-moulded in a single layer from a polymer blend comprising two components, a first component of which being PVOH or a PVOH copolymer. The food-container-covering film (10), which can be applied to the plastic food container (1) in order to close the opening (4) by sealing, welding or adhesion, comprises a cellulose-containing layer which is coated with PVOH, or a PVOH polymer blend layer.

A chemically-amplified negative resist composition includes: (A) a quencher containing an onium salt shown by the following formula (A-1); (B) a base polymer containing repeating units shown by the following formulae (B1) and (B2); and (C) a photo-acid generator which generates an acid. Thus, the present invention provides: a negative resist composition which can form a favorable profile with high sensitivity and low LWR and CDU in a pattern; and a resist patterning process using the composition. ##STR00001##

A chemically-amplified negative resist composition includes: (A) a quencher containing an onium salt shown by the following formula (A-1); (B) a base polymer containing repeating units shown by the following formulae (B1) and (B2); and (C) a photo-acid generator which generates an acid. Thus, the present invention provides: a negative resist composition which can form a favorable profile with high sensitivity and low LWR and CDU in a pattern; and a resist patterning process using the composition. ##STR00001##

The present invention relates to an optical film exhibiting excellent optical properties such as low gloss value and reflectance, and an appropriate level of haze properties, and to an image display device including the same. The optical film comprises: a light-transmitting substrate film; an antiglare layer including a binder containing a (meth)acrylate-based crosslinked polymer, and organic fine particles of a micron (μm) scale dispersed on the binder and inorganic fine particles of a nanometer (nm) scale dispersed on the binder; and a low refractive index layer which is formed on the antiglare layer and includes a binder resin containing a (co)polymer of a photopolymerizable compound, and hollow silica particles dispersed in the binder resin, wherein the organic and inorganic fine particles exhibit a predetermined particle size distribution, refractive index difference, and content range.