The measurement and analysis of color and appearance is essential for design and approval of coatings in automotive industry. Novel method to measure the appearance using color measurement of coated surface is investigated. The reflection of objects from coated surface under similar lighting condition is analyzed using new image analysis technique to compare appearance of coatings. Result shows good correlation between visual perception and appearance measurement.

We report here on the potential of organic phase-change material gel-in-water (OPCMG/W) emulsions as thermal-energy storage and heat transfer fluids. Gelation of OPCM droplets in OPCM/W emulsions enhanced the colloidal stability against temperature change in the range of －1 to 40℃ and prevented the supercooling of OPCM droplets in the emulsions. Furthermore, the thermal properties of OPCMG particles in OPCMG/W emulsions were similar to those of OPCM alone.

A tungsten-molybdenum solid solution oxide ((Mo_0.5, W_0.5)O₃) powder hybridized with Cu(Mo_0.5, W_0.5)O₄ was prepared using impregnation method and mechanochemical processing. The powder prepared through the impregnation method exhibited antibacterial effects both in the dark and under visible light. The contribution of MoO₃ in the powder surface was inferred for activity in the dark. The phase transition temperature of (Mo_0.5, W_0.5)O₃ was decreased more than 50°C by planetary ball milling. The powder produced through mechanochemical processing also exhibited photocatalytic decomposition activity on the gaseous 2-propanol under visible light.

With the aim of developing natural photochromic pigments, the selection of source materials and the extraction and purification methods for 3-deoxyanthocyanidins (3-DAs) were examined. Among the three raw materials derived from sorghum plants, the extract of Japanese Takakibi with 1, 3-butanediol contained the highest ratio of 3-DAs and exhibited the best photochromic properties. Furthermore, when fractions containing 3-DAs were collected from these materials using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), the solutions decolored more readily in the light-shielding state and, hence, their photochromic performance improved drastically. Even Kaoliang food color, which had not previously shown photochromic behavior, showed photochromic performance after HPLC purification.

Brookite-type TiO₂ was modified with MnO_x and CeO_y by chemisorption calcination cycle (CCC) process. Then the decomposition activity on 2-naphthol in water was evaluated for these samples at 50°C in the dark. The decomposition activity increased concomitantly with the increase of the MnO_x modification cycle. Subsequent modification of CeO_y onto a MnO_x-modified sample slightly increased the decomposition activity. The modification of CeO_y raised the decomposition rate remarkably when the modification order between MnO_x and CeO_y was converted, suggesting the importance of interaction between the base material and modified MnO_x.

Flavonoids from the citrus fruit shekwasha were adsorbed on two types of porous silica materials, mesoporous silica and amorphous silica gel, in order to improve the ultraviolet A (UVA) absorption capacity and prevent the penetration of flavonoids into the skin. Mesoporous silica showed a higher adsorptive capacity of flavonoids than the amorphous silica gel, owing to its high surface area and uniform mesoporous structure. Both the composites (in powdered forms) exhibited UVA absorption, but the silica gel composite also showed absorption in the visible range, making it less suitable as a UVA absorber. The oil dispersions of the mesoporous silica composites in the form of thin films also absorbed UVA effectively, indicating that the mesoporous silica composite with the shekwasha flavonoids can be used as a new UVA absorber in skin cosmetics.

Using a fiber coating system, we have so far reported in a previous paper (J. Jpn. Soc. Colour Mater., 90〔1〕, 11 (2017)) that the flocking amount hardly depended on the coating angle at a distance of 30 cm, so that it was possible to apply the fiber coating to detailed parts in an object with a complicated three-dimensional shape. However, the above results were obtained by the flocking evaluation using flat plates. In this study, the flocking evaluation was carried out over three-dimensional objects with different heights. In addition, evaluation methods was proposed for the flocked three-dimensional objects.

In Marine Technology Research Institute (on the coast of Suruga Bay), 30-year exposure test results of different heavy duty coating systems were obtained. From paint film appearance and EPMA results, we confirmed that zinc-rich paint + super high build base coat + fluorocarbon resin paint coating system is excellent. By coating of zinc-rich paint, corrosion resistance of thin films (for example at edges) is improved.