On the back of growing public concern about infl uenza pandemics, frontline medical practitioners are called upon to initiate the appropriate treatment of infl uenza patients at the earlier stages of disease development. Accordingly, they are in need of technologies that help them render quick and accurate diagnosis of infl uenza virus infection.

QuickNavi^TM-Flu provides simultaneous diagnosis of infection with infl uenza virus type A and B while requiring only a simple procedure. Since diagnosis results are immediately available to medical practitioners, they can promptly initiate the treatment of those diagnosed as being positive.

In an effort to reduce emissions of automotive exhaust gas, which has a negative effect on the environment, the use of HEVs, PHEVs and EVs^*1 is being actively promoted. At the same time, manufacturers are facing growing demand for solutions that enhance the energy efficiency^*2 of these vehicles.
Although lithium ion batteries (LiBs) are seen as one of the most promising power sources, these batteries generate heat when they are activated. While heat deteriorates batteries’ performance and their energy efficiency,
overheating can lead to them erupting into flames. Thus, countermeasures against heating have become essential to producing automotive LiBs for practical use.

*1. Hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and electric vehicles
*2. Driving distance for a specifi c level of energy consumption

Denka handles a range of composites consisting of SiO2, Al2O3, Si3N4, BN and AlN as well as other heat-conducting fi llers that support the Company’s key thermal conductive technologies and are used in combination of organic materials. Because of this, the Company is well-positioned to supply optimal fi llers or composites capable of satisfying customer needs. Among those products, Denka’s spherical alumina, which boasts superior heat conductivity,
is used in a variety of heat dissipating products. This strong seller is thanks to the Company’s proprietary technologies for shaping alumina into the spherical form and producing composite materials with various diameters. Also, Denka’s thermally conductive spacer, made incorporating silicon resin, signifi cantly enhances the cooling efficiency of lithium ion batteries when it is inserted into the gap between a heat-generating battery component and a cooling component. This product has thus become an integral part of lithium ion battery cooling systems.

Emissions from the cement and concrete industry presently account for around 4% of total industrial CO2 emissions. Cement manufacturers are thus facing an urgent need to develop low environmental footprint products. Accordingly, technological development is focusing on utilizing raw materials with smaller CO₂ emissions intensities (e.g., steel slag, fly ash and special cement additives) during processing.

An environment-friendly concrete, CO2-SUICOM contributes to CO₂ reduction in the course of cement manufacturing and throughout its product life cycle. Incorporating a special cement additive made using slaked lime—a byproduct of the acetylene gas generation process—that works to harden concrete through carbonization, this concrete absorbs CO2 during production, resulting in a product with a zero or even negative lifetime CO₂ emissions intensity.

On the back of the aging of society and an increase　in the number of two-income households, there is a growing demand for hassle-free food products that　satisfy the needs of families that rarely eat together. Moreover, take-out food, which is usually microwaved　before consumption, has risen in popularity and has come to encompass an increasingly broad range of　cuisines. Because of this, makers of food containers are being asked to develop containers with superior　heat and oil resistance to help ensure food safety. Furthermore, growing concerns about environmental　issues are prompting these producers to place greater emphasis on contributing to resource saving　and CO2 reduction by creating lightweight containers with superior strength.

Denka boasts a robust R&D structure enabling the development of highlyfunctional　food packaging sheets even from the raw material stages. This　structure allows the Company to employ a variety of ingredients and　create high-value-added sheets boasting diverse characteristics.　One example is BOPS, a special heat-resistant sheet that can stand　up to heating in an industrial microwave oven. This product is used as　a material for food containers supplied to convenience stores, thereby　helping to enrich the diets of the growing number of solitary diners.
In addition, Mighty Guard is a new product boasting signifi cantly　improved oil resistance. Overcoming the typical weakness of plastic food　containers, Mighty Guard helps enhance　consumer convenience as it makes it possible to microwave a wide range of　food without removing the packaging.

In recent years, businesses engaged in such　civil engineering projects as the construction of expressways and dams, the development　of housing plots and the establishment of　industrial facilities are being called on to　ensure that the environment in communities　surrounding project areas remains undisturbed.
Also, when roads and riverbanks are damaged　by heavy rainfalls, earthquakes or other natural　disasters, there is often an urgent need to　restore these sites to protect a municipality　and, in particular, to harden the soil around the sites to prevent catastrophic soil erosion.　Moreover, the hardened soil is usually expected　to be capable of supporting greenery.

DENKA COAT is a soil erosion prevention agent based on a synthetic resin　emulsion and is specialized for the development of greenery and the prevention of soil erosion on a slope. With its lineup encompassing liquid and powder types, DENKA COAT boasts superior water-retention and is capable of rapidly　forming a layer that is hard yet air permeable. Thanks to these features, this　product serves as a key solution to prevent massive soil erosion attributable to　rainfalls and earthquakes.　Furthermore, it is completely　free of endocrine disruption　chemicals and harmful heavy metals, refl ecting the　due consideration given to　environmental concerns　from the product design　stage.