JP2000303250A - Catechin-containing fibers - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To provide a synthetic fiber containing catechins that are effective for antibacterial and deodorant purposes, to reduce shedding due to washing and the like and to maintain the catechin effect for a long time. SOLUTION: Fine powder of catechin extract is 0.1 to 1%.
A catechin-containing fiber composed of a thermoplastic polymer containing 0% by weight and having a melting point of 130 ° C. or less, or a heat having a melting point of 130 ° C. or less containing 0.1 to 10% by weight of catechin extract fine powder. A catechin-containing composite fiber obtained by joining a polymer phase (A phase) composed of a plastic polymer and a protective polymer phase (B phase) composed of a fiber-forming thermoplastic polymer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a synthetic fiber containing catechins which is effective for antibacterial and deodorant effects.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is said that catechins are extracted from green tea and the like, and the main component thereof is a mixture of compounds represented by the following structure.

[0003]

Embedded image

[0004] The use of this catechin extract powder in fiber products is relatively common. In these methods, usually, a binder resin that adheres to a fiber component imparting catechins is selected, a mixture of the binder and the powder is subjected to an adhesion treatment on the fiber surface, and fixed by heat treatment. However, since catechins are easily water-soluble, there has been a problem that they fall off due to washing or the like even when the catechins are adhered.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to reduce the dropout due to washing or the like and to maintain the catechin effect for a long time. The present inventor studied this problem and came to think that the powder of the catechin extract was kneaded into the fiber, but found that there was a limit to the polymer used for kneading. That is, catechins have low heat resistance, and when kneaded into a generally used high-melting polymer such as polyester to produce fibers, catechins are decomposed and their effects cannot be exhibited, Also, even if kneaded into the fiber, the catechins kneaded into the polymer (inside the fiber) even if the kneaded catechins present on the fiber surface have a temporary release effect. Kinds do not move through the fiber and do not escape to the surface of the fiber, and therefore, when kneaded into the fiber, there is a problem that the effect of gradually releasing it out of the fiber cannot be expected. It turns out. Accordingly, the present invention has pursued a polymer capable of solving the above-mentioned problems and a method for producing the fiber when kneading catechins into fibers, and has reached the present invention.

[0006]

That is, the first aspect of the present invention is as follows.
The present invention is a catechin-containing fiber comprising a thermoplastic polymer having a melting point of 130 ° C. or lower, containing 0.1 to 10% by weight of a fine powder of catechin extract. The second invention is
A polymer phase (A phase) comprising a thermoplastic polymer having a melting point of 130 ° C. or less and containing 0.1 to 10% by weight of a fine powder of a catechin extract, and a protective polymer phase comprising a fiber-forming thermoplastic polymer (B-phase) is a catechin-containing composite fiber formed by bonding. The third aspect of the present invention is the composite fiber,
The layer A is a core layer, and the layer B is a sheath-core composite fiber having a sheath layer.
A catechin-containing composite fiber according to claim 2. In a fourth aspect of the present invention, the thickness of the B layer of the core-sheath composite fiber is 3
The catechin-containing composite fiber according to claim 3, which has a diameter of -30 microns. A fifth aspect of the present invention is the catechin-containing conjugate fiber according to claim 3, wherein the core-sheath type conjugate fiber is a short fiber.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail.

The extract powder of catechins used in the present invention can be easily extracted by immersing green tea or the like in water or alcohol and heating, and the powder can be obtained by removing the solvent from the extract. . This one also
For example, since extract powders are commercially available under the trade name “Theamicron” manufactured by ITO EN Co., Ltd., these commercially available powders can also be used.

[0009] Deterioration of catechins starts at about 150 ° C. Therefore, the thermoplastic polymer used in the present invention, which can be kneaded and melt-spun with the extract, has a melting point of 130.
Desirably, it is a thermoplastic polymer having a temperature of not more than ° C. It is also necessary that the catechins kneaded in the fiber be gradually released from the fiber to the outside of the fiber. As the thermoplastic polymer to be kneaded, even a homopolymer having a low crystallinity or a homopolymer may be used. A type in which the crystal structure is disturbed by mixing various modifying agents into the polymer is preferable. From these points, the thermoplastic polymers preferably used in the present invention include high-density polyethylene (HDPE), medium-density polyethylene (LLDPE), and low-density polyethylene (LDP).
E), low melting point polyolefins such as modified polyethylene, polypropylene, and modified polypropylene, and ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer are preferred.

The fiber structure of the thermoplastic polymer is as follows:
Each polymer (A) may be a single fiber or a composite fiber structure using the thermoplastic polymer (A) as one component and another thermoplastic polymer (B) as another component. Is also good. That is, a core-sheath structure type or a multilayer structure type may be used.

In the case of the core-sheath structure type, the component A containing catechins does not necessarily need to come to the core side, but may come to the sheath side, for example, under conditions of heat treatment such as dyeing after fiber formation. And the like are selected as appropriate. However, in general, since the heat resistance of the catechins kneaded in the present invention is low, in order to maintain the intended effect as much as possible,
It is important to prevent the catechins from being directly exposed to a heat atmosphere such as 150 ° C. or higher. Therefore, it is common to bring the A component containing the catechins on the core component side. In this case, the thickness of the sheath B component is set to 3 to 30 microns (μm) so that the catechins kneaded in the core A component can be favorably bleed out to the fiber surface side through the sheath B component. It is desirable to do. However, when this fiber is cut into so-called short fibers and used as a staple fiber, the catechins kneaded into the core A component through the cut end at a relatively short distance can bleed out. The thickness of the components is not essential.

In the case of the core / sheath structure type, it is not always necessary that the core component side polymer and the sheath component side polymer are separate polymer components, and they may be the same polymer comprising the A phase component. That is, in this case, even if the fiber production is a composite spinning, the resulting fiber is a fiber composed of a single component in which the abundance of catechins is abundant on either the fiber inner side or the fiber surface side. Things. In addition, in the case of this core-sheath structure type, not only a typical core-sheath structure in which the sheath component completely covers the core component, but also a core-sheath structure in which a part of the core component is exposed on the surface of the sheath component. Is also good. Further, a hollow core-sheath structure in which the core has a hollow at the center and is an open end may be used.

In the case of the multi-layer structure type, a sandwich structure type in which the A phase is sandwiched between the B phases, an alternating lamination type of the A phase and the B phase, or a split type in which the A phase is divided by the B phase or vice versa. Or a type in which the A phase is partially exposed at the fiber surface portion in the B phase. Further, in each of the above types, the A phase and the B phase component are replaced by a single component fiber comprising only the A phase component. It can also be.

The A-phase component of the core-sheath or multi-layered composite fiber may be the above-mentioned low-melting polymer component having a melting point of 130 ° C. or less, and the B-phase component may be the A-phase component. Any thermoplastic polymer capable of multi-spinning and retaining fiber properties may be used, whether it is the same low-melting polymer component as the A-phase component not incorporating catechins, or other polymers. It may be a thermoplastic polymer. Representative examples of such combinations include low density polyethylene / low density polyethylene, low density polyethylene / high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene / polypropylene, high density polyethylene / high density polyethylene, high density polyethylene / polypropylene, and modified polypropylene copolymer / Polypropylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer / polyester.

The cross-sectional shape of the fiber can be not only circular but also irregularly shaped. For example, it can be an arbitrary shape such as a polygon such as a triangle to an octagon, a T-shape, and a multi-leaf. The single-filament fineness of the fibers is not particularly limited either, and may be the same as that of ordinary clothing or living materials, and may be appropriately selected depending on the application.

The amount of the catechins kneaded into the fibers is 0.1 to 10% by weight based on the weight of the fibers. More preferably, it is 0.3 to 5% by weight. When the content of catechins is less than 0.1% by weight, it is difficult to obtain a sufficient antibacterial and deodorizing effect. If the amount exceeds 10% by weight, the antibacterial and deodorizing effects are almost saturated, the cost is high, and the spinning stability during fiber production is also poor.

The average particle size of the catechin extract to be kneaded is preferably 5 μm or less. If the particle size exceeds 5 μm, clogging or breakage of the filter tends to occur during melt spinning, which is not preferable. More preferably, it is 2 μm or less.

When the type of polymer of the core component and the sheath component containing catechins is different, the composite ratio is preferably 20/80 to 80/20 in terms of the core component / sheath component (weight ratio),
/ 60 to 60/40 is more preferred. If the ratio exceeds 80/20, the amount of the sheath component decreases, and it is difficult to exhibit effective fiber properties, which is not preferable. On the other hand, if it is less than 20/80, the amount of the core component containing the catechins becomes small, which is not preferable in terms of the stability of the composite spinning.

The same polymer is used for the core component and the sheath component,
Either one, especially when kneading and adding catechins to the core component, there is no boundary between the core component and the sheath component, and it is composed of a desirable single polymer from the viewpoint of the objective effect, mechanical properties, spinning stability, cost, etc. It can be a fiber.

After fibrillation, it is necessary to apply a treatment such as stretching or dyeing to the catechins without applying a temperature higher than the alteration temperature. For example, when coloring is applied to a fabric, a process such as using a pigment and a low-temperature fixing adhesive (binder) is performed.

The fiber of the present invention can be used alone as a long fiber or as a short fiber which has been short-cut. Other fibers such as synthetic fibers such as polyester, polyamide, polyolefin and acrylic, cotton, wool, and hemp Such as natural fiber, rayon, cupra, regenerated fiber such as acetate, semi-synthetic fiber, etc. can be woven and knitted by blending, blending, blending, twisting and knitting, underwear, shirts, blouses, socks, Clothing fields such as tabi, pantyhose, etc., bedding products such as cotton filling, futon side, sheets, bedspreads, pillowcases, cushions, masks, surgical gowns, caps, medical gowns, gauze, bed sheets, bandages, etc. Medical materials, sanitary products, diapers, incontinence pads and other sanitary materials, and towels, tablecloths, aprons, and other living materials. It can be.

[0022]

The fiber of the present invention is obtained by melting catechins at a melting point of 130 ° C.
It is a fiber that is kneaded into the following low-melting-point components and is fiberized at a temperature lower than the temperature at which the catechins deteriorate, so that the effects of the catechins can be maintained and retained in the fibers. Fiber products can maintain their antibacterial and deodorant effects for a long time without falling off by washing or the like.

[0023]

The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the following examples, which, however, are not intended to restrict the scope of the present invention.
The performance evaluation in this example was performed according to the following method.

[Antibacterial test]: Measured in accordance with "Processing effect evaluation test manual for antibacterial and deodorant processed products, method for measuring the number of bacteria" (Textile Sanitary Processing Association; 1988). That is, Klebsiella new monnia [K. p
neumoniae (IF013277)] and 0.2ml inoculated liquid suspended on the test piece (0.2 g) and (cell count of about 6 × 10 ⁵ cells / ml), cultured for 18 hours at a temperature 37 ° C.. After culturing, the bacteria on the test piece are extracted with a phosphate buffer,
Produced bacteria on the test piece were measured by a standard agar medium method, and the difference in the number of bacteria was calculated by the following formula 1.

[0025]

(Equation 1)

If the difference in the increase or decrease in the number of bacteria obtained by the above equation is at least 1.6 as a guide, the antibacterial performance is sufficient.

[Washing test]: JISL0217-103
It evaluated according to. That is, using a home electric washing machine, washing for 10 minutes in a 50 ° C. aqueous solution containing 2 g / l of a neutral detergent, performing running water washing for 2 minutes, dehydrating, and further performing running water washing for 2 minutes, Dehydrated and dried. This was repeated three times, and the antibacterial property was evaluated by the above antibacterial property test.

Example 1 As the core component polymer and the sheath component polymer, the same low-density polyethylene having a melting point of 85 ° C. (“NUCG-5371” manufactured by Nippon Yunika) was used. However, on the core component side, a catechin extract fine powder (“Theamicron” manufactured by ITO EN) was added in an amount of 2% by weight based on the entire fiber weight.
Was added so that These were used as the core / sheath component, using a composite spinneret, a spinning temperature of 140 ° C., and a core / sheath = 50 /
The composite spinning is carried out at 50 ° C., stretched 4 times at 60 ° C.,
/ 18f core / sheath type composite fiber was obtained. Thereafter, a knitted shirt for underwear was prepared using the fibers. The wearing result of the shirt was excellent in deodorizing effect even after sweating. Table 1 shows the results of the washing test of the knit shirt.

[0029]

[Table 1]

As shown in Table 1, the shirt made of the fiber of the present invention not only has a large difference in the number of bacteria before washing, but also has a sufficient antibacterial effect even after washing.

[0031]

According to the fiber of the present invention, since catechins having an antibacterial and deodorizing effect are kneaded into the fiber, the fiber is less likely to fall off even after washing, and the above effect can be maintained for a long time. In addition, the fiber of the present invention is a catechin extracted from green tea, which is an object to be contained in the fiber. Therefore, the effect on the human body is small and the fiber is very safe. ing.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A catechin extract fine powder of 0.1 to 1
A catechin-containing fiber composed of a thermoplastic polymer having a melting point of 130 ° C. or less, containing 0% by weight. 2. A catechin extract fine powder of 0.1 to 1
Catechins in which a polymer phase (A phase) containing 0% by weight and having a melting point of 130 ° C. or lower and made of a thermoplastic polymer and a protective polymer phase (B phase) made of a fiber-forming thermoplastic polymer are joined. Containing conjugate fiber. 3. The conjugate fiber is a core-sheath conjugate fiber in which the catechin-containing A layer is a core layer and the fiber-forming B layer is a sheath layer.
The catechin-containing composite fiber according to claim 2. 4. The thickness of the layer B of the core-sheath composite fiber is 3
The catechins-containing composite fiber according to claim 3, which has a size of -30 microns. 5. The catechin-containing conjugate fiber according to claim 3, wherein the core-sheath conjugate fiber is a short fiber.