JP2003301319A - Light reflection functional structure and method of producing same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light reflection functional structure that can develop and retain stabilized light reflection functions revealed by the physical actions of light, e.g. scattering, diffraction and the like, under a variety of processing conditions and operating environments. <P>SOLUTION: The structure 10 has at least one of optical functions among reflections of visible rays, infrared rays and ultraviolet rays. The structure comprises at least the first material 11 and the second material 12 in which they have different refractive indexes from each other, and groups of microfine structures made of the first material 11 are surrounded with the second material 12 are arranged regularly in lines or layers. Consequently, the reflection functions are revealed by the physical actions of light, scattering or diffraction in which the crystallinity of single components are represented each by XC<SB>1</SB>and XC<SB>2</SB>, and satisfy the following formulas: XC<SB>2</SB>=10-55% and XC<SB>2</SB>>XC<SB>1</SB>. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure having a light-reflecting function, and more particularly to a light having a wavelength range of at least one of visible light, infrared light and ultraviolet light due to a physical action such as light scattering and diffraction. The present invention relates to an optical functional structure that reflects light and a method for manufacturing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a coloring means (in a broad sense, referred to as "structural coloring") utilizing a physical action such as light interference and diffraction without using a pigment or dye is known. There is. This is caused by the interaction between light on the surface of the object and the fine structure inside the object, and there are already some known techniques.

[0003] For example, as a structure that develops color by utilizing the interference reflection effect of light, as a journal of the Textile Machinery Society Vo
l. 42, No. 2, P55 (1989) and the same magazine V
ol. 42, No. 10, P60 (1989), a material that develops color by making a structure in which a molecular orientation anisotropic film is sandwiched between two polarizing films is announced.

According to this coloring principle, when light from the normal direction is incident on the first polarizing film, the light passing through the polarizing film becomes light that vibrates only in a certain direction (linearly polarized light). Passes through a molecular orientation anisotropic film coordinated at 45 °, the plane of polarization is rotated to change to elliptically polarized light. Then, when this elliptically polarized light passes through the second polarizing film, it becomes linearly polarized light again. At that time, since the intensity of light differs depending on the wavelength, the linearly polarized light becomes colored polarized light and is recognized as a color. Yes (coloring due to so-called polarized light interference).

Further, Japanese Patent No. 3036305 discloses that
There is disclosed a material that develops a color by having a structure in which dozens of layers of polymer substances having different refractive indexes are alternately laminated. This coloring principle is that the Fresnel reflections that occur at the interfaces of alternating laminated layers with different refractive indices overlap and cause interference, resulting in the wavelength dependence of the reflectance and the increase or decrease of the reflectance itself. It is a color that appears when overlapping with a phase difference (coloring wavelength λ1 = 2 (na
da + nbdb): The wavelength λ1 of color development becomes maximum when the optical thicknesses of the two are the same, that is, when nada = nbdb).

Further, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-295804, the first and second polymer substances are different from each other in refractive index by at least 0.03, and are laminated in a film form having a thickness of about 0.1 μm. A reflective polymer object is disclosed, and the present inventors further disclose in Japanese Patent No. 3036305 a fibrous coloring structure having an alternating laminated structure composed of two kinds of polymer substances having different refractive indexes. There is. The latter color-developing fiber is a non-dying color-developing fiber, which changes its tint depending on the direction in which it is viewed, and exhibits a unique texture due to its combined effect depending on the colors of the yarns to be combined.

On the other hand, as a structure utilizing the diffraction / interference action, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-234007 proposes a structure which emits a diffraction / interference color by providing a fine groove having a constant width on the surface of a fiber. ing. The principle of this coloring is that when light is incident on a flat or concave surface in which a large number of grooves (intervals and depths) of a predetermined size are regularly formed like a diffraction grating, an optical path difference ΔL is generated, When the optical path difference is an integral multiple of the wavelength λ, the reflected lights are strengthened to be bright (optical path difference ΔL = mλ: where m is the diffraction order and m = 0, 1, 2).
..), the color of wavelength λ is given at a certain diffraction angle to the incident light entering at a certain incident angle.

[0008]

However, among the conventional techniques as described above, in the structure in which the molecular orientation anisotropic film is sandwiched between the polarizing films, fine fibers or minute glittering material chips (small pieces) are used. It is difficult to manufacture inexpensively and stably, and the color vividness is not sufficient.

In addition, it is not only difficult to manufacture thin fibers and fine chips for luster pigments at low cost even in the case of a reflective polymer object composed of first and second polymers having different refractive indexes, and the viewing angle At a wide viewing angle, there was a problem that it looked gray (a blind spot) peculiar to the interference phenomenon. In addition, even in the fibrous coloring structure described in Japanese Patent No. 3036305, contrary to the merit that the tint changes depending on the viewing direction, it may appear a gray color peculiar to the interference phenomenon at a wide viewing angle. It was

On the other hand, in the structure utilizing the diffraction / interference action, although the above-mentioned drawbacks are few, it looks like a rainbow color like a CD and gives an inexpensive image as a product, The film-shaped one has a problem that it requires a special device and a manufacturing method and is poor in practicality. Then, in order to overcome these problems, the inventors of the present invention have made extensive studies, but under various environments, the arrangement shape of fine structures that are regularly arranged inside the structure having a light reflection function and When the dimensions change, the light reflection function also changes, especially in the visible range.
Since not only the reflection intensity but also the reflection peak wavelength change in the reflection spectrum, the tint also changes, which may be a practical problem in some cases.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and in a light reflecting functional structure which is manifested by a physical action such as light scattering and diffraction, under various processing conditions and operating environments. However, it is an object of the present invention to provide a light reflection function structure capable of exhibiting and maintaining a stable light reflection function and a method for producing the same.

[0012]

A light reflecting functional structure according to the present invention has, as described in claim 1, an optical function of at least one of visible light, infrared light and ultraviolet light. A structure having a fine structure group consisting of at least a first material and a second material having different refractive indexes and surrounded by the second material, having a regularity in a matrix or a layer. A structure that, when arranged, exhibits a light reflecting function based on a physical action of light scattering or diffraction.
And the crystallinity of the single-component yarn of the second material is X
_{When C1} and X _C2 are set, X _C2 = 10 to 55% X _C2 > X _C1 .

Further, the light reflecting functional structure according to the present invention comprises, as described in claim 2, a third material which further surrounds the first and second materials. When the crystallinity of the single-component yarn is X _C3 , X _C3 = 10-55% X _C3 > X _C2 X _C3 > X _C1 is characterized, and as described in claim 3. At least one of the first and second materials is made of one or more kinds of materials selected from the group consisting of polymer-based, glass-based and ceramic-based materials. The polymer type is a polyester type, a polyamide type, a polyolefin type, a vinyl type, a polyether ketone type, a polysulfide type, a fluorine type and a polycarbonate type, or a mixture thereof, or two types thereof. Characterized in that either a copolymer of the above, as set forth in claim 5,
The shrinkage rate of boiling water at 150 ° C. is 3% or less.

Further, as described in claim 6, the method for manufacturing the light reflecting function structure according to the present invention is the method for manufacturing a light reflecting function structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The spinning speed or the extrusion speed is 4 km / min or more, and the production of the light-reflecting functional structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, as described in claim 7. The method is characterized in that an equivalent spinning speed or an equivalent extrusion speed defined by a product of a spinning speed or an extrusion speed and a draw ratio is 4 km / min or more.

[0015]

According to the light-reflecting function structure of the present invention, the structure having a light-reflecting function which is manifested by a physical action such as light scattering and diffraction causes heat shrinkage (dry heat shrinkage or boiling water shrinkage). It becomes possible to greatly suppress the dimensional change, and it is possible to provide a structure capable of exhibiting and maintaining a stable light reflecting function even under various processing conditions and usage environments. Also,
For example, the birefringence Δn of the group of microstructures made of the first material surrounded by the second material is also significantly increased in the fiber axis direction, and the light reflecting function can be further improved.

According to the method for producing a light reflecting functional structure according to the present invention, in producing the light reflecting functional structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, crystallization of the structure having a light reflecting function. The dimensional stability can be improved and excellent dimensional stability can be obtained.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, an embodiment of a light reflecting functional structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are cross-sectional views showing an example in which the light-reflecting functional structure according to the present invention is applied to a fiber- or film-like structure, and FIG. 1A shows a second cross-section having a rectangular cross section. 1B shows a light reflection function structure 10 in which a fine structure group 11 made of a first material is orthogonally arranged to the material 2 of FIG.
Shows a light reflection functional structure 20 in which a fine structure group 21 made of the first material is hexagonally arranged in a second material 22 having a rectangular cross section.

Further, FIG. 2A shows a first structure 33A.
In the light reflection function structure 30 including the second structure 33B and the second structure 33B, the diameter D2 and the pitch P2 of the orthogonal array type fine structure 31B forming the second structure 33B are the same as the first structure 33A. Orthogonal array type fine structure 31A constituting the
Shows a case where the diameter is smaller than the diameter D1 and the pitch P1. FIG. 2B shows a reflection function structure 40 in which the first structure 43A is arranged with the second structure 43B sandwiched therebetween, which is an orthogonal array type fine structure that constitutes the second structure 43B. The case where the diameter D2 and the pitch P2 of the structure 41B are smaller than the diameter D1 and the pitch P1 of the orthogonal array type fine structure 41A forming the first structure 43A is shown.

Further, FIG. 3A shows a light reflection function structure in which a structure composed of an orthogonal array type fine structure 51 made of a first material and a structure made of a second material 52 is surrounded by a third material 53. FIG. 3B shows a body 50, and a light reflection function in which a hexagonal array type microstructure 61 made of a first material and a structure made of a second material 62 are surrounded by a third material 63. The structure 60 is shown.

Examples of the light reflecting functional structures 10 to 60 are, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 2001/2001 filed by the present inventors.
As described in No. 237342, a fibrous or film-like structure having an optical function of at least one of the reflection characteristics of visible light, infrared light, and ultraviolet light, and at least a first and a different refractive index. A first composed of a second material and surrounded by a second material
The fine structure group consisting of the above materials is arranged in a matrix or a layer with a sufficient regularity, so that it has a light reflecting function based on at least one physical action of light scattering and diffraction. Can be mentioned.

The "structure which exhibits a light reflection function based on a physical action" in the present invention means at least one of the reflection characteristics of visible light, infrared light and ultraviolet light based on the scattering and diffraction of light. It has such a light reflection function and may be expressed by a single phenomenon or may be expressed by a plurality of phenomena. Regarding the above physical phenomenon, in general,
"Light scattering" is mainly applied to systems with macroscopic regularity, and while "scattering" is manifested, as a system in which regularity has advanced to the micro region, "diffraction phenomenon" And "interference phenomenon" are classified. The "physical action" in the present invention includes phenomena such as light scattering, diffraction and interference. Therefore, the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is a structure that exhibits a light reflection function based on these actions, and can be applied to a known structure.

As described above, all of the above-mentioned light reflection function structures 10 to 60 mainly exhibit a light reflection function by a physical phenomenon, and as a matter of course, under various environments (for example, temperature change). Under conditions such as humidity change or chemical immersion), if the arrangement shape or size of the fine structures 11 to 61 regularly arranged inside the light reflection function structure changes, the light reflection function also changes. . Especially,
In the visible light region, not only the reflection intensity but also the reflection peak wavelength change in the reflection spectrum, so that the tint also changes, which may be a quality problem in some cases.

Further, when the temperature or humidity changes or the chemical is immersed, the structures 10 to 60 undergo heat shrinkage (dry heat shrinkage,
Since dimensional change occurs due to boiling water shrinkage), it has been extremely desired that thermal shrinkage is small even under these environments. Regarding heat shrinkage, generally, dry air (normally 150 ° C. × 30 minutes) and boiling water (100 ° C. boiling water × 5 minutes) are studied as the heat medium. Here, description will be made below based on boiling water shrinkage that is closer to practical conditions.

The heat shrinkage phenomenon of a single component, for example, in a crystalline polymer yarn, is caused by the thermal motion of the amorphous chain in the polymer, and when the molecular chain is elongated by the increase of the spinning speed or the drawing speed, It is known that the shrinkage becomes large (for example, Polymer Science Papers Vol.
2, P.I. See 107). Also in the PET yarn, as shown in FIG. 5, when the spinning speed is low, the crystallinity is low, and the heat shrinkage is very large, and depending on the case, it is 50 to 50%.
It may shrink by 60% by boiling water. Therefore, in various yarns, in consideration of post-processing (dyeing, weaving, etc.) and practicality, high-speed spinning (spinning speed: 6 km / Or more) or by combining with a normal hot drawing treatment after spinning, an attempt has been made to improve the crystallinity.

By the way, the present inventors have, for example, shown in FIG.
A structure 10 having a structure in which a first material 11 is surrounded by a second material 12 as shown in FIG.
As shown in (a) and (b), the first material 51, 6
A structure consisting of the first and second materials 52, 62 is
As a result of diligent study on the structures 50 and 60 surrounded by the materials 53 and 63, that is, the structures 50 and 60 having a so-called composite type light reflecting function, it was found that the composite can significantly reduce the heat shrinkage rate. .

The reason for this will be described below. First,
The behavior of the crystallinity in the single component yarns of the first and second materials will be described. Nylon 6: Ny as first material
-6 is an example of polyethylene terephthalate: PET as the second material, the relationship between the crystallinity X _C and the heat shrinkage of each yarn is shown in FIG.

As is apparent from FIG. 4, the first and second
The yarn of the material also has a crystallinity X _C of about 5%, and as described above, the boiling water shrinkage is about 50 to 60%, which is extremely large. However, when the crystallinity X _C is 5% or more, the boiling water shrinkage rate rapidly decreases, and when the crystallinity X _C exceeds 10% (near the inflection point of the boiling water shrinkage rate), the shrinkage occurs. The rate gradually decreases, and when the crystallinity X _C reaches about 50%, the shrinkage rate tends to be stable at about 5%. Further, the crystallinity X _C further increases, and the boiling water shrinkage tends to increase again when the crystallinity X _C is around 55%.

An inflection point of boiling water shrinkage is observed at a crystallinity X _C of around 10%, and a crystallinity X _C of 5
The reason why the boiling water shrinkage rate again increases from around 5% is not clear, but it is considered as follows at present. First, the inflection point of the boiling water shrinkage is observed when the degree of crystallinity X _C is around 10%, because the microcrystals in the polymer start to develop (increase in the degree of crystallinity) around 10%, which is amorphous. It is thought that the chain movement will be suppressed. In addition, the boiling water shrinkage tends to increase again when the degree of crystallinity is around 55%. The reason is that highly developed fine crystals are conversely destroyed, and the size of the fine crystals becomes smaller, resulting in the formation of amorphous chains. This is probably because it becomes impossible to control exercise.

In other words, the boiling water shrinkage is the crystallinity X
_C becomes small in the range of 10% to 55% and is stabilized because the microcrystals in the polymer are highly developed (crystallinity X by the increase of the spinning speed (or extrusion speed) and the heat drawing treatment). The increase of _C ) is considered to be the range in which the movement of the amorphous chain is suppressed. Note that these relationships are also generally established in other polymers described later. Further, the relationship between the spinning speed (extrusion speed) and the boiling water shrinkage rate (see FIG. 5)
Also, it is understood that the heat shrinkage rate decreases as the spinning speed increases, and the heat shrinkage rate is 5% or less in the high spinning speed region near 8 km / min. Such a tendency is also seen in the relationship between normal heat shrinkage and crystallinity,
In any case, it can be seen that the heat shrinkage rate is closely related to the crystallinity.

Here, the boiling water shrinkage ratio in the present invention means
It is calculated from the sample length before and after the shrinkage was performed by pouring the sample into boiling water at 100 ° C. and shrinking it for 5 minutes at a free length. Also, the crystallinity X _C of the single component yarn is the density ρ of the material.
It was calculated from the following equation using (ρ: g / cm ³ ). X _C = ρc (ρ−ρs) × 1 / (ρ (ρc−ρs)) where ρc (g / cm ³ ) is 1.455 and ρs (g /
cm ³ ) is 1.335. The density ρ was obtained by measuring at 25 ° C. by a density gradient tube method using n-heptane and carbon tetrachloride.

Next, as shown in FIG.
First (nylon 6: Ny-6) and second material (polyethylene terephthalate: PET) as shown in (a).
FIG. 6 shows the behavior of the spinning speed and the boiling water shrinkage of the light-reflecting functional structure (composite fiber) composed of It should be noted that these structures have a crystallinity X _{C of 10} to 55% by weight in the single component yarn of the second material as described in claim 1; The composite fiber in which the crystallinity X _C of the single component yarn of the material No. 2 satisfies the relationship of X _C2 > X _C1 .

As is apparent from FIG. 6, this tendency is greatly different from that in the case of the single component yarn.
That is, when the composite yarn is formed, the spinning speed is low (up to 4
(km / min), the boiling water shrinkage ratio is significantly smaller than that of the single component yarn, and is about 20%. Further, thereafter, the boiling water shrinkage rate gradually decreases with an increase in the spinning speed, the spinning speed is about 4 km / min, and the boiling water shrinkage rate is already about 3%. Thus, even when the spinning speed is low, the boiling water shrinkage rate is as small as about 20%, and when the spinning speed is about 4 km / min, the boiling water shrinkage rate has already reached a level of about 3%, which is practically no problem. ing. The reason for this is not clear, but at present, the following two points can be considered.

The first reason is that the crystallinity X _C2 of the yarn made of the second material corresponding to the “sheath” portion of the core-sheath structure is higher than the crystallinity X _{C1 of the} yarn made of the first material. Due to its large size, when the light-reflecting functional structure is produced by, for example, the composite melt spinning method, the crystallinity X _C2 of the second material in the “sheath” part is found in the single-component yarn as the spinning speed increases. As with the crystallization behavior, the crystallinity X _C1 of the first material of the “core” portion also increases in conjunction with this. As a result, it is considered that the boiling water shrinkage of the light-reflecting functional structure having a composite structure is significantly reduced. Since the second material covering the microstructure of the first material is sufficiently larger than the dimension of the microstructure, the crystallization behavior is considered to be similar to that of the single component yarn. .

In addition to the above reasons, it is considered that the dimensional effect of the fine structure made of the first material also contributes to the improvement of crystallinity. That is, in the structure shown in FIG. 1A, individual microstructures (core portions) 11 made of the first material are used.
However, since the second material 12 is almost separated (an interface with a different material is formed), and the size of the fine structure 11 is extremely small or thin on the order of nanometer, crystallization is further advanced. It is thought to be easy. In other words, it is considered that crystallization behavior is exhibited due to the peculiarity of the structure 10 that the fine structure 11 having a size and thickness on the order of nanometer forms an interface with the different material 12.

When the crystallinity of the single component yarn of the first material 11 and the second material 12 is X _C2 <X _C1 , the heat shrinkage ratio of the structure 10 does not become so small. Contrary to the above, this is the second material 12 corresponding to the “sheath” part.
It is considered that the crystallinity of the first material 11 in the “core” portion is also suppressed due to the low crystallinity of, and as a result, the thermal contraction rate of the structure 10 does not decrease. As described above, in the composite (thread) in which the microstructure group composed of the first material is surrounded by the second material, the thermal contraction rate is caused by the effect not found in each single component. It has been found that can be significantly reduced.

Further, according to the constitution of the present invention, the crystallinity X _C
Can be made large and the dimensional change due to thermal contraction can be suppressed, and the birefringence Δn of the fine structure group made of the first material surrounded by the second material is also significantly increased, and It has been found that the merit that the reflection function is further improved is also given. For this reason also, as before, since the microstructure made of the first material has dimensions and thickness on the order of nanometers, the spinning speed and the extrusion speed increase due to the dimensional effect and the direction (fiber axis direction and extrusion speed) increases. It is thought that the crystal orientation further progresses in the (direction).

Further, as described in claim 2, the structure formed by the first and second materials is further covered with a third material, and a single component yarn of the third material is used. when the degree of crystallinity was _{X C3,} it may be the _{X C3 = 10~55% X C3>} X C2 X C3> X C1. FIG. 3 shows an example thereof, but in this case as well, the crystallinity X _{C3 in} the single-component yarn of the outermost material is X _C3 = 10 to 55% X _C3 > X _C2 X _C3 > for the above reason. By satisfying the relationship of X _C1, it is possible to improve the crystallinity X _C of the structures 50 and 60 and suppress the heat shrinkage rate.

The crystallinity X _C1 of the first material and the second degree
The degree of crystallinity X _C2 of the material is not particularly limited, but it is more preferable that X _C2 ≧ X _C1 . This is because the size of the fine structure made of the second material is extremely small, on the order of nanometers, as described above, and therefore the influence of the crystallinity X _C1 of the first material surrounding the fine structure is large or small. Because it is easy to receive.

As for the material constituting the light reflecting functional structures 10 to 60, as described in claim 3, at least one of the first, second and third materials is a polymer type, a glass type and Desirably, it is made of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of ceramics. This is because the light-reflecting functional structures 10 to 60 are composed of at least first and second materials having different refractive indices, and a group of microstructures composed of the first material surrounded by the second material is a matrix. Since it is a structure that exhibits a light-reflecting function based on at least one of the physical action of light scattering and / or diffraction by being arranged in a regular shape and / or a layered state with sufficient regularity, it is substantially This is the result of examination from the viewpoints that it is a material system having optical transparency and that it can be processed into a fibrous film relatively easily (and it is desirable that it can be processed into a continuous form).

More preferably, the polymer system is a polyester system, a polyamide system, a polyolefin system, a vinyl system, a polyetherketone system, a polysulfide system, a fluorine system, a polycarbonate system, or a mixture thereof, or two or more thereof. It is preferable that the copolymer is any one of the above. By using these material systems, not only is it possible to widely select the crystallinity X _C of the single-component yarn of the outermost shell material system within the range of 10 to 55%, but also the fibrous and film Since the refractive index in the spinning (extruding) direction can be increased and the so-called birefringence Δn can be increased when the fiber is spun or extruded into a shape, there is an advantage that the light reflection function can be further improved.

Further, as described in claim 5, the light-reflecting functional structure has various post-treatments (water repellent treatment, antistatic treatment and difficult treatment) by setting the boiling water shrinkage ratio at 150 ° C. to 3% or less. (Flame treatment, etc.) and weaving can be performed, and moreover, it is possible to suppress a stable dimensional change for a long period of time even in practical use.

Next, a method of manufacturing the light reflecting functional structure according to the present invention will be described. The fibrous and film-like structure can be produced by various known methods. For example, if it is fibrous, the composite spinning method (melting, solution, wet, etc.) can be applied, and the structure can be film-like. For example, an extrusion method or a casting method can be applied. Further, when the structure is manufactured, it is preferable that the spinning speed or the extrusion speed is 4 km / min or more in order to improve the crystallinity. As a result, the crystallinity X _C of the structure can be increased, and, for example, as shown in FIG.
The boiling water shrinkage can also be maintained at 3% or less.

Further, it has been found that the same effect can be obtained by setting the equivalent spinning speed or the equivalent extrusion speed defined by the product of the spinning speed or the extrusion speed and the draw ratio to 4 km / min or more. The equivalent spinning speed is, for example, when the spinning speed is 2 km / min and the thermal draw ratio is 2 times.
It means 4 km / min. Here, in general, in the relationship between the equivalent spinning speed and the normal spinning speed, for example,
The equivalent spinning speed of 4 km / min and the spinning speed of 4 km / min are almost equal in terms of speed and fiber structure (crystallinity and orientation), and are therefore called "equivalent".

[0044]

EXAMPLES Specific examples of the present invention will be shown below, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The boiling water shrinkage and the reflection peak wavelength λma of the example and the comparative example
x is summarized in Table 1. As is clear from the table, the boiling water shrinkage ratio is about 3.0% in the examples, whereas the comparative example shows a large value of about 30% especially when the equivalent spinning speed is 4 km / min or less. You can see that there is a difference.

[0045]

[Table 1]

Further, it has been found that, by improving the crystallinity X _C and setting the equivalent spinning speed to 4 km / min or more, the merit that the refractive index in the fiber axis direction also increases. For example, according to the Fiber Handbook (published by Maruzen Co., Ltd.), the refractive index n (// of the PET single-component yarn in the fiber axis direction)
Parallel; 1.63, refractive index n (⊥;
(Vertical) is 1.53, and birefringence Δn = 0.10
Has become.

As shown in the present invention, the crystallinity of the first and second materials in the single component yarns was determined to be X _C1 and X, respectively.
_{When C2} is set, X _C2 = 10 to 55% X _C2 > X _C1 is set, whereby the crystallinity of the structure (composite yarn) is dramatically improved, and as a result, in the composite yarn. PE
It was confirmed that the refractive index n (//) of T in the fiber axis direction also increased to 1.70. That is, PET in the structure
Has a birefringence Δn of 0.13, so that not only the optical function based on the average refractive index of the fiber but also the large refractive index in the fiber axis direction can be utilized, and the optical function and the reflection intensity are significantly improved. It was also found that there is a side effect of improving it.

Next, Examples 1 to 4 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 of the light reflecting functional structure according to the present invention will be described.

Example 1 As the fine structure 11 made of the first material in FIG. 1A, the average refractive index nb =
Select 1.53 Nylon 6 (Ny-6) and
As the second material 12 surrounding the material of
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with a = 1.63
Was selected, and spinning was performed under the following conditions, aiming at the structure 10 (rectangular blue-colored structure) that develops color by the diffraction / scattering action. The spinning speed of PET and Ny-6 single component was 4 km / min, and the crystallinity X _C at the spinning temperature of 285 ° C. was 10% and 7%, respectively.

Spinning was performed according to the following procedure. First, a spinneret prepared by partially modifying the composite spinning spinneret described in JP-A-8-226011 was prepared, and the spinneret was mounted on a melt-composite spinning device. Then, the spinning temperature was 285 ° C. and the winding speed was 1 The same discharge amount was obtained under the conditions of 2, 3, 3 and 6 km / min to obtain an undrawn yarn. Further, among the undrawn yarns, those having a winding speed of 1, 2, 3 km / min are further thinned at a draw ratio of 2 by a hot drawing treatment, and have an equivalent spinning speed of 2, 4,
A rectangular light-reflecting functional structure 10 was obtained at a speed of 6 km / min.

Inside the structure 10 obtained at a winding speed of 6 km / min, the average diameter D per cylinder is D = φ190 n.
The fine structure group 11 (orthogonal array type of 12 rows × 60 columns) composed of cylindrical bodies having m and an average pitch P = 280 nm was regularly arranged.

Using a spectrophotometer (improved model U-4000, manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.) equipped with an integrating sphere, this single yarn was measured for reflection spectrum at an incident angle θ = 0 ° in the visible light region. It was measured. The reflectance was based on a standard white plate. The reflection spectrum thus obtained has a main peak at a wavelength λ = 476 nm and its reflectance R
Is 72%, and the full width at half maximum B of the spectrum at that wavelength is as small as about 86 nm, and the spectrum shows a steep shape, and even when visually observed at an angle of 0 °, it showed a blue system.

Example 2 As the fine structure 11 made of the first material in FIG. 1A, the average refractive index nb =
1.59 polystyrene (PS) is selected and the average refractive index na = as the second material 12 surrounding the first material.
1.63 polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was selected, and spinning was performed under the following conditions, aiming at the structure 10 (rectangular blue-coloring structure) that develops color by the diffraction / scattering action. The spinning speed of PET and PS single components was 4 km / min, and the crystallinity X _C at spinning temperature 285 ° C. was 10% and 5%, respectively. Then, spinning is performed in the same procedure as in Example 1 to form a rectangular light-reflecting functional structure 1
I got 0.

Inside the structure 10 obtained at a winding speed of 6 km / min, the average diameter D is φ210 n per wire.
m, a fine structure group (15 rows × 60 columns orthogonal array type) composed of cylindrical bodies having an average pitch P = 280 nm was regularly arranged.

Using a spectrophotometer (improved model U-4000, manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.) equipped with an integrating sphere, this single yarn was analyzed for reflection spectrum at an incident angle θ = 0 ° in the visible light region. It was measured. The reflectance was based on a standard white plate. The reflection spectrum thus obtained has a main peak at a wavelength λ = 476 nm and its reflectance R
Was 71%, the half-value width B of the spectrum at that wavelength was as small as 94 nm, the spectrum showed a steep shape, and it was blue even when visually observed at an angle of 0 °.

Example 3 The polymer used is Example 1
The target cross-sectional structure is similar to that of the light-reflecting functional structure 40 shown in FIG.
The structure 43B of (1) was sandwiched between the two first structures 43A), and a "structure that develops blue" was spun. The spinning speed of the single component of PET and Ny-6 is 4 km / min, and the crystallinity X _C at the spinning temperature of 285 ° _C. is 15% and 10%, respectively.

For spinning, a composite spinneret similar to that used in Example 1 was partially modified, mounted on a melt composite spinning device, and then spun at a temperature of 285 ° C. and a winding speed.
The undrawn yarn was obtained by appropriately changing the discharge rate under the conditions of 1, 2, 3, 6 km / min. These unstretched yarns were further subjected to a heat-stretching treatment to be thinned at a draw ratio of 2 to obtain an equivalent spinning speed of 2,4,6 km / min to obtain a rectangular light-reflecting functional structure 40.

When the cross section of the obtained yarn was observed with an electron microscope, the yarn cross-sectional shape was rectangular, and inside the
Structure 43A, second structure 43B, and first structure 4
3A is formed in a block shape, and inside the upper and lower first structures 43A, an average diameter D = φ90 nm and an average pitch P, respectively.
= Fine structure group 41A (3
(Orthogonal array type of rows × 60 columns) is also used for the second structure 43.
Inside B, the average diameter D = φ70 nm,
A fine structure group 41 composed of cylindrical bodies having an average pitch Px in the x direction of 70 nm and an average pitch in the y direction Py of 140 nm.
B (orthogonal array type of 12 rows × 60 columns) was regularly arrayed.

This single yarn was used for the spectrophotometer (model U-4).
000 improved type, manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.) was used to measure the reflection spectrum in the visible light region at an incident angle θ = 0 °. The reflectance was based on a standard white plate. The reflection spectrum thus obtained has a wavelength λ = 482 nm.
It has a main peak in the vicinity and its reflectance R is about 92%.
The half-width B of the spectrum was extremely small at about 78 nm, the spectrum was steep, and it was patina even when visually observed at an angle of 0 °.

Example 4 The polymer used is that of Example 1.
Similarly to the above, the target cross-sectional structure is a “green-coloring structure” composed of a rectangular two-stage structure as shown in FIG.

For spinning, a composite spinneret similar to that used in Example 1 was partially modified, mounted on a melt-composite spinning apparatus, and then spun at a spinning temperature of 285 ° C. and a winding speed.
The undrawn yarn was obtained by appropriately changing the discharge rate under the conditions of 1, 2, 3, 6 km / min. The spinning speed of the single component of PET and Ny-6 was 4 km / min, and the spinning temperature was 285 ° C.
The crystallinity X _C at 20% is 20% and that at 10% is 10%. This unstretched yarn was further thinned at a draw ratio of 2 by a hot stretching treatment to obtain an equivalent spinning speed of 2,4,6 km / min to obtain a rectangular light-reflecting functional structure 30.

When the cross section of the obtained yarn was observed with an electron microscope, the cross section was rectangular, and the first structure 33A and the second structure 33B were formed in the shape of blocks in the inside thereof. Inside the structure 33A, the diameter D = φ
A fine structure group 31A (7-row × 60-column hexagonal array type) consisting of a cylindrical body having a pitch of 160 nm and a pitch P = 280 nm is
In addition, inside the second structure 33B, each one has an average diameter D = φ80 nm and an average pitch Px = 80 in the x direction.
The fine structure group 31B (12 rows × 60 columns orthogonal array type) composed of cylindrical bodies having an average pitch Py = 160 nm in the nm and y directions was regularly arranged.

This single yarn was used for the spectrophotometer (model U-4).
000 improved type, manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.) was used to measure the reflection spectrum in the visible light region at an incident angle θ = 0 °. The reflectance was based on a standard white plate. The reflection spectrum thus obtained has a wavelength of λ = 520 nm.
Has a main peak at a reflectance R of about 72%, a half-value width B of the spectrum is extremely small at about 89 nm, the spectrum is steep, and a green color is produced even when visually observed at an angle of 0 °. It was confirmed.

(Comparative Example 1) First material in FIG. 1 (a)
The average refractive index nb =
Select 1.53 Nylon 6 (Ny-6) as the first material
As the second material 12 surrounding the material, the average refractive index na =
Select 1.63 polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
Selected, and the color is developed by diffraction and scattering under the following conditions.
Aim at structure 10 (rectangular blue structure)
I made the thread. In addition, PET and Ny-6 single component spinning
The yarn speed is 4 km / min, and the crystal is produced at the spinning temperature of 285 ° C.
Degree X _CAre 6% and 4%, respectively. And Example 1
Spinning is performed in the same procedure as above, and a rectangular light reflection function structure
Got 10.

Inside the structure 10 obtained at a winding speed of 6 km / min, the average diameter D per cylinder was D = φ190 n.
The fine structure group 11 (orthogonal array type of 12 rows × 60 columns) composed of cylindrical bodies having m and an average pitch P = 280 nm was regularly arranged.

Using a spectrophotometer (improved model U-4000, manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.) equipped with an integrating sphere, this single yarn was analyzed for reflection spectrum at an incident angle θ = 0 ° in the visible light region. It was measured. The reflectance was based on a standard white plate. The reflection spectrum thus obtained has a main peak at a wavelength λ = 476 nm and its reflectance R
Is 72%, and the full width at half maximum B of the spectrum at that wavelength is as small as about 86 nm, and the spectrum shows a steep shape, and even when visually observed at an angle of 0 °, it showed a blue system.

Comparative Example 2 As the fine structure 11 made of the first material in FIG. 1A, the average refractive index nb =
1.59 polystyrene (PS) is selected and the average refractive index na = as the second material 12 surrounding the first material.
1.63 polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was selected, and spinning was performed under the following conditions, aiming at the structure 10 (rectangular blue-coloring structure) that develops color by the diffraction / scattering action. The spinning speed of PET and PS single components was 4 km / min, and the crystallinity X _C at spinning temperature 285 ° C. was 10% and 5%, respectively. Then, spinning is performed in the same procedure as in Example 1 to form a rectangular light-reflecting functional structure 1
I got 0.

Inside the structure 10 obtained at the winding speed of 6 km / min, the average diameter D per fiber is 210 n.
The fine structure group 11 (orthogonal array type of 15 rows × 60 columns) consisting of cylindrical bodies having m and an average pitch P = 280 nm was regularly arranged.

Using a spectrophotometer (improved model U-4000, manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.) equipped with an integrating sphere, this single yarn was analyzed for reflection spectrum at an incident angle θ = 0 ° in the visible light region. It was measured. The reflectance was based on a standard white plate. The reflection spectrum thus obtained has a main peak at a wavelength λ = 476 nm and its reflectance R
Was 71%, the half-value width B of the spectrum at that wavelength was as small as 94 nm, the spectrum showed a steep shape, and it was blue even when visually observed at an angle of 0 °.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a basic cross-sectional structural view for explaining a light reflecting functional structure according to the present invention, showing a case where a fine structure group is in an orthogonal array (a), where the fine structure group is a hexagonal array. It is a figure (b) which shows the case of.

FIG. 2 is a basic cross-sectional structural diagram for explaining a light reflection function structure according to the present invention, in which a second structure is formed in an orthogonal array type structure composed of a first structure and a second structure. The figure (a) which shows the case where the diameter and pitch of a fine structure are smaller than that of a 1st structure, the 2nd in the orthogonal array type structure which arranged the 1st structure on both sides of the 2nd structure.
FIG. 6B is a diagram (b) showing the case where the diameter and pitch of the fine structures constituting the structure of (1) are smaller than that of the first structure.

FIG. 3 is a basic cross-sectional view for explaining another embodiment of the present invention, showing a structure in which an orthogonal array structure made of first and second materials is surrounded by a third material. (A),
It is a figure (b) which shows the structure which surrounded the hexagonal type structure which consists of a 1st and 2nd material by the 3rd material.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the action of the light-reflecting functional structure according to the present invention, which is a Ny-6 single component yarn and PE.
7 is a graph showing the relationship between the crystallinity of T single component yarn and the boiling water shrinkage.

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining the action of the structure having a light reflecting function according to the present invention, showing the relationship between the spinning speed and the boiling water shrinkage of Ny-6 single component yarn and PET single component yarn. It is a graph shown.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of a light reflecting functional structure according to the present invention, in which the first material (fine structure) is Ny-6 in the structure shown in FIG. And the second
3 is a graph showing the relationship between the spinning speed and the boiling water shrinkage rate of a diffraction / scattering structure in which the material of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 20 30 40 50 50 60 Light-reflecting functional structure 11 21 31A 41A 51 61 Fine structure group consisting of first material 12 22 32B 42B 52 62 Second material 53 63 Third material 33A 43A First structure 33B 43B Second structure

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Hiroshi Tabata             Nissan, Takaracho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Nissan             Inside the automobile corporation F-term (reference) 4L045 AA05 BA01 BA10 BA18 BA19                       BA20 DC03

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A structure having an optical function of at least one of visible light, infrared light, and ultraviolet light reflection characteristics, comprising at least a first material and a second material having different refractive indices, and a second material. The microstructure group consisting of the first material surrounded by the material is regularly arrayed in a matrix or a layer, thereby exhibiting a light reflection function based on a physical action of either light scattering or diffraction. When the crystallinity of the first and second materials in the single component yarn is X _C1 and X _C2 , respectively, the structure is X _C2 = 10-55% X _C2 > XC1 And a light reflection function structure. 2. A third material further surrounding the first and second materials, wherein X _C3 is the crystallinity of the third material in the single-component yarn, X _C3 = 10-55. % X _C3 > X _C2 X _C3 > X _C1 The light reflection functional structure according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second materials is made of one or more kinds of materials selected from the group consisting of polymer type, glass type and ceramic type. The light-reflecting functional structure described. 4. A polymer type, a polyester type, a polyamide type, a polyolefin type, a vinyl type, a polyether ketone type, a polysulfide type, a fluorine type and a polycarbonate type, or a mixture thereof, or a copolymer of two or more kinds thereof. The light reflection functional structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is one of a combination. 5. The light-reflecting functional structure according to claim 1, which has a boiling water shrinkage at 150 ° C. of 3% or less. 6. The method for producing a light-reflecting functional structure according to claim 1, wherein a spinning speed or an extrusion speed is 4 km / min or more. Body manufacturing method. 7. The method for producing a light reflecting functional structure according to claim 1, wherein an equivalent spinning speed or an equivalent extrusion speed defined by a product of a spinning speed or an extrusion speed and a draw ratio is 4 km / min or more, The manufacturing method of the reflective function structure characterized by the above-mentioned.