JP2000336541A - Fibrillation machine of polymeric fiber filament and the method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fibrillation machine for polymer fiber filaments that can increase the productivity and the operation rate and can suppress the noise on the fibrillation operation and the process therefor. SOLUTION: This fibrillation machine comprises the first roughened surface part 7 that has the roughened concave face in an almost mortar shape and the second roughened surface part 11 that has a convex face and is arranged opposite to the concave face so that these center axes may coincide with each other and simultaneously has the gaps through which fluid 15 passes through. In addition, this fibrillation machine is equipped with the first roughened face part 7 and the second roughened face part 13 that is rotatable as they oppose to each other and a filament compressor 17 that press-feeding the fluid 15 including polymezic fiber filament 3 into gaps 9.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for fibrillating polymer fiber filaments added to a raw material of a fiber reinforced material such as a friction material of a brake device or fiber reinforced plastics.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, friction materials widely used for brake pads, brake linings and clutch facings of various vehicles and industrial machines include heat-resistant polymer fibers (organic fibers), inorganic fibers and metal fibers. Fiber materials, inorganic and
A starting material obtained by mixing a powder material such as an organic filler, a friction modifier and a thermosetting resin binder is molded at a normal temperature at a predetermined pressure (preliminary molding), and then thermoformed at a predetermined temperature and cured ( After-cure) and finishing are performed to form predetermined shapes and dimensions.

[0003] However, the process from the end of the mixing process of the starting materials to the weighing and the charging of the weighed mixture into the thermoforming mold involves handling an irregular powder mixture. For this reason, the powder raw material is often composed of fine particles having a particle size of the order of several tens of μm.
Dust countermeasures such as installation of a shielding plate are required, which is one of the causes of cost increase. In addition, since the particles are fine particles, the specific surface area is large, and the particles tend to adhere to the contacting partner. Therefore, the particles adhere to the wall surface of the mold, making it difficult to uniformly fill the starting material.

[0004] In order to solve these problems,
It is common practice to granulate starting materials. That is, various powder raw materials and fiber raw materials, which are starting raw materials, are rolled while adding a binder to form a granulated product having a particle size of about 2 to 5 mm, which is used as a friction material raw material. By using the granulated material, it is possible to solve the problem of dust at the time of manual handling as described above and the problem of adhesion to the wall surface of the mold during filling into the mold.

[0005] By the way, the fiber material added to the raw material of the friction material is originally uniformly dispersed throughout the friction material, and the dispersed fiber materials are entangled with each other, so that the mechanical properties of the friction material are reduced. Formulated to improve strength. However, when the starting material of the friction material is granulated, the fiber material is taken into the granulated material and is divided into granules, and the fiber materials cannot be entangled with each other, reducing the essential reinforcing effect. Or in some cases,
The reinforcing effect may not be obtained. Further, in order to make the material of the friction material uniform, it is indispensable to homogenize the mixing ratio and the like even in the unit of granules. In order to homogenize the granulated product, it is required that the surface of the fiber material has a structure in which the powder is easily entangled so that various components are entangled with the fiber material at a ratio corresponding to the mixing ratio.

[0006] In view of this, it has been proposed to fibrillate a polymer fiber filament when the fiber material includes a polymer fiber filament which is formed by twisting a plurality of fine fibers into a single filament. I have. The fibrillation is to form a structure in which fine fibers constituting the filament are branched in a tentacle shape, and the surface of the filament is fluffed. Due to the fibrillation, various powder materials are easily entangled with the filament, and even when granulated, the fine fibers fluffed by the fibrillation protrude from the outer surface of the granulated material. When filled, the entanglement of the fiber material between the granules is likely to occur, and the reinforcing effect of the fiber material is not impaired.

Conventionally, as a method of fibrillating a polymer fiber filament, for example,
After swelling the polymer fiber filaments cut to a predetermined length for the granulated material with water, etc., beating on a stone mill, etc.,
A method of defibrating by crushing is known.

[0008]

However, in the conventional fibrillation method using a millstone or the like, a so-called batch type treatment is performed, and the apparatus for fibrillation requires the operation of the apparatus every time a fixed amount of fiber material is processed. It is necessary to stop and carry out the treated fiber material and carry in the untreated fiber material, which lowers the operation rate of the apparatus, and thus has a problem that it is difficult to improve the productivity. In stone mills,
There is also a problem that the sound generated when beating or crushing the fiber material is loud and causes noise.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and by continuously performing the fibrillation processing, it is possible to improve the productivity and the operation rate of the apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for fibrillating polymer fiber filaments, which can suppress noise generated at the time.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for fibrillating a polymer fiber filament according to the present invention, comprising a first mortar-shaped concave rough surface for contacting the polymer fiber filament. A rough surface member, having a convex rough surface that is arranged so as to face the concave rough surface with the concave rough surface aligned with the central axis and forms a gap through which the fluid can pass along the concave rough surface, and A second rough surface member rotatable relative to the first rough surface member; and a filament pumping means for pumping a fluid containing a polymer fiber filament to the gap.

Preferably, in the above fibrillating apparatus, the filament pumping means feeds a fluid containing a polymer fiber filament along a central axis of the first rough surface member or the second rough surface member. It is good to supply to the center of rotation of a concave rough surface and a convex rough surface via a flow passage formed through.

Further, a method of fibrillating a polymer fiber filament according to the present invention for achieving the above object, comprises a method of fibrillating the surface of a polymer fiber filament using any one of the above fibrillating apparatuses. A method of fibrillating fiber filaments, wherein the concave rough surface and the convex rough surface are relatively rotated around a common central axis, and a fluid containing a polymer fiber filament is mixed with the concave rough surface and the convex rough surface. It is characterized by continuously supplying fibrils to the polymer fiber filaments by the crushing action of the concave rough surface and the convex rough surface by continuously supplying them to the gaps between them.

According to the apparatus and method for fibrillating polymer fiber filaments, if the supply of the fluid containing the polymer fiber filaments is continuously performed by the filament pumping means, the fibrillation process can be continuously performed. can do. Furthermore, there is no direct contact between the concave rough surface and the convex rough surface, and the fluid containing the polymer fiber filament is used as a cushioning material that absorbs the shock generated between the concave rough surface and the convex rough surface by flow. Therefore, the noise generated during the fibrillation process can be suppressed.

Further, when the supply position of the fluid containing the polymer fiber filaments by the filament pumping means is at the center of rotation between the concave rough surface and the convex rough surface, the supplied polymer fiber filament is It can also be crushed by the concave rough surface and the convex rough surface while gradually moving to the outer peripheral side under the centrifugal force exerted by the relative rotation between the concave rough surface and the convex rough surface. Also, by changing the flow rate of the fluid supplied by the filament pumping means or the relative speed between the concave and convex rough surfaces, the processing speed and the effect of crushing can be finely adjusted in various ways.

As the polymer fiber filament to be contained in the liquid supplied by the filament pumping means, a short cut polymer fiber filament is suitable.
By fibrillating an inexpensive material such as a chopped fiber obtained by cutting a fiber filament obtained by twisting and collecting fine glass fibers into a short length, it is possible to provide an inexpensive fibrillated fiber.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of an apparatus and a method for fibrillating polymer fiber filaments according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of an apparatus for fibrillating a polymer fiber filament according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the apparatus, and FIG. FIG.

The fibrillating apparatus 1 of the first embodiment comprises a first bowl-shaped rough surface member 7 having a substantially mortar-shaped concave rough surface 5 for contacting the polymer fiber filaments 3, The rough surface 5 has a convex rough surface 11 that is arranged so as to face the concave rough surface 5 with its central axis aligned and forms a gap 9 along the concave rough surface 5 through which a fluid (such as water or air) can pass. The second rough surface member rotatable relative to the first rough surface member, and the concave rough surface 5 and the convex rough surface 11 define the fluid 15 including the polymer fiber filament 3 cut into a short length. And a filament pressure feeding means 17 for feeding pressure into the gap 9. In addition to the above-described configuration, the fibrillating device 1 further includes a rough surface interval setting means (not shown) for adjusting a distance between the concave rough surface 5 and the convex rough surface 11, and a concave rough surface 5 and a convex rough surface. And a rotation driving means (not shown) for relatively rotating the motor 11 with respect to the common center axis.

The concave rough surface 5 and the convex rough surface 11 are obtained by subjecting a surface of a predetermined shape of each member to unevenness such as knurling, which has a file effect. In this embodiment, the concave rough surface 5 is obtained by roughening a substantially hemispherical concave surface. The convex rough surface 11 is obtained by roughening a substantially hemispherical convex curved surface.

In the case of this embodiment, the first rough surface member 7 is
It is installed with the concave rough surface 5 facing upward. Then, the second rough surface member 13 has the first rough surface 11 so that the convex rough surface 11 faces downward and a gap 9 at a predetermined interval is secured between the concave rough surface 5 and the convex rough surface 11. It is arranged on the upper part of the member 7. The rough surface interval setting means (not shown) controls the first rough surface member 7 and the second rough surface member 13 so as to secure a gap 9 at a predetermined interval between the concave rough surface 5 and the convex rough surface 11. It is to support. The rough surface interval setting means (not shown) supports at least one of the first rough surface member 7 and the second rough surface member 13 so as to be able to advance and retreat in a direction facing the other rough surface member, The above-described gap 9 may be configured to be adjustable.

In the case of the present embodiment, the rotation driving means (not shown) for relatively rotating the concave rough surface 5 and the convex rough surface 11 uses the first rough surface member 7 and the second rough surface member 13 in common. They are rotated in opposite directions about the central axis. However, the point is that if the concave rough surface 5 and the convex rough surface 11 can be relatively rotated about a common center axis, it is possible to exert a crushing effect on a filament described later. A mechanism for rotating one of the rough surface member 7 and the second rough surface member 13 or a structure for giving a difference in rotation speed although the rotation direction is the same may be used.

The filament pumping means 17 feeds the fluid 15 containing the short polymer fiber filaments 3 through the flow path 19 formed through the center axis of the second rough surface member 13 to form the concave rough surface 5. And the convex rough surface 11.

The method for fibrillating polymer fiber filaments 3 according to the present invention is to fibrillate short polymer fiber filaments 3 using the above-described fibrillating apparatus 1. Specifically, while relatively rotating the concave rough surface 5 and the convex rough surface 11 around a common central axis, the fluid 15 (water in the present embodiment) containing the polymer fiber filament 3 is
By continuously supplying the gap 9 between the concave rough surface 5 and the convex rough surface 11, the fibrillation of the polymer fiber filament 3 by the crushing action of the concave rough surface 5 and the convex rough surface 11 is continuously performed. Things.

According to the fibrillation method using such a fibrillation apparatus 1, the polymer fiber filament 3
Is continuous by the filament pumping means 17, the fibrillation treatment can be performed continuously, and compared with the conventional batch type fibrillation treatment using a stone mill or the like, It is possible to improve the performance and the operation rate of the device. Further, there is no direct contact between the concave rough surface 5 and the convex rough surface 11, and the water 15 containing the polymer fiber filaments 3 is not in contact with the concave rough surface 5 and the convex rough surface 1.
Since it functions as a cushioning material that absorbs an impact generated between the first and second members by flow, noise generated during fibrillation can also be suppressed.

When the supply position of the water 15 containing the polymer fiber filaments 3 by the filament pumping means 17 is set at the center of rotation of the concave rough surface 5 and the convex rough surface 11, the supplied high The molecular fiber filament 3 has a concave rough surface 5
The concave rough surface 5 and the convex rough surface 1 are also gradually moved to the outer peripheral side under the action of centrifugal force exerted by the relative rotation of
1 and flows stably without stagnation in the entire area of the gap 9, and is crushed by the concave rough surface 5 and the convex rough surface 11. Therefore, the polymer fiber filament 3 added to the liquid undergoes a uniform and stable fibrillation treatment over the entire concave rough surface 5 and the convex rough surface 11. In addition, the concave rough surface 5 and the convex rough surface 11
The fibrillated fiber filament 3a that has reached the outer peripheral edge of the spilled water overflows the outside of the concave rough surface 5 with water, is collected in a collection container (not shown), and is separated from the water.

Also, by changing the flow rate of water supplied by the filament pumping means 17 and the relative speed between the concave rough surface 5 and the convex rough surface 11, the processing speed and the effect of crushing can be finely adjusted in various ways. In addition, the degree of fibrillation of the polymer fiber filament can be adjusted with high accuracy, and the degree of fibrillation can be easily adjusted according to the application.

As the polymer fiber filament 3 to be included in the water supplied by the filament pumping means 17, a short cut polymer fiber filament 3 is suitable.
For example, an inexpensive fibrillated fiber can be provided by fibrillating an inexpensive material such as a chopped fiber obtained by cutting a fiber filament obtained by twisting and collecting fine glass fibers into a short length.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a second embodiment of the fibrillating device for a polymer fiber filament 3 according to the present invention. This fibrillating device 21
The convex rough surface 11 of the second rough surface member 13 is arranged facing upward,
The first rough surface member 7 with the concave rough surface 5 facing downward is disposed thereon. That is, the first embodiment is different from the first embodiment.
The vertical positional relationship between the rough surface member 7 and the second rough surface member 13 is reversed. Further, in this embodiment, a flow path 19 through which the liquid is inserted is formed on the rotation center axis of the first rough surface member 7, and the filament pressure feeding means 17 is connected to the flow path 19. As described above, the vertical relationship between the first rough surface member 7 and the second rough surface member 13 may be reversed.

The polymer fiber filaments to be fibrillated by the fibrillating apparatus and the fibrillating method of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned chopped fibers as long as they are short polymer fiber filaments.

[0029]

According to the apparatus and method for fibrillating polymer fiber filaments of the present invention, if the supply of the fluid containing the polymer fiber filaments is continuously performed by the filament pumping means, the fibrillation treatment can be continuously performed. As compared with the conventional batch type fibrillation treatment using a stone mill or the like, the productivity and the operation rate of the apparatus can be improved. Furthermore, there is no direct contact between the concave rough surface and the convex rough surface, and the fluid containing the polymer fiber filament absorbs the shock generated between the concave rough surface and the convex rough surface by the flow. Since it also functions as a material, noise generated during fibrillation can be suppressed.

Further, when the supply position of the fluid containing the polymer fiber filament by the filament pumping means is set at the center of rotation between the concave rough surface and the convex rough surface, the supplied polymer fiber filament is A centrifugal force acting by the relative rotation between the concave and convex rough surfaces is also provided to gradually move to the outer peripheral side, and flow without partially stagnating in the entire gap between the concave and rough surfaces. The fibers are uniformly fibrillated by the crushing action of the concave and convex rough surfaces. Also, by changing the flow rate of the fluid supplied by the filament pumping means and the relative speed between the concave and convex rough surfaces, the processing speed and the effect of crushing can be finely adjusted in various ways. The degree of fibrillation can be adjusted with high precision, and the degree of fibrillation can be easily adjusted according to the application.

As the polymer fiber filament to be contained in the fluid supplied by the filament pumping means,
Short-cut polymer fiber filaments are suitable, for example, by fibrillating inexpensive materials such as chopped fibers obtained by cutting short fiber strands obtained by twisting and collecting fine glass fibers, to obtain inexpensive fibrillated fibers. Offering can also be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a first embodiment of an apparatus for fibrillating polymer fiber filaments according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a second embodiment of a fibrillation device for polymer fiber filaments according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 fibrillating device 3 polymer fiber filament 3a fibrillated fiber filament 5 concave rough surface 7 first rough surface member 9 gap 11 convex rough surface 13 second rough surface member 15 liquid 17 filament pumping means 19 flow path 21 Fibrillation equipment

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A first rough surface member having a substantially mortar-shaped concave rough surface for contacting a polymer fiber filament, and a first rough surface member arranged to face the concave rough surface with the concave rough surface aligned with a central axis. A second roughened surface member that has a convex rough surface that forms a gap along which the fluid can pass along the concave rough surface, and that can rotate relative to the first rough surface member, and a polymer fiber filament. And a filament pumping means for pumping a fluid containing fluid into the gap. 2. The filament pumping means passes a fluid containing a polymer fiber filament through a flow passage formed through a central axis of the first rough surface member or the second rough surface member. The fibrillation device for a polymer fiber filament according to claim 1, wherein the supply is performed to a rotation center portion between the concave rough surface and the convex rough surface. 3. A method for fibrillating a polymer fiber filament, wherein the surface of the polymer fiber filament is fibrillated using the apparatus for fibrillating a polymer fiber filament according to claim 1. A fluid containing a polymer fiber filament is continuously supplied to a gap between the concave rough surface and the convex rough surface while relatively rotating the concave rough surface and the convex rough surface around a common central axis. so,
A method for fibrillating a polymer fiber filament, comprising continuously performing fibrillation of a polymer fiber filament by a grinding action of a concave rough surface and a convex rough surface.