JP2001140151A - Liquid-occluding material - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a liquid-occluding material which can be used for the occluding members of writing tools and liquid cosmetics, sucking wicks for flavoring agents, and so on, and can optimize the retention, flowability and diffusivity of a liquid. SOLUTION: This liquid-occluding material is obtained by thermally treating raw material fiber bundles comprising one or more kinds of fibers selected filaments, filament processed yarns and staple fibers in such a tension-free opened state as giving a crimp rate of 10 to 40% and then contracting the diameter of the fiber bundles so as to give a porosity of 70 to 90%.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention can be used for writing implements, occlusion bodies for liquid cosmetics, wicks for fragrances, etc., and can optimize the retention, fluidity, and diffusion of liquids. It relates to a liquid occlusion body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional ink storages for writing instruments, storages for liquid cosmetics, suction cores for fragrances, etc. are made of fiber bundles of fibers such as nylon, acrylic and polyester (crimp rate is 5 to 7% or less). A resin-coated or film-wrapped configuration has been used. In recent years,
The fiber bundle is immersed (impregnated) in a resin (binder) bath, or heat-treated using a mixed fiber blended with a low-melting fiber, so that the entangled points between the fibers are point-bonded to form a three-dimensional network structure. Some occlusion bodies are produced by a method of forming, and then, heat forming and drawing to a desired diameter. The holding power, fluidity, diffusivity, and content of the liquid such as ink, liquid cosmetics, and fragrance in the occlusion body are adjusted by the denier and porosity of the single fiber used for the occlusion body.

[0003]

However, all of the above-mentioned conventional occlusion bodies are merely those in which the holding power, fluidity, diffusivity, content and the like of the liquid are adjusted at a low level. That is,
Occupants have been manufactured at the expense of other functions to improve one function. For example, in order to prevent ink dropping in a writing instrument or the like, it is necessary to increase the ink holding force of the occluding body. In this case, in order to reduce the porosity or the denier of the single fiber, the flow of the ink is reduced. The properties and the amount included were sacrificed, and as a result, the ejection of the ink was poor (it was easy to lose ink). In addition, in order to prolong the use period of the writing instrument, it is necessary to increase the amount of ink contained in the occlusion body and improve the fluidity of the ink. Was sacrificed, and as a result, troubles such as the ink jumping out of the occluding body due to a weak impact occurred. In particular, among the conventional occlusion bodies, those having a configuration in which a fiber bundle is simply film-wrapped have a problem that since the fibers are not connected to each other, they are weak in longitudinal tension, and are difficult to be molded to a designed diameter and weight. there were. In addition, since the fiber bundle easily jumps out of the occlusion body, for example, in a writing instrument or the like, there has been a problem that the air hole of the pen is blocked. Further, among the conventional occlusion bodies, those having a configuration forming a three-dimensional network structure include:
Since the entanglement point between the fibers is only point-adhesive as described above, when a drop impact or the like occurs, a part of the point-adhesion part is destroyed, and as a result, the central part of the fiber bundle easily jumps out of the occlusion body. . Further, in this production, a step of immersing the fiber bundle in a resin bath and a heat treatment step in which treatment conditions are strictly controlled are required, so that there is a disadvantage that productivity is extremely poor. In addition, it is difficult to form the point-bonded portions uniformly between the linear fibers (crimp ratio is 5 to 7% or less), and the point-bonded portions could be formed to be evenly distributed in the open state. However, when the diameter is reduced and the side circumference in the longitudinal direction is covered with a resin covering material, the coating becomes non-uniform. As a result, the fluidity and diffusibility of the liquid become non-uniform. Also, the roundness of the product is low.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed in view of the above, and comprises crimping a raw fiber bundle composed of one or more of long fibers, processed yarns of short fibers, and short fibers. The present invention relates to a liquid occlusion body obtained by performing a heat treatment in an open state where tension is not applied so that the porosity is 10 to 40%, and then reducing the diameter of the fiber bundle so that the porosity is 70 to 90%. Incidentally, the side circumference in the longitudinal direction of the occlusion body may be covered with a coating material such as a resin film.

[0005]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The liquid occlusion body of the present invention does not limit the type of raw fiber bundle,
Either a processed fiber of a long fiber or a short fiber (sliver), or a mixture thereof can be used. Unprocessed long fibers and the like need to be mechanically processed (crimped) before or during heat treatment. On the other hand, the processed yarn of long fiber only needs to be subjected to heat treatment, which is desirable in terms of productivity. This processed yarn is crimped (=
Crimp), and the crimp rate is 7%
Some are already on the market. Assuming that the unprocessed yarn of 9000 m is Ag and the processed yarn of 9000 m is Bg, {(BA) / A × 100} is the crimp ratio (%) of the processed yarn. When the fiber bundle of the processed yarn is thermally shrunk in an open state to increase the crimp rate, the bulkiness (bulk) of the fibers increases, and the fibers are physically entangled with each other due to the entanglement between the fibers. A condition occurs. Since the fibers are heat-fused and are not heat-treated under heating conditions, point bonding like a conventional occluder forming a three-dimensional network structure is not formed. By the action of the physical connection (engagement) state by the entanglement of the fibers, it is possible to improve the holding power of the ink and to dramatically improve the fluidity and the diffusivity. The crimp rate is 10
The content is set to ４０40%, preferably 12 to 32%, more preferably 15% to 25%, but if it is less than 10%, the fibers are not sufficiently entangled with each other. On the other hand, when the crimp ratio is larger than 40%, the heat treatment step becomes longer, and furthermore, the subsequent reduction in diameter becomes difficult.

The entanglement of the fibers having the high bulkiness does not restrict the fibers from each other, but imparts a high elasticity to the entire fiber bundle uniformly. When the entangled portion increases, hardness and integrity are improved, and elasticity is not impaired. Further, the shape of the pores formed in the occlusion body becomes extremely complicated. Therefore, even if the porosity is increased to increase the content, the liquid retainability is high. Further, even if an impact or the like acts, the entanglement between the fibers cannot be lost, so that some of the fibers do not come off from the fiber bundle. On the other hand, the point bonding in the conventional occlusion body having a three-dimensional network structure has a low crimp ratio (5 to 7% or less) and bonds the intertwining points between almost linear fibers. Although elasticity due to the formation of pores is provided by restraining each other, this elasticity is extremely low. Increasing this point bond increases hardness and integrity but lowers elasticity. Further, the shape of the pores formed in the occlusion body is presumed to be narrow in the longitudinal direction, and the structure is relatively simple. For these reasons, conventional occlusion bodies have poor liquid retention.

After the heat treatment is performed so that the crimp ratio becomes 10 to 40% as described above, the porosity of the fiber bundle becomes 70 to 90%.
%. Specifically, it is necessary to provide a means for preventing the reduced diameter fiber bundle from being restored by its own elasticity, such as helically winding a thread or the like, attaching a restraint at an appropriate interval, or forming a predetermined diameter. Although there is a method of inserting the film into the formed cylindrical body or wrapping the film around the longitudinal direction, the method is not particularly limited. If the porosity is smaller than 70%, for example, in the case of an ink occlusion body for a writing instrument, the ink content becomes extremely small, and the writing distance decreases. Further, since the ink holding power becomes too strong, the flow of the ink to the pen tip is deteriorated, and the ink is blurred. On the other hand, if the porosity is larger than 90%, the flow (fluidity) of the ink becomes too good, and the writing distance decreases. In addition, since the fiber filling amount per unit volume is reduced, even if the crimp rate is increased to 40% and the ink holding power is increased, the relative ink content decreases, and the writing distance decreases. Conventionally, a method of covering the longitudinal side of the fiber bundle with a resin sheath material has been adopted, and the adhesion between the fiber bundle and the sheath material has been improved by using low melting point fibers or the like. Although it was said that it did not have sufficient integrity, in the present invention, since the restoring force due to the high bulky property of the fiber bundle works from the inside,
The fiber bundle and the jacket material adhere with an extremely high bonding force.

Next, a method for producing a liquid occlusion body by line processing by continuously moving a raw fiber bundle made of long fiber processed yarn in a longitudinal direction will be described with reference to the apparatus shown in FIG. In the drawing, 1 is a first delivery roller, 2 is a second delivery roller, 3 is a heat treatment device, 4 is a hot air device that supplies hot air to the heat treatment device 3, 5 is a cooling device, and 6 is a blower to the cooling device 5. It is a blower to supply. The large arrow indicates the traveling direction of the fiber bundle 7, and the first delivery roller 1
Arrows on the second delivery roller 2 indicate the rotation direction. At the time of the heat treatment, if the fiber bundle 7 is set in the open state and the tension is not applied to the fiber bundle 7 in the heat treatment device 3, the heat shrinkage of the fiber constituting the fiber bundle 7 is not hindered by the tension. Stable heat treatment can be performed. Therefore, each fiber constituting the fiber bundle 7 has a uniform crimp rate and a fiber bundle 7 with no variation in fiber weight can be obtained.

[0009] The liquid occlusion body of the present invention thus obtained has a high bulky property of the fibers, and a physical bonding state is generated between the fibers due to the entanglement of the fibers. In addition, fluidity and diffusivity can be dramatically improved. In addition, the liquid occlusion body of the present invention can be specifically used as an ink occlusion body for writing instruments, an occlusion body for liquid cosmetics, a wick for an aromatic agent, and the like. The crimp ratio and the porosity may be appropriately adjusted within the above ranges so as to obtain a product.

[0010]

EXAMPLES [Example 1] (Example of applying a polyethylene resin coating to a heat-treated fiber bundle) The heat treatment was performed using the apparatus shown in FIG. A. Sample 1) Fiber Polyester yarn Yarn weight 22,500 TD Crimp rate 7% 2) Outer jacket polyethylene resin 3) Product specifications and dimensions Outer diameter 6φ Length 60mm B. Set temperature and conditions of heat treatment process 1) Heat treatment device temperature 115 ° C Hot air volume 3 m ³ / min 2) Production line speed Extruder line take-off speed 30 m / min First delivery roller 30 m / min Second delivery roller 30 m / min 3) Cooling Apparatus Temperature 20-25 ° C Jet air pressure 0.2 kg / cm ² First, polyester processed yarn is bundled so that each fiber is in a parallel state, and tension is not applied to the fiber bundle under the above conditions. By passing through a heat treatment step, the fiber was crimped to 15%, passed through a coating die, coated with a resin, passed through a molding sizing, and cut to a predetermined length by a cutting device.

Example 2 (Example in which a heat-treated fiber bundle was wrapped with a polyester film) The heat treatment was carried out using the apparatus shown in FIG. A. Sample 1) Fiber Polyester processed yarn Weight per unit area 54000TD Crimp rate 7% 2) Jacket material Polyester film 3) Product specifications and dimensions Outer diameter 7.0φ Length 80mm B. Set temperature and conditions of heat treatment process 1) Heat treatment device temperature 120 ° C Hot air flow 3m ³ / min 2) Production line speed Extruder line take-up speed 40m / min First delivery roller 40m / min Second delivery roller 40m / min 3) Cooling Apparatus temperature: 20 to 25 ° C. Jet air pressure: 0.2 kg / cm ^{2 The} heat treatment step was performed in the same manner as in Example 1. Insert into the winding tube in the same direction as the polyester film set on the hoisting machine, reduce the diameter of the fiber bundle with the crimp rate of 15% while wrapping it with the film, heat seal with the take-up wrapping heater, and then cut. The part was cut to a predetermined length.

When the liquid occlusion material obtained in Examples 1 and 2 is used as an ink occlusion material for a writing instrument, the bulkiness of the fiber is higher than that of a conventional ink occlusion material. The following characteristics were obtained. 1) The sheath material (resin) and the fiber were in close contact with a high bonding force. 2) Entanglement occurred between the fibers in a uniform state. 3) The product hardness has increased. 4) Product roundness is improved. 5) There was no difference in diameter, and the filling amount was stable. 6) The ink holding power increased by 10%. 7) The occurrence of the fiber slip phenomenon due to the drop impact was prevented. 8) Fluidity and diffusivity became uniform.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in any manner unless the configuration described in the claims is changed. .

[0014]

As described above, in the liquid occlusion body of the present invention, the bulkiness of the fibers is increased, and a physical bonding state is generated between the fibers due to the entanglement of the fibers.
Liquid holding power is improved, and fluidity and diffusivity can be drastically improved. That is, the entanglement of the fibers having high bulkiness imparts high elasticity to the entire fiber bundle uniformly and complicates the shape of the pores formed therein,
The liquid retainability is high.

Further, in the occlusion body of the present invention, the fibers are bonded to each other by the entanglement of the fibers, and even if an impact or the like is applied, the entanglement cannot be lost. Absent. Further, in the occlusion body of the present invention, the fiber bundle and the covering material are in close contact with a high bonding force due to a restoring force (elasticity) caused by the bulkiness of the fibers. Therefore, it is not necessary to make the jacket material and the fiber bundle have a low melting point, and various fibers, resins, and the like can be selected and used.

Further, the occlusion body of the present invention is not a structure having point bonding points like a conventional occlusion body forming a three-dimensional network structure, but has a connection (engagement) by entanglement of fibers. Due to the structure, the occlusion body has a uniform fluidity and diffusivity of the liquid, and also has a high product hardness and can improve the roundness of the product.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing a part of a manufacturing apparatus used in an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A heat treatment of a raw fiber bundle comprising one or more of a long fiber, a processed fiber of a long fiber, and a short fiber in an open state where tension is not applied so that a crimp rate is 10 to 40%. After processing, a liquid occlusion body formed by reducing the diameter of this fiber bundle so that the porosity is 70 to 90%. 2. The liquid occlusion body according to claim 1, wherein the side circumference in the longitudinal direction is covered with a jacket material.