JP2004167730A - Method for processing bamboo fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an easily processable bamboo fiber, which keeps its original characteristics, by easily taking out the bamboo fiber from a natural bamboo material regardless of length by one treatment process without losing the original mechanical/chemical properties of the bamboo fiber. <P>SOLUTION: The bamboo fibers 11 are obtained by performing a process wherein the bamboo material 10 is placed in a closed space and kept under a definite pressure for a definite time by feeding hot steam into the space and the pressure in the space is subsequently reduced suddenly, once or a plurality of times. Then, the obtained bamboo fibers 11 are boiled and cut into a specified length before mixed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for processing bamboo fiber.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a processing method for making bamboo fiber taken out of bamboo material into a soft fiber, which is convenient for molding.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a method of removing bamboo fiber, bamboo is made into strip-shaped bamboo pieces, then sent into a defibrating machine, and the strip-shaped bamboo pieces are defibrated between an impeller of the defibrating machine and defibrating fine grooves. There is also known a method in which bamboo fibers defibrated to a predetermined diameter are selected by a screen provided on a peripheral surface of the defibrator and taken out (see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
In addition, bamboo fiber has attracted attention as a natural fiber that is friendly to people and the environment.
Bamboo with a strong growth potential is a natural resource that grows quickly and has high productivity.
And the deodorizing, cleaning and antibacterial effects of bamboo are well known. Bamboo fiber is also excellent as a natural fiber, and has excellent hygroscopicity and quick-drying properties due to many elongated cavities on the fiber surface.
Then, using a bamboo fiber, bamboo fiber is reacted by reacting bamboo-based pulp with alkali and carbon disulfide, dissolving it in caustic soda as alkali risantate, spinning, and coagulating and regenerating cellulose to produce bamboo fiber. A manufacturing method is known (see Patent Document 2).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-71209 [Patent Document 2]
JP 2001-115347 A [0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional bamboo fiber take-out method, a large force is applied to the bamboo fiber because a mechanical force is applied to the bamboo itself. For this reason, it is difficult to sufficiently bring out the mechanical properties and the like of the bamboo fiber.
Further, when the bamboo fiber is chemically treated, the mechanical and chemical properties of the original bamboo fiber are lost or reduced.
Therefore, it is possible to easily and easily extract a large amount of bamboo fiber from natural bamboo materials, regardless of the length, in a single process. The challenge is to obtain.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention uses the following means.
As described in claim 1, bamboo is placed in a closed space,
By sending heated steam into the space, the pressure is maintained at a constant pressure for a certain time, and thereafter, a step of rapidly reducing the pressure in the space is performed once or a plurality of times,
The obtained bamboo fiber is mixed.
[0007]
As described in claim 2, bamboo is placed in a closed space,
By sending heated steam into the space, the pressure is maintained at a constant pressure for a certain time, and thereafter, a step of rapidly reducing the pressure in the space is performed once or a plurality of times,
Boiling the obtained bamboo fiber,
After cutting to a certain length,
Mix.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a manufacturing process of a sheet-like bamboo fiber.
First, an overall process of manufacturing a sheet-shaped bamboo fiber from bamboo material will be described with reference to FIG.
A bamboo fiber 11 is obtained from the bamboo material 10 by blasting. Then, the bamboo fiber 11 is cut into a predetermined length to obtain a bamboo fiber 12 having a uniform length. The bamboo fiber 12 is made into a cotton-like bamboo fiber 13 by mixing.
Further, this cotton-like bamboo fiber 13 is formed into a sheet-like bamboo fiber 14.
By cutting the bamboo fiber 11 taken out of the bamboo material 10 into a predetermined length, the bamboo fiber 12 is easy to handle, and excessive entanglement in mixing can be suppressed.
[0009]
Next, the manufacturing process of the cotton-like bamboo fiber 13 will be described in detail.
FIG. 2: is a figure which shows the manufacturing process of a cotton-like bamboo fiber.
By exploding the bamboo material, the lignin layer of the bamboo material is broken, and the bamboo fiber can be taken out without damage. The taken-out bamboo fiber is sent to a cutting step after a cutting step or a boiling step, depending on the strength of the bamboo fiber.
As a material for determining the strength of the bamboo fiber, it is possible to use the flexibility, the elastic modulus, and the like, and the material can be selected according to the use form of the bamboo fiber.
By judging the strength of the bamboo fiber after the explosion, it is possible to eliminate the variation of the bamboo fiber depending on the season and the place of production, and to obtain bamboo fiber of a constant quality.
[0010]
Bamboo fiber is softened by the boiling process. For this reason, when the bamboo fiber obtained by the explosion is hard or has a high elastic modulus, a boiling step is performed.
By this boiling step, the hardness and flexibility of the fiber can be adjusted.
The boiled bamboo fiber is subjected to a drying treatment, and the bamboo fiber is dried.
[0011]
After adjusting the strength of the bamboo fiber, the bamboo fiber is cut to a certain length. As a result, the length of the fibers is made substantially uniform, the dispersion of the bamboo fibers is eliminated, and the characteristics of the bamboo fibers are easy to handle.
Then, mixing is performed by a mixer to convert the bamboo fiber into a cotton-like bamboo fiber. By mixing, the bamboo fiber is bent to make it softer. Then, by intertwining the bamboo fibers, the bamboo fibers have a three-dimensional network structure, and the bamboo fibers are made cotton-like.
By molding the cotton-like bamboo fiber, a light bamboo-like fiber molded product can be obtained.
[0012]
FIG. 3 is a view showing a processing step of bamboo fiber.
Next, each step will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
First, the blasting process will be described.
Explosion treatment involves placing bamboo in a closed space and sending heated steam to maintain a constant pressure for a certain period of time, followed by one or more steps of rapidly reducing the pressure in the space. It is.
A bamboo fiber is taken out from the bamboo material 10 in the pressure can body 21 by the explosion processing step.
The bamboo material 10 is put into the pressure can body 21, and steam is blown into the pressure can body 21 to raise the temperature in the pressure can body to be processed to 100 ° C. or more, and has a role of binding the fibers in the bamboo material 10 to each other. Apply heat to the lignin layer.
Next, by instantaneously releasing the pressure in the can corresponding to the steam temperature, only the lignin layer is decomposed without damaging the bamboo fiber, and the bamboo fiber is taken out.
A silencer 22 is connected to the pressure can 21 via a valve that releases pressure in the can. This silencer 22 is for reducing the noise generated when the pressure is suddenly released.
In the explosion crushing process, when bamboo fiber is collected from natural bamboo material, an operation of exposing the bamboo material 10 to steam having a temperature of 100 ° C. or higher and a corresponding pressure using the pressure can body 21, The bamboo fiber can be easily taken out in several hours regardless of the length by performing the operation of releasing the bamboo several times to several tens of times.
[0013]
This method can remove not only bamboo fiber but also carbonized bamboo fiber by changing the processing temperature and the processing conditions such as the number of times the pressure is released instantaneously in the pressure can housing the bamboo material. It is. One process time is 2 to 3 hours, and bamboo fibers and carbonized bamboo fibers that are long in the fiber direction can be taken out.
[0014]
According to the method for removing bamboo fiber and carbonized bamboo fiber, it is not necessary to take the number of steps of the conventional bamboo bamboo milling process and the crushing process of removing the fiber, which are simple and easy for the operator to operate. In addition to shortening the working time, a large amount of bamboo fiber or carbonized bamboo fiber of a desired length can be taken out at a time, so that the manufacturing cost of bamboo fiber or carbonized bamboo fiber can be reduced.
[0015]
The round bamboo material 10 is mounted on a cart, and is appropriately fixed with a belt or the like, and the cart is placed in the pressure can 21. Then, the steam is jetted into the pressure can 21 to heat the inside of the pressure can 21.
In the first heating cycle, the temperature in the can is maintained at 170 to 175 degrees Celsius, and heating is performed for 30 to 60 minutes. Thereafter, the release valve of the pressure can 21 is opened to release the vapor in the tank to the atmosphere. The time required to open and close the opening valve is about 5 seconds.
Next, as a second heating cycle, the opening valve is closed, and heating steam is supplied to the pressure can 21 again. After the temperature rise, the temperature is maintained at 170 to 175 degrees Celsius for 2 to 3 minutes, and thereafter, the opening valve of the pressure can 21 is opened to release the pressure in the pressure can 21 to the atmosphere.
Hereinafter, the second and subsequent heating / decompression cycles are repeated a predetermined number of times.
The number of repetitions is adjusted according to the size of the bamboo to be processed.
Thus, bamboo fibers are obtained from the bamboo material 10.
[0016]
Next, the boiling step will be described.
In the boiling step, a method of steaming with steam and pressing with a heating roller or a method of boiling in a steaming pot is used.
The method of steaming with steam and pressing with a heating roller is a method in which steam is sprayed onto exploded bamboo and steamed, and the steamed bamboo fiber is pressed with a heating roller.
Steam is injected from the nozzles 31 and the bamboo fiber 11 is steamed. The bamboo fiber 11 steamed by steam is pressed by the steam heating roller 32. By this step, the bamboo fibers are aligned in a certain direction and linearly, facilitating the subsequent cutting step.
The method of simmering bamboo fiber in a steaming kettle is to put the bamboo fiber into the steaming kettle and cook it.
The bamboo fiber steamed in any of the boiling steps is dried through a drying step.
[0017]
Next, in the cutting step, the bamboo fiber is cut by the cutting machine 41.
The bamboo fiber 11 is introduced into the cutting machine 41, and the bamboo fiber 11 is cut into a predetermined length. In the cutting step, the bamboo fiber is cut into 35 to 60 mm. By this step, the length of the bamboo fiber is made uniform.
Next, in the mixing step, the bamboo fibers cut in the cutting step by the mixer 51 are stirred. As the mixer 51, a high-speed mixer is used, and a generally known mixer such as a mixer having a rotating stirring rod at the bottom in a cylindrical charging container can be used. The mixing is performed by the mixer 51 at a rotation speed of 5,000 to 30,000 rpm. The rotation speed at which the mixing is performed is adjusted depending on the condition of the fiber and the quality of the target fiber.
The mixing time is 30 seconds to 10 minutes. The mixing time is appropriately adjusted depending on the state of the fiber and the desired softness of the fiber. Then, fine cotton-like bamboo fibers are obtained by mixing.
Next, in a molding step, bamboo fibers are processed by a non-woven molding machine into non-woven fabrics of any kind.
[0018]
The bamboo fiber thus configured can be used for filters, carpets, and the like. Then, after the mixing step, the bamboo fiber which has become cotton-like is decolorized, so that a white bamboo fiber can be obtained. The white bamboo fiber can be molded as it is white, and can be easily colored. Then, the white bamboo fiber can be formed after coloring.
[0019]
Bamboo fiber has a deodorizing effect, a deodorizing effect, and an antibacterial effect, and can be used as various filters. In addition, bamboo itself is a natural product and has been used in living environments for a long time. And, the molded product composed of bamboo fiber has less influence on the environment in the production process and disposal than in petrochemical products and the like.
For this reason, bamboo fiber products processed without reducing the properties of bamboo fiber can be used for various applications, such as various filters and sheet materials for automobiles, and FRP fiber materials for automobile parts. Similarly, OA equipment, household appliances, building materials, clothing, medical equipment, medical office equipment and supplies, barrier-free supplies, oil products, tatami supplies, Japanese paper, wallpaper, and fine art materials have high silicon content. As a result, it has a wide range of uses as nonwoven fabrics that protect the environment, such as abrasives.
The present invention can provide a processed product of bamboo fiber, which can be taken out from bamboo without damaging such bamboo fiber, and which fully draws out the characteristics of the bamboo fiber.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
As described in claim 1, bamboo is placed in a closed space,
By sending heated steam into the space, the pressure is maintained at a constant pressure for a certain time, and thereafter, a step of rapidly reducing the pressure in the space is performed once or a plurality of times,
Since the obtained bamboo fiber is mixed,
It is possible to obtain a soft cotton-like bamboo fiber which is easy to process while having the chemical and mechanical properties inherent to the bamboo fiber.
[0021]
As described in claim 2, bamboo is placed in a closed space,
By sending heated steam into the space, the pressure is maintained at a constant pressure for a certain time, and thereafter, a step of rapidly reducing the pressure in the space is performed once or a plurality of times,
Boiling the obtained bamboo fiber,
After cutting to a certain length,
By mixing
With the inherent chemical and mechanical properties of bamboo fiber,
It is soft and easy to process, and can obtain a homogeneous bamboo fiber.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a view showing a manufacturing process of a sheet-like bamboo fiber.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a manufacturing process of flocculent bamboo fiber.
FIG. 3 is a view showing a processing step of bamboo fiber.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 10 bamboo material 11 bamboo fiber 12 cut bamboo fiber 13 cottony bamboo fiber 14 sheet bamboo fiber

Claims (2)

Put bamboo in a closed space,
By sending heated steam into the space, the pressure is maintained at a constant value for a certain period of time, and thereafter a step of rapidly reducing the pressure in the space is performed once or a plurality of times,
A method for processing bamboo fiber, comprising mixing the obtained bamboo fiber. Put bamboo in a closed space,
By sending heated steam into the space, the pressure is maintained at a constant pressure for a certain time, and thereafter, a step of rapidly reducing the pressure in the space is performed once or a plurality of times,
Boiling the obtained bamboo fiber,
After cutting to a certain length,
A method for processing bamboo fiber, which comprises mixing.

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