JP2006143894A - Phosphor for fluorescent brightening - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a phosphor suitable for fluorescent brightening, having an excellent weather resistance, a preferable phosphor body color and a emitted fluorescent light color, and further having an excellent emission luminance. <P>SOLUTION: This phosphor for fluorescent brightening is characterized by having a chemical formula expressed by: (Ba<SB>1-x-y</SB>Ca<SB>x</SB>Eu<SB>y</SB>)MgAl<SB>10</SB>O<SB>17</SB>[wherein, x is 0≤x≤0.33; y is 0.07≤y≤0.35; and also 0.1≤x+y≤0.4]. By setting the amounts of Ca and Eu as 0≤x≤0.33; 0.07≤y≤0.35; and also 0.1≤x+y≤0.4, it becomes to have the excellent weather resistance, preferable phosphor body color and emitted fluorescent light color, and further the excellent emission luminance. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a phosphor that absorbs light in the wavelength region from visible light to ultraviolet light and emits a blue color. Further, the present invention relates to a fluorescent whitening fluorescent material that can increase whiteness when combined with a white paint or a white coating film. About the body.

In general, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, or the like is used as a white pigment for a paint for obtaining a white painted surface. In particular, titanium oxide is used in various paints due to its large hiding power.
Although these white pigments have excellent whiteness compared to other color pigments, they do not necessarily reflect all visible light uniformly. For example, titanium oxide has a blue region. The reflection is weak and the whole is light yellowish white.

On the other hand, these white paints using titanium oxide and the like are used in various industrial products, crafts, and building structures, and in particular, the white color of automobile outer panels has recently been given a high-class appearance. Therefore, a higher degree of whiteness is required, but as described above, white due to titanium oxide is not preferable because it is yellowish.
In addition to titanium oxide, the resin in the paint and the aluminum and mica pigments that are mixed with the paint to obtain a metallic or pearl-like painted surface have a slightly yellowish taste. This is also not preferable.

Means of making this yellowish taste blue by using a substance that emits blue fluorescence and making the whole look whiter, so-called fluorescent whitening, have been known for a long time. For example, white fiber products such as shirts It has long been used to make whiter fiber products by supplementing the blue of the fluorescent dye with the yellowness of the fiber by using an organic fluorescent dye that emits blue fluorescence.
In addition, it is also disclosed that a whitening effect by the fluorescent dye is used in a coating composition (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
However, the fluorescent brightening agent disclosed in Patent Document 1 is an organic fluorescent brightening agent such as “stilbene, benzimidazole, benzoxazole, coumarin, thiophene, xanthene, naphthalimide”. Since it is an agent and is inferior in durability and weather resistance, there is a problem that the fluorescent whitening effect rapidly decays with time.

In order to solve this problem, a method of forming a coating film using a combination of a bright pigment such as an aluminum pigment or a mica pigment and a fluorescent organic white pigment has also been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 2). ).
However, although this method using a fluorescent organic white pigment is superior in weather resistance as compared with the organic fluorescent whitening agent described above, it still uses an organic white pigment, so that a general inorganic material such as titanium oxide is used. Since it is inferior in weather resistance to the white pigments, there is a problem that it is lacking in practicality particularly when used in a severe environment such as automobile coating.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-313575 (pages 1 to 3) JP 2004-255322 A (pages 2 to 3)

  In view of the above-described conventional technology, an object of the present invention is to provide a fluorescent whitening phosphor excellent in weather resistance and fluorescent whitening effect.

  As a result of experiments conducted on various phosphors to solve the above problems, the present inventors are generally inorganic phosphors having weather resistance superior to organic phosphors, and more preferable. The present inventors have found a phosphor suitable for use in fluorescent whitening, having a phosphor color and a fluorescence emission color, and having excellent emission luminance.

The phosphor for fluorescent whitening according to claim 1 has a chemical formula represented by (Ba _1-xy Ca _x Eu _y ) MgAl ₁₀ O ₁₇ , x is 0 ≦ x ≦ 0.33, and y is 0 .07 ≦ y ≦ 0.35,
And 0.1 ≦ x + y ≦ 0.4.
Then, the amount x of calcium (Ca) and the amount y of europium (Eu) are set to 0 ≦ x ≦ 0.33, 0.07 ≦ y ≦ 0.35, and 0.1 ≦ x + y ≦ 0.4. Thus, the fluorescent whitening phosphor has excellent weather resistance, has a preferable phosphor color and fluorescent emission color, and further has excellent emission luminance.

Here, calcium (Ca) may be completely absent, but by adding this calcium, the firing temperature for firing this phosphor is lowered as compared with the case where calcium is not added at all, and the number of firings is also reduced. Therefore, a stable firing result can be obtained without coloring the phosphor.
At this time, if the amount x of calcium exceeds 0.33, the emission luminance tends to decrease and the particle size becomes too large, which is not preferable.
For this reason, by setting the amount x of calcium to 0 ≦ x ≦ 0.33, the emission brightness does not decrease and the particle size does not become too large, and an excellent fluorescent whitening phosphor is obtained. It is done.

In addition, when the amount y of europium (Eu) is less than 0.07, the effect of europium as an activator is too small, which is not preferable because the emission luminance decreases, and when y exceeds 0.35, This is not preferable because the ratio of objects increases and the luminance of light emission decreases.
Therefore, by setting the amount y of europium to 0.07 ≦ y ≦ 0.35, an excellent fluorescent whitening phosphor can be obtained without lowering the light emission luminance.

  Further, the amount x of calcium and the amount y of europium both change in fluorescence emission color as the amount increases or decreases. This change is expressed as the (y) value of the chromaticity coordinate values (x, y). (Hereinafter referred to as “chromaticity (y) value”), when the calcium amount x increases, the chromaticity (y) value increases, and when the europium amount y increases, the chromaticity (y ) The value increases.

  At this time, the range of the chromaticity (y) of the fluorescent color for suppressing the yellowishness caused by titanium oxide and the like and making it appear white is preferably 0.06 or more and 0.10 or less, and 0.07 or more and 0.09 or less. A range is more preferred. However, when the chromaticity (y) value is less than 0.06, the emission color is shifted to a deeper blue color, and thus the visibility is lowered, resulting in a decrease in emission luminance. On the other hand, when the chromaticity (y) value exceeds 0.10, the visibility is improved, but the fluorescence emission spectrum becomes broad, and the effect of suppressing yellowness due to titanium oxide or the like is reduced. For this reason, the chromaticity (y) value of the fluorescent color is preferably 0.06 or more and 0.10 or less.

Now, when the sum of the amount of calcium x and the amount of europium y, that is, x + y is less than 0.1, the chromaticity (y) value is too low, and the preferred lower limit of 0.06 for the chromaticity (y) value is This is not preferable because x is less than 0.4, and when x + y exceeds 0.4, the chromaticity (y) value is excessively increased and exceeds the preferable lower limit 0.10 of chromaticity (y).
Furthermore, when x + y exceeds 0.4, the emission luminance itself tends to decrease, which is also not preferable.
Therefore, by setting the sum of the amount of calcium x and the amount of europium y, that is, x + y to 0.1 ≦ x + y ≦ 0.4, an excellent fluorescence having a preferable fluorescence emission color without lowering the emission luminance. A whitening phosphor is obtained.

The fluorescent whitening phosphor according to claim 2 is characterized in that in the fluorescent whitening phosphor according to claim 1, the particle diameter is 2 μm or more and 4.5 μm or less at D50. Here, when the particle size is less than 2 μm at D50, the emission luminance is decreased, which is not preferable. When the particle size exceeds 4.5 μm at D50, unevenness tends to occur when forming a coating surface, Further, there is a problem that the concealability is lowered, the base is easily visible, and the coating surface itself is difficult to form, which is not preferable.
For this reason, in addition to the characteristics of the fluorescent whitening phosphor according to claim 1, by forming the particle size at D50 from 2 μm to 4.5 μm, the coated surface can be formed without further lowering the emission luminance. In this case, an excellent fluorescent whitening phosphor having desirable characteristics can be obtained.

  The fluorescent whitening phosphors described in claims 1 and 2 are inorganic phosphors, and thus have excellent weather resistance compared to fluorescent dyes using general organic phosphors. Furthermore, these fluorescent whitening phosphors are barium magnesium aluminate phosphors, that is, a kind of BAM phosphors. Therefore, these BAM phosphors are chemically stable and are resistant to sunlight and moisture. Since it is known to those skilled in the art that the phosphor is difficult to change even when exposed, the fluorescent whitening phosphors described in claims 1 and 2 have particularly excellent weather resistance. I understand that.

According to the fluorescent whitening phosphor according to claim 1, the chemical formula is represented by (Ba _1-xy Ca _x Eu _y ) MgAl ₁₀ O ₁₇ , x is 0 ≦ x ≦ 0.33, and y is 0.07 ≦ y ≦ 0.35,
And 0.1 ≦ x + y ≦ 0.4, it has excellent weather resistance, has a preferable phosphor color and fluorescent emission color, and has a further excellent light emission luminance. Can be obtained.

  According to the fluorescent whitening phosphor according to claim 2, in the fluorescent whitening phosphor according to claim 1, the particle size of D50 is 2 μm to 4.5 μm. In addition to the characteristics of the whitening phosphor, it is possible to obtain an excellent fluorescent whitening phosphor which has a preferable characteristic even when a coating surface is formed without further lowering the emission luminance.

Hereinafter, the process for producing the phosphor according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described.
First, for example, barium carbonate (BaCO ₃ ) as a raw material for barium (Ba), for example, calcium carbonate (CaCO ₃ ) as a raw material for calcium (Ca), and for example, europium oxide (Eu ₂ O ₃ ) as a raw material for europium (Eu). For example, basic magnesium carbonate or the like as a raw material of magnesium (Mg), alumina (Al ₂ O ₃ ) or the like as a raw material of aluminum (Al), and magnesium fluoride (MgF ₂ ) or aluminum fluoride (for example) as a flux A predetermined amount of each of AlF ₃ ) and the like is weighed and mixed thoroughly to obtain a mixture. This mixture is packed in a high-purity alumina crucible, for example, and calcined in a reducing atmosphere such as a hydrogen-containing nitrogen gas atmosphere at a calcining temperature of about 1300 ° C. to about 1600 ° C. for about 2 to 6 hours, more preferably It is fired for about 4 to 5 hours, then cooled, and a phosphor having a predetermined particle size is obtained through a pulverization step, a washing step, a drying step, a classification step, and the like.

The phosphor suitable for fluorescent whitening thus obtained has a chemical formula represented by (Ba _1-xy Ca _x Eu _y ) MgAl ₁₀ O ₁₇ , x is 0 ≦ x ≦ 0.33, and y is 0.07 ≦ y ≦ 0.35 and 0.1 ≦ x + y ≦ 0.4.

  Next, as an example of the above-described embodiment, the characteristics of the fluorescent whitening phosphor of the present invention will be described in comparison with the characteristics of conventional organic fluorescent whitening agents and other inorganic phosphors. .

First, 148.00 g of barium carbonate (BaCO ₃ ) as a raw material for barium (Ba) (0.75 mol as Ba element) and 10.01 g of calcium carbonate (CaCO ₃ ) as a raw material for calcium (Ca) (0.1% as Ca element) Mol), 26.39 g of europium oxide (Eu ₂ O ₃ ) (0.15 mol as Eu element) as a raw material of europium (Eu), and basic magnesium carbonate (MgO content 42.5) as a raw material of magnesium (Mg) %.) 94.83 g (1 mol as Mg element), 509.81 g of alumina (Al ₂ O ₃ ) (10 mol as Al element) as a raw material of aluminum (Al), magnesium fluoride (MgF) as flux ₂ ) Add 1.87 g (0.03 mol) and aluminum fluoride (AlF ₃ ) 3.8 g (0.5% of the total mass of the raw material) and mix well. Get the compound. This mixture is packed in a high-purity alumina crucible and fired at a firing temperature of about 1450 ° C. for about 4 hours in a mixed gas atmosphere of 25% hydrogen and 75% hydrogen as a reducing atmosphere, and then cooled and ground by a bead mill. A phosphor obtained by passing through a # 150 mesh through a washing process with pure water, a drying process, and a classification process was used as Sample 1.
The phosphor of Sample 1 is represented by (Ba _0.75 Ca _0.1 Eu _0.15 ) MgAl ₁₀ O ₁₇ .

Next, a stilbene fluorescent whitening agent was prepared as a conventional organic fluorescent whitening agent, and this was used as Comparative Example 1. As yet another comparative example, SrP, an inorganic fluorescent material that emits light in the blue region, was used. ₄ O ₇ : Eu (product name: SP-A, manufactured by Nemoto Special Chemical), CaMgSi ₂ O ₆ : Eu (product name: PDB-C, manufactured by Nemoto Special Chemical), Sr ₉ (PO ₄ ) ₆ · SrCl ₂ : Eu ( Product name: SPE-A manufactured by Nemoto Special Chemical Co., Ltd.), which were referred to as Comparative Example 2, Comparative Example 3, and Comparative Example 4, respectively.

Regarding the fluorescence obtained when each of the phosphors of Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1 to 4 was put in a sample dish and irradiated with ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 365 nm, first, a chromaticity meter (chromaticity meter CS-100 Konica Minolta) was used. The chromaticity (y) value was measured using a luminometer, and the luminance was measured as luminous intensity using a luminance meter (luminance meter LS-110, manufactured by Konica Minolta). The results are shown in Table 1. The luminous brightness was expressed as relative brightness when the brightness of Comparative Example 1 was set to 100.
Subsequently, for the phosphors of Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1 to 4, the emission spectrum was measured using a spectrofluorometer (F-4500, manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.), and the emission peak wavelength was determined. The results are also shown in Table 1.

From the results shown in Table 1, the inorganic phosphor having almost the same performance as the chromaticity (y) and luminous brightness of Comparative Example 1 which is a conventional organic fluorescent brightening agent is the present invention. In Comparative Example 2 to Comparative Example 4, which is only Example 1 and other inorganic phosphors, although the emission peak wavelength is close, the chromaticity (y) is greatly different, and the luminous brightness is It turns out that it is not at a practical level at all.
For reference, emission spectra of Comparative Example 1 which is a conventional organic fluorescent whitening agent and Example 1 which is the present invention are shown in FIG.
From the above, the inorganic phosphor represented by (Ba _0.75 Ca _0.1 Eu _0.15 ) MgAl ₁₀ O ₁₇ , which is an embodiment of the present invention, emits light in other blue regions. Compared to inorganic phosphors, it can be seen that they have excellent light emission characteristics similar to those of conventional organic fluorescent brighteners.

  Next, as Example 2, the characteristics of the fluorescent whitening phosphor of the present invention when the amount x of calcium (Ca) and the amount y of europium (Eu) are changed will be described.

First, barium carbonate (BaCO ₃ ) 138.15 g (0.7 mol as Ba element) as a raw material for barium (Ba), and calcium carbonate (CaCO ₃ ) 20.02 g (0.2 element as Ca element) as a raw material for calcium (Ca) Mol), 17.60 g of europium oxide (Eu ₂ O ₃ ) as a raw material of europium (Eu) (0.1 mol as an Eu element), and basic magnesium carbonate (MgO content 42.5 as a raw material of magnesium (Mg)) %.) 94.83 g (1 mol as Mg element), 509.81 g of alumina (Al ₂ O ₃ ) (10 mol as Al element) as a raw material of aluminum (Al), magnesium fluoride (MgF) as flux ₂ ) Add 1.87 g (0.03 mol) and 3.8 g of aluminum fluoride (AlF ₃ ) (0.5% of the total mass of the raw material) and mix well. Get. This mixture is packed in a high-purity alumina crucible, fired at a firing temperature of about 1420 ° C. for about 5 hours in a mixed gas atmosphere of hydrogen 25% nitrogen 75% as a reducing atmosphere, then cooled, and pulverized by a bead mill. A phosphor obtained by passing through a # 150 mesh through a washing process with pure water, a drying process, and a classification process was used as Sample 2- (14).
The phosphor of Sample 2- (14) is represented by (Ba _0.7 Ca _0.2 Eu _0.1 ) MgAl ₁₀ O ₁₇ .

  Similarly, a phosphor was prepared under the same conditions as Sample 2- (14) except that the amounts of calcium and europium were changed as shown in Table 2, and this was used as Sample 2- (1) or Sample. 2- (13) and Sample 2- (15) to Sample 2- (24) were used.

  As for Example 2- (1) to Sample 2- (24), the chromaticity (y) value was measured using a chromaticity meter and the luminance was measured using a luminance meter, as in Example 1. Measured as luminance. The results are shown in Table 2. The luminous brightness was expressed as relative luminance when the luminance of Comparative Example 1 was set to 100.

From the results shown in Table 2, when attention is first focused on the sum of the amount of calcium x and the amount of europium y, Sample 2- (1), in which x + y is less than 0.1 and 0.07, has a comparative luminance. 1 is less than 60%, which is not preferable for practical use. Sample 2- (24) in which x + y exceeds 0.4 and is 0.45 is also undesirable because the chromaticity (y) value exceeds 0.111 and 0.1. Accordingly, it can be said that x + y, which is at least the sum of the amount x of calcium and the amount y of europium, is preferably 0.1 or more and 0.4 or less.
Furthermore, even if x + y is 0.1, in sample 2- (4) in which the amount y of europium is 0.05, which is less than 0.07, the luminous brightness is as low as less than 60% of Comparative Example 1, and again It is not preferable. Further, even when x + y is 0.4, Sample 2- (18) in which the amount y of europium exceeds 0.35 and is 0.4 has chromaticity (y) values of 0.107 and 0.1. It is not preferable because it exceeds the value.
Furthermore, even if x + y is 0.4, in Sample 2- (23), the amount x of calcium is more than 0.33 and 0.35, and the amount y of europium is 0.05 which is less than 0.07. Although the chromaticity (y) value and the luminous brightness are within the preferable ranges, it seems to be preferable at first glance. However, in this sample 2- (23), the amount of calcium x is too large, so that the particle growth proceeds. Another problem that the particle size becomes too large is also undesirable.

On the other hand, the amount of calcium x is in the range of 0 ≦ x ≦ 0.33, the amount of europium is in the range of 0.07 ≦ y ≦ 0.35, and x + y is in the range of 0.1 ≦ x + y ≦ 0.4. Samples 2- (5) to 2- (17), Sample 2- (21), and Sample 2- (22) are 0.06, in which the chromaticity (y) value is in a preferred range. It is within the range of 0.1 or less, and the luminous brightness is 60% or more of Comparative Example 1, which is preferable.
Further, among samples 2- (9), 2- (11), 2- (13), 2- (14), and 2- (17), the chromaticity (y) value is higher. It is in the preferred range of 0.08 or more and 0.09 or less, and the luminous brightness is 100% or more of Comparative Example 1, which is more preferred.
Moreover, about sample 2- (2) and sample 2- (3), although chromaticity (y) value is a little less than 0.06, luminous brightness is 60% or more of the comparative example 1, I think it is possible to use the inferior one. Further, Sample 2- (19) and Sample 2- (20) also have excellent luminosity of 123% and 144% of Comparative Example 1, although the chromaticity (y) value is slightly higher than 0.1. Therefore, these samples are also preferable.

  From these results, the amount of calcium x is in the range of 0 ≦ x ≦ 0.33, the amount of europium is in the range of 0.07 ≦ y ≦ 0.35, and x + y is 0.1 ≦ x + y ≦ 0. It can be seen that when the ratio is in the range of 4, excellent fluorescent whitening phosphors can be obtained.

In addition to the samples 2- (1) to 2- (24), the experiment was performed by changing the production conditions such as the firing conditions. In any case, a fluorescent whitening phosphor suitable for the above range was obtained. It was confirmed that
Through these experiments, even when the amount of calcium x is 0, the preferred fluorescent whitening phosphor of the present invention can be obtained. However, when the amount of calcium x is 0.05 or more, the firing temperature and the like are relaxed and more stable. It turned out that there exists a tendency which can obtain fluorescent substance.
Further, it has been found that when the amount x of calcium exceeds 0.2, the growth of the phosphor particles is promoted and the particle size tends to increase.
In addition, when the amount y of europium exceeds 0.35, it is thought that the luminous brightness falls because the ratio of by-products such as europium aluminate as a by-product increases.

  Next, as Example 3, the characteristics of the fluorescent whitening phosphor of the present invention when the particle diameter is changed will be described.

A phosphor was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the time of the bead milling process after firing was changed from 3 hours to 15 hours as shown in Table 3, and this was prepared as Sample 3- (1) to Sample 3- 3- (6).
For these samples 3- (1) to 3- (6), first, the particle size distribution is measured with a laser diffraction particle size distribution measuring device (SALD-2100, manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation), and the average particle size D50 is obtained. It is shown in Table 3.

Subsequently, using these samples 3- (1) to 3- (6), a painted surface was formed on a test substrate using a steel plate, and the characteristics were observed.
That is, first, a thermosetting epoxy resin-based cationic electrodeposition coating was applied on a 0.8 mm-thick steel sheet that had been subjected to zinc phosphate treatment, and the coating film was heat-cured by electrodeposition so that the dry film thickness was 20 μm. After spraying, a white melamine resin-based intermediate coating is spray-coated to a dry film thickness of 15 μm and heat-cured to form a coating, and a titanium dioxide-based melamine resin paint is further dried with a film thickness of 15 μm. Then, a spray-coated and dried coating film was prepared, and this was used as a test substrate.
On this test substrate, 100 parts of the above sample 3- (1), 70 parts of aquatic group-containing acrylic resin, and 30 parts of butylated melamine resin were mixed with an organic solvent to form a paint. After spray coating to 20 μm, it was dried to form a coating film. Similarly, for Samples 3- (2) to 3- (6), a coating film was formed on the test substrate, and the coating film was observed by irradiating the film with ultraviolet rays of 365 nm. The results are also shown in Table 3. It was.

From the results shown in Table 3, it can be seen that Samples 3- (2) to 3- (6) having an average particle diameter D50 of 4.5 μm or less have a preferable coating film, and the average particle diameter D50 is 3 μm. In the following samples 3- (4) to 3- (6), it can be seen that more preferable coating films are obtained. However, in Sample 3- (1) having an average particle diameter D50 of more than 4.5 μm and 5.1 μm, the coating film has large unevenness, the coating film itself is difficult to form, and the lower painted surface is visible. There is.
On the other hand, when the average particle diameter D50 is less than 2 μm, not only a long time for the bead mill process is required, but also the luminance of the phosphor is lowered, which is not preferable.
From the above, it can be seen that when the average particle diameter D50 is 2 μm or more and 4.5 μm or less, an excellent fluorescent whitening phosphor is obtained.

  The phosphor for fluorescent whitening of the present invention is a white paint surface using titanium oxide or the like and a white yellow color such as resin can be supplemented with blue fluorescence to make the whole appear whiter. In addition to being used to make the whiter white, it is particularly excellent in weather resistance, and therefore can be particularly suitably used in harsh environments such as outdoor outer walls and automobile paints.

It is a graph showing the emission spectrum of the fluorescent whitening phosphor of one embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (2)

A phosphor having a chemical formula represented by (Ba _1-xy Ca _x Eu _y ) MgAl ₁₀ O ₁₇ ,
x is 0 ≦ x ≦ 0.33, y is 0.07 ≦ y ≦ 0.35,
And a phosphor for fluorescent whitening, wherein 0.1 ≦ x + y ≦ 0.4. 2. The fluorescent whitening phosphor according to claim 1, wherein the particle diameter is D50 or more and 4.5 [mu] m or less at D50.

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