JP2006161848A - Silicone hose - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remove stickness on a surface of a silicone hose and prevent pigmentation while leaving characteristic of silicone. <P>SOLUTION: By laminating a gas barrier layer 2 made of resin component having inorganic layer-like compound on an outer surface 1a of a hose main body 1, the whole outer surface 1a of the hose main body 1 is covered with the inorganic layer-like compound having excellent gas shutting-off property to prevent silicone rubber from being exposed and shut off permeation of gas into the inside and the outside of the hose. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

The present invention relates to a silicone hose which is excellent in heat resistance and food safety and is widely used in food, beverages, medical equipment, chemistry and other industries.
Specifically, the present invention relates to a silicone hose in which a hose body is formed of silicone rubber as a main component.

Conventionally, as this type of silicone reinforcing hose, there is a laminated structure based on silicone rubber (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Also, while extruding the inner layer (inner rubber) containing silicone rubber, weaving a blade (reinforcing thread) on the outer peripheral surface of the inner layer and further extruding the outer layer (outer rubber) containing silicone rubber, the outer peripheral surface of the blade There is one in which these are integrated by coating (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2001-141128 (first page, FIG. 1) JP-A-8-207110 (first page-second page, FIG. 1)

However, in such a conventional silicone hose, the silicone rubber itself exposed on the outer surface of the hose body is viscous. There was a problem that sufficient management was required for storage.
Furthermore, since silicone rubber has high gas permeability, various gases are adsorbed inside the hose from the atmosphere outside the hose, and these pigments tend to cause yellowing and other discoloration. If the fluid in the hose can be seen through from the outside, there is a problem that the inside becomes difficult to see through.
Similarly, since silicone rubber easily permeates oxygen, there is a problem that the quality of food tends to be deteriorated, especially when the fluid is food, and sometimes it rots.

The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention aims to eliminate the stickiness of the hose surface and prevent pigmentation while retaining the characteristics of silicone.
In addition to the object of the invention described in claim 1, the invention described in claim 2 is intended to enable the fluid in the hose to be seen through over a long period of time.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is characterized in that a gas barrier layer made of a resin composition containing an inorganic layered compound is laminated on the outer surface of a hose body. is there.
The “inorganic layered compound” referred to here is a clay mineral having a large aspect ratio that has swelling and cleavage properties in a solvent.
The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that a structure in which the hose body is transparent is added to the structure of the invention according to claim 1.
The term “transparent” as used herein includes translucency that is slightly cloudy as long as it can be seen through.

The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is such that the entire outer surface of the hose body is excellent in gas barrier properties by laminating a gas barrier layer made of a resin composition having an inorganic layered compound on the outer surface of the hose body. In addition, the silicone rubber is not exposed and the gas permeation into and out of the hose is blocked.
Accordingly, the stickiness of the hose surface can be eliminated and pigmentation can be prevented while retaining the characteristics of silicone.
As a result, the hose surface is sticky and has high gas permeability, so there is no risk of dust or dirt adhering to the hose during transportation or storage, and even if the hose surface is dirty, it can be easily washed off. In addition, there is no fear of mold entering the hose, and discoloration due to pigmentation from the outside atmosphere can be prevented for a long time.
In addition, since it also blocks odors, it can be used with peace of mind in vending machines and soda circuits where various beverage pipes are concentrated and incense is a concern.
Further, since the gas barrier layer contains an inorganic layered compound, the gas barrier layer is excellent in slidability, and the entire hose is easy to slide and easy to handle.

According to the invention of claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, by making the hose body transparent, the inside can be seen through from the outside through the hose body not pigmented.
Therefore, the fluid in the hose can be seen through for a long time.

  The silicone hose H of the present invention has a gas barrier layer 2 made of a resin composition containing an inorganic layered compound having excellent gas barrier properties on the outer surface 1a of the hose body 1 formed of a silicone rubber having excellent flexibility as a main component. Are laminated as the outermost layer.

The inorganic layered compound refers to an inorganic compound in which unit crystal layers are stacked to form a layered structure, and is a clay mineral such as mica having swelling / cleavage in a solvent and having an aspect ratio of usually 50 The particle size is 5 μm or less at 5000 or less.
In order to obtain excellent gas barrier properties (gas barrier properties), those having an aspect ratio of 100 or more are preferable, and more preferably, 200 or more.

The “particle size” of the inorganic layered compound is preferably 3 μm or less from the viewpoint of the transparency of the resin composition, and preferably 1 μm when transparency is important.
For example, in the case of a natural swellable clay mineral, the solvent for swelling the inorganic layered compound is preferably an alcohol such as water or methanol.
The resin used in the resin composition is not particularly limited. For example, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or the like in which the weight percentage of hydrogen bonding groups or ionic groups per unit weight of the resin satisfies a ratio of 20% to 60%. High hydrogen bonding resin, ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polysaccharides, polyacrylic acid and esters thereof.

Specifically, the resin composition containing the inorganic layered compound is used as a coating liquid, and the coating liquid is coated on the outer surface 1a of the hose body 1 to be described later to be laminated to a desired thickness. .
The coating liquid is applied by immersing the hose body 1 in the liquid layer, or by a conventionally known technique such as spraying.

At that time, the silicone rubber that is the main constituent material of the hose body 1 has poor adhesion to other substances such as a coating solution, and therefore, before applying the coating solution, for example, corona discharge or plasma treatment. It is desirable to perform surface treatment.
Moreover, in order to prevent peeling of the applied coating liquid, after coating the coating liquid on the outer surface 1a of the hose body 1, a protective layer may be laminated on the outside thereof.

By covering the entire outer surface 1a of the hose body 1 with the gas barrier layer 2 made of a resin composition containing an inorganic layered compound having excellent gas barrier properties, the main component, silicone rubber, is applied to the hose surface. It is not exposed and the gas permeation into and out of the hose is blocked.
As a result, while maintaining the safety that is the characteristic of silicone, it can also prevent pigmentation from the outside atmosphere while eliminating the stickiness of the hose surface. It does not penetrate into the hose and can prevent odor blockage for a long time and prevent discoloration due to pigmentation.
Furthermore, since the gas barrier layer 2 contains an inorganic layered compound, the gas barrier layer 2 is excellent in slidability, and the entire silicone hose H is slippery and easy to handle.
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In Example 1, as shown in FIG. 1, the hose body 1 is made of silicone rubber as a main component, and is transparent or slightly translucent inner layer 3 and outer layer 4 which are transparent, and both these layers. The case where it is a silicone reinforcement hose with a high pressure | voltage resistant performance which laminated | stacked the reinforcement wire 5 wound in layers between these is shown.

  In the illustrated example, the reinforcing wire 5 is a reinforcing yarn or reinforcing fiber such as polyester, nylon, or aramid fiber, and is tubular by a knitting machine (not shown) along the outer peripheral surface 3a of the extruded inner layer 3. These are integrated by extruding and laminating the outer layer 4 on the outside of the reinforcing wire 5.

  In the illustrated example, the knitting method of the reinforcing wire 5 is knit knitting, and the knit knitting is crossed with the longitudinal knitting row 5a extending in the axial direction of the hose H, and the hose body 1 Are knitted so as to be stretchable.

  These warp knitting rows 5a ... and weft knitting rows 5b ... are knitted so that the warp knitting rows 5a ... are parallel to the axial direction of the hose body 1 and the weft knitting rows 5b ... Alternatively, as shown in the figure, the hose body 1 is spirally inclined at a predetermined angle from the axial direction of the hose body 1 so that the forces acting on the warp knitting rows 5a. Wrap around.

  In addition to the illustrated example, the reinforcing wire 5 may be wound in the form of a spiral such as a monofilament (monofilament) or a metal wire such as a stainless steel wire instead of the knit knitting, or the knit knitting and the spiral winding. Combinations are also possible.

  Therefore, in Example 1 shown in FIG. 1, since the hose body 1 is transparent or translucent, the inside of the hose can be seen through from the outside of the hose through the outer layer 4 that is not pigmented. As a result, the fluid in the hose can be seen over a long period of time. There is an advantage that can be seen through.

  In the previous embodiment, the case where the hose body 1 is a silicone reinforced hose in which the reinforcing wire 5 is wound between the inner layer 3 and the outer layer 4 is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the reinforcing wire 5 is interposed. Alternatively, a plurality of layers may be stacked or a single layer structure may be used.

It is a partially cutaway perspective view of the silicone hose which shows one Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

H Silicone hose 1 Hose body 1a Outer surface 2 Gas barrier layer 3 Inner layer 3a Outer peripheral surface 4 Outer layer 5 Reinforcing wire 5a, 5b Knitting

Claims (2)

In a silicone hose in which the main component is silicone rubber and the hose body (1) is molded,
The silicone hose characterized by laminating | stacking the gas barrier layer (2) which consists of a resin composition containing an inorganic layered compound on the outer surface (1a) of the said hose main body (1). The silicone hose according to claim 1, wherein the hose body (1) is transparent.

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