JP2006241240A - Porous cushioning material - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a porous cushioning material excellent in basic performances, such as lightness, deformation cushioning properties, and durability, capable of satisfying many of performances, such as elasticity, flexibility, heat retaining properties, air permeability, and water absorption properties, by adjusting its components to be fit for each use, and capable of being furnished with additional performances, such as deodorizing properties and antibacterial properties. <P>SOLUTION: This porous cushioning material 1 is formed by combining an acrylic resin hollow material 2 with a vegetable fiber 3 with synthetic paste, wherein voids 4 which are formed by foaming action of a foaming agent exist between the acrylic resin hollow material 2 and the vegetable fiber 3 and a specific gravity of the cushioning material is about 0.2. Further, the cushioning material contains a plant extract. The vegetable fiber 3 is formed out of a pulp fiber 3a which is relatively short and a bamboo fiber 3b which is relatively long. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a porous cushioning material used for various applications (buffer products) such as for bedding, for nursing care, for automobiles, and for sports.

There are various types of cushioning materials of this type, such as a resin foam shown in Patent Document 1, a cushioning sheet shown in Patent Document 2, and the like.
JP 2004-51803 A JP 11-28776 A

  By the way, the porous cushioning material needs to have sufficient deformation buffering properties for the original cushioning performance as well as light weight, and durability is also required so as not to cause settling or breakage during use. For example, it is preferable that it is excellent in the following points for bedding and nursing care. That is, it is excellent in elasticity and flexibility as a measure against bed slipping of a bedridden person, excellent in heat retention as a countermeasure against cold, and excellent in breathability and water absorption in order to keep clean without sweat and moisture Etc. In addition, it has excellent deodorizing properties so as not to cause odor, and has excellent antibacterial properties so that bacteria do not spread. Note that although bedding / nursing care is shown here as an example, the above properties are often required for other purposes.

  However, it is difficult for cushioning materials, including those of Patent Documents 1 and 2, to satisfy many of the above properties. Also, many conventional porous cushioning materials are easy to wear and often have problems with durability.

  Therefore, the present invention is excellent in basic performance such as lightness, deformation buffering and durability, and among the performance such as elasticity, flexibility, heat retention, breathability and water absorption by adjusting components according to the application. It is an object of the present invention to provide a porous cushioning material that can satisfy most of the above requirements, and can also impart additional performance such as deodorant properties and antibacterial properties.

In order to achieve the above object, the porous cushioning material of the present invention employs the following means.
(1) A porous cushioning material obtained by foaming and drying a material obtained by adding water to a raw material containing a resin hollow body, fibers, a foaming agent, and a paste.
(2) The resin hollow body and the fiber are bonded with the paste, and the void formed by the foaming action of the foaming agent is present between the resin hollow body and the fiber, and the specific gravity is 0.4 or less. Porous cushioning material.

  Here, the resin hollow body is not particularly limited depending on the type of resin, and one or more kinds selected from an acrylic resin hollow body, a polyethylene resin hollow body, a polyurethane resin hollow body, a polypropylene resin hollow body, and a styrene resin hollow body. Can be illustrated. The resin hollow body is a main agent that forms a lightweight porous cushioning material, and microscopically forms a fine hollow particle. The particle size is about 2 to 200 μm.

The kind of fiber is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include one or more selected from plant fibers, animal fibers, artificial fibers, synthetic fibers, and inorganic fibers.
-Examples of plant fibers include various pulp fibers, bamboo, cotton, hemp and other fibers.
-Examples of animal fibers include fibers such as wool, goats, silkworms and silk.
-Examples of artificial fibers include rayon and acetate. Examples of synthetic fibers include polyamides, polyesters, polyurethanes, polyolefins, polyvinyl chlorides, polyfluorocarbons, polyvinyl alcohols, and polyacryls.
-Examples of inorganic fibers include glass fibers, rock wool, ceramic fibers and the like.

  The fiber itself is a main agent that forms a lightweight porous cushioning material, and it reinforces the resin hollow body to enhance the deformation cushioning and durability of the porous cushioning material. Those that are both excellent in terms of inexpensiveness are preferable. For example, various pulp fibers, bamboo fibers, and PET fibers are preferable. Further, in order to impart additional performance such as deodorant property and antibacterial property, it is preferable that at least bamboo fiber is included.

  The ratio of the fiber to the entire raw material is not particularly limited, but the fiber is preferably 5 to 50% by mass in the raw material. When the fiber is less than 5% by mass, the reinforcing action by the fiber is reduced, the durability is lowered, and the fiber tends to collapse during deformation buffering. On the other hand, when the fiber exceeds 50% by mass, the porous cushioning material becomes too hard and the deformation buffering property tends to be lowered.

  Although fiber length is not specifically limited, It is preferable that the fiber of fiber length 5-20mm is contained at least. This is because if the fiber length of all the fibers is less than 5 mm, the reinforcing action by the fibers is reduced, the durability is lowered, and the fibers tend to collapse during deformation buffering. On the other hand, when the fiber length exceeds 20 mm, uniform kneadability, moldability, smooth surface properties and the like tend to be lowered.

  The kind of foaming agent is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a thermal decomposition type (organic type or inorganic type) and a thermal expansion type. The foaming agent is an auxiliary agent for forming a lighter porous cushioning material. The type of paste is not particularly limited, and synthetic pastes such as carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and resin binders (polyvinyl acetate (PVAc), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), etc.), natural pastes such as bentonite and montmorillonite Can be illustrated. The paste is for bonding the resin hollow body and the fiber.

  Moreover, in order to impart aromaticity to the porous buffer material, it is preferable to add a plant extract. The plant extract may be added to the raw material or water. The plant extract is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include one or more extracts selected from bamboo, pine, plum, cypress, southern sky, mugwort, wasabi, red pepper, garlic and ginger. Moreover, the kind by the manufacturing method of a plant extract is not specifically limited, The extract etc. which boiled the extract extracted with the alcohol from the plant, the leaf of the plant, the root, or the stem etc. can be illustrated.

  Further, in order to impart antiseptic or antifungal properties to the porous buffer material, it is preferable to add an antiseptic or antifungal agent (or an antiseptic / antifungal agent having both functions). The preservative and fungicide may be added to the raw material or water.

Although it does not specifically limit as a use (product) of a porous buffer material, The following preferable use can be illustrated.
(1) cushioning products for bedding: mats, pads, pillows (2) cushioning products for nursing care: fracture contact material (reinforcement material), seats (3) cushioning products for automobile interiors: handle pads, instrument panels , Side doors, pillar interior materials, ceiling materials, seat belt sub-holders, etc. (at least their surface materials)
(4) Protection products for sports: Leggers, shoulder pads, knee pads, helmet lining, etc. (5) Others: Soundproofing materials, vibration-proofing materials

  The porous cushioning material of the present invention is excellent in basic performance such as lightness, deformation cushioning and durability, and has elasticity, flexibility, heat retention, breathability, water absorption, etc. by adjusting the components according to the application. Many of the performances can be satisfied, and additional performances such as deodorant, aromatic and antibacterial properties can be imparted.

  The porous cushioning material is formed by molding and drying a material obtained by adding water to a raw material containing a hollow body of acrylic resin, fibers mainly composed of plant fibers, a foaming agent, and a paste. The ratio of the fiber to the whole raw material is 5 to 50% by mass, and the bamboo fiber is contained in the plant fiber. The raw material contains a fungicide and fungicide. Plant extract is contained in the water added to the raw material.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the porous cushioning material 1 of this example has an acrylic resin hollow body 2 and a vegetable fiber 3 bonded together with a synthetic paste, and between the acrylic resin hollow body 2 and the vegetable fiber 3. There are voids 4 formed by the foaming action of the foaming agent, and the specific gravity is about 0.2. Also contains plant extracts. The plant fiber 3 is composed of pulp fibers 3a that can be said to be relatively short with fibers having a fiber length of about 1 to 10 mm, and bamboo fibers 3b that can be said to be relatively long with an average fiber length of about 10 mm.

  This porous cushioning material 1 is obtained by foaming a material obtained by kneading a material containing an acrylic resin hollow body, a fiber, a foaming agent, a synthetic glue, and an antiseptic / antifungal agent with water containing a plant extract and drying the foamed material. It will be. Specifically, a commercially available lightweight clay (trade name “Angel's Nendo” manufactured by Chubu Denki Kogyo Co., Ltd.) is used as a raw material by adding bamboo fiber and a foaming agent, and a plant extract is added to the raw material. The contained water was added and kneaded with a kneader to obtain a material. This commercially available lightweight clay is composed of an acrylic resin hollow body, pulp fiber, synthetic paste, antiseptic / antifungal agent, and water (the composition ratio is unknown). Bamboo fiber is obtained by pulverizing bamboo, and its average fiber length is about 10 mm. The foaming agent is of a thermal decomposition type. The blending ratio was 82% by mass for commercially available lightweight clay, 15% by mass for bamboo fiber, and 3% by mass for the foaming agent. As the plant extract, any of those exemplified above can be adopted, but here, for example, a hinoki extract was used.

  As described above, water containing a plant extract was added to the raw material, and the material sufficiently kneaded with a kneader was poured into a mold, foamed to fill the cavity, and molded into a desired shape. Thereafter, the water was evaporated and sufficiently dried to obtain a porous buffer material 1.

  In the porous cushioning material of the present embodiment, the raw materials are the acrylic resin hollow body 2 and the vegetable fiber 3 that are lightweight, and there are voids 4 formed by the foaming action of the foaming agent. Low specific gravity and excellent light weight. In addition, the acrylic resin hollow body 2 and the vegetable fiber 3 are bonded with a synthetic paste, and the bamboo fiber 3b having an average fiber length of about 10 mm as the plant fiber 3 reinforces the resin hollow body 2 and is a porous cushioning material. 1 deformation buffering ability and durability are improved. That is, it is excellent in basic performance such as light weight, deformation buffering property and durability.

  In addition, by adjusting the components of the acrylic resin hollow body 2, the plant fiber 3, and the paste, for example, a suitable comparison as a cushioning product for a vehicle interior such as a handle pad and an instrument panel as shown in FIG. Modest elasticity and flexibility. By installing the porous cushioning material 1 in front of the driver or the like in this way, the driver can be protected from an impact such as a collision separately from the airbag or the assistance of the airbag. Thus, by reducing the frequency of inflating the airbag, it is possible to reduce the adverse effects of temporarily obscuring the front with the airbag or being burned with the explosive for inflation. Further, by installing the porous cushioning material 1 on the seat belt, it is possible to prevent the harmful effect of rubbing and scratching the body with the seat belt.

  The elasticity and flexibility can be changed by adjusting the components according to the application. For example, a relatively large elasticity and suitable as a cushioning product for bedding such as a mat as shown in FIG. It can also have flexibility. Thus, the use of the porous cushioning material 1 as a mat is effective as a measure for bedridden bedridden, and leads to effects such as medical cost savings, tax savings, healthy and long life, and comfortable living.

  Furthermore, the porous cushioning material of the present example has a void 4 formed by the foaming action of the foaming agent in addition to the acrylic resin hollow body 2 and the vegetable fiber 3 that originally contain air, so that heat retention, ventilation Excellent in water and water absorption. Furthermore, since the bamboo fiber 3b is contained abundantly, deodorizing properties can be obtained. Moreover, since the plant extract is added, aromaticity is also obtained. In addition, since antibacterial and antifungal agents are added, antibacterial and antifungal properties can also be obtained.

  Moreover, since this porous buffer material 1 is also excellent in sound insulation, it can also be provided as a product for noise and vibration countermeasures by installing it on the wall or floor of a house. In addition, the present invention can be applied to the above-described examples.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, In the range which does not deviate from the meaning of invention, it can change suitably and can be actualized.

It is the perspective view and partial enlarged view which show the porous shock absorbing material of the Example of this invention. The use (product) of the porous cushioning material is shown, (a) is a schematic diagram applied to a handle pad, an instrument panel, etc., (b) is a schematic diagram applied to a mat for bedding.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Porous buffer material 2 Acrylic resin hollow body 3 Plant fiber 3a Pulp fiber 3b Bamboo fiber 4 Crevice

Claims (6)

  A porous cushioning material formed by foaming and drying a material kneaded by adding water to a raw material containing a resin hollow body, fibers, a foaming agent and a paste.   A porous buffer in which the resin hollow body and the fiber are bonded with a paste, and a void formed by the foaming action of the foaming agent exists between the resin hollow body and the fiber, and the specific gravity is 0.4 or less. Wood.   The porous cushioning material according to claim 1, wherein the fiber includes at least bamboo fiber.   The porous buffer material according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the fiber is 5 to 50 mass% in the raw material.   The porous buffer as described in any one of Claims 1-4 which added the 1 type, or 2 or more types of plant extract chosen from a bamboo, a pine, a plum, a cypress, a southern sky, mugwort, wasabi, red pepper, garlic, and ginger. Wood.   The porous buffer material as described in any one of Claims 1-5 which added the antiseptic | preservative or the fungicide.

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