JP2008525653A - Process for making antibacterial elastic fibers - Google Patents

Abstract

A process for making antimicrobial elastic fibers is disclosed. This process comprises mixing a glass compound as an antibacterial agent comprising ZnO, SiO ₂ and an alkali metal oxide and having an average particle size of 0.1 μm to 5 μm with a dispersant, and mixing the mixture into a sand grind or mill. And applying the ground or milled mixture to a solution of the segmented polyurethane polymer to create an elastic yarn. The above process can provide an advantageous effect that spinnability is improved and discoloration of the yarn can be prevented.
[Selection figure] None

Description

The present invention relates to a process for producing antibacterial elastic fibers, and more specifically, a glass compound as an antibacterial agent containing ZnO, SiO ₂ and an alkali metal oxide and having an average particle diameter of 0.1 μm to 5 μm is dispersed. It relates to a process for making antibacterial elastic fibers comprising: mixing with an agent; applying the mixture to a sand grind or mill; and adding the grind or milled mixture to a solution of a segmented polyurethane polymer.

  Polyurethane elastic fibers are excellent in elasticity and elastic recovery. Due to these advantages, polyurethane elastic fibers are widely used in stockings, women's underwear and flexible fiber materials, and their applications continue to extend to aerobic clothing and swimwear.

  Various types of bacteria and molds attach to clothes and grow on various substances secreted by the human body. Of these, some bacteria and molds adhere to the fiber, then damage clothing, discolor and / or contaminate, and produce a foul odor without causing direct harm to the body. In severe cases, some bacteria and molds directly harm the body. In particular, in the case of female underwear such as girdle and bra made from elastic fibers, bacteria and mold grow on secretions such as sweat and grow in elastic fibers.

  Attempts have been made to impart antibacterial properties to polyurethane elastic fibers. For example, US Pat. No. 4,837,292 discloses poly (pentane-1,5-carbonate) diol or poly (hexane-1,6-carbonate) diol or polycarbonate diols selected from aliphatic diols. A process for imparting antibacterial properties to elastic fibers by using a copolymer as a flexible segment is disclosed. This process has the advantage that antibacterial properties are achieved by utilizing the physical properties inherent to the raw material without adding additional antibacterial agents, but has the problem of poor antibacterial efficacy.

  Furthermore, Korean Patent No. 93-5099 teaches ion exchange of porous crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite as an inorganic antibacterial agent having a bactericidal metal ion to impart antibacterial properties to polyurethane elastic fibers. Yes. However, because zeolite has strong water adsorption, it functions to crosslink the elastic fiber polymer (ie, polyurethane) during the creation of elastic fibers. This cross-linking increases the viscosity of the polymerized product and causes the formation of gels, and during spinning, rapid increases in filtration pressure and yarn breakage frequently occur.

  Thus, Korean Patent No. 103406 describes the use of a non-porous inorganic ceramic containing silver or zirconium as an antibacterial component in order to impart antibacterial properties to elastic fibers. However, silver causes inadequate yellowing of the elastic fibers during spinning at temperatures as high as 200 ° C or higher.

Furthermore, Korean Patent No. 445313 describes the use of a glass metal compound containing ZnO, SiO ₂ and an alkali metal oxide as an antibacterial agent in order to impart antibacterial properties to elastic fibers. Although the yellowing of the elastic fiber does not occur during spinning at a high temperature of 200 ° C. or higher, the antibacterial agent tends to aggregate in dimethylacetamide or dimethylformamide as a polar solvent for polyurethane, which is a material for elastic fibers . As a result of agglomeration, an increase in discharge pressure is caused, yarn breakage frequently occurs during spinning, making it difficult to maintain stable spinning of the antibacterial fibers for a long period of time. Therefore, the antimicrobial agent must undergo milling or sand grinding to control the size of the antimicrobial particles so that the size is appropriate for addition to the polyurethane. Specifically, the antimicrobial agent particles must have a second aggregated particle size of 15 μm or less. In order to achieve this goal, an antibacterial mill for a long time is required. At this stage, the antimicrobial agent turns gray, which makes the final antimicrobial elastic fiber gray.

  Accordingly, there is a need to develop a process for making antimicrobial elastic fibers without affecting spinnability or fiber color while maintaining excellent antimicrobial properties.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the present invention uses a glass metal compound containing ZnO, SiO ₂ , alkali metal oxide, etc. as an antibacterial agent, and the antibacterial agent is milled or sand grinded. An object of the present invention is to provide an antibacterial elastic fiber having excellent spinnability while maintaining excellent antibacterial property and preventing discoloration of the yarn by using a dispersant during the application.

To achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, the ZnO 50 to 78 mole%, the SiO ₂ twenty-one to forty-nine mol% and the alkali metal oxide comprises from 1 to 10 mol%, 0.1 [mu] m Mixing a glass compound as an antibacterial agent having an average particle size of ˜5 μm with a dispersing agent, subjecting the mixture to a sand grind or mill, and a solution of a segmented polyurethane polymer to the grind or milled mixture In addition, a process for producing an antibacterial elastic fiber is provided.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an antibacterial elastic fiber made by the above process.

  The present invention is described in detail below.

The antibacterial agent used in the process of the present invention is a glass metal compound containing ZnO, SiO ₂ and an alkali metal oxide and having an average particle diameter of 0.1 μm to 5 μm.

  The antibacterial agent is preferably non-porous. When using a porous antimicrobial agent with strong water adsorption, the elastic fiber polymer (ie polyurethane) is cross-linked during the creation of the elastic fiber. This cross-linking increases the viscosity of the polymerization product, forms a gel, and the filtration pressure increases rapidly, and yarn breakage frequently occurs during spinning.

  Specifically, the antibacterial agent preferably contains 50 to 78 mol% of ZnO. When the ZnO content exceeds 78 mol%, it is difficult to form an antibacterial agent on the glass compound. On the other hand, when the ZnO content is less than 50 mol%, the antibacterial properties of the antibacterial agent are insufficient.

The antimicrobial agent preferably contains SiO ₂ is a component for glass formation 21-49 mol%. When the SiO ₂ content exceeds 49 mol%, the antibacterial agent has high water solubility, thereby resulting in poor antibacterial properties. On the other hand, when the SiO ₂ content is less than 21 mol%, it is difficult to obtain a stable glass compound.

SiO ₂ is used as an essential component for glass formation in the antibacterial agent, but a part of SiO ₂ may be replaced with other components for glass formation. As such components, for example, P ₂ O ₅ , Al ₂ O ₃ , TiO ₂ and ZrO ₂ can be used. A preferable component amount is in the range of 0.1 to 19 mol%.

  The antibacterial agent preferably contains 1 to 10 mol% of an alkali metal oxide. When content of an alkali metal oxide is less than 1 mol%, the antibacterial property of an antibacterial agent will fall. On the other hand, when the content of the alkali metal oxide exceeds 10 mol%, the antibacterial agent has high water solubility, and therefore the antibacterial property is inferior, and the discoloration resistance of the antibacterial agent is impaired.

  Alkali metal oxides that can be used in the process of the present invention include oxides of Na, K and Li. These oxides may be used alone or in combination as a mixture of two or three oxides.

  In the process of the present invention, the antimicrobial agent is preferably added in an amount of 0.2-5% by weight, based on the weight of the yarn. If an antibacterial agent is added in an amount of less than 0.2% by weight, the antibacterial effect cannot be guaranteed. If the antibacterial agent is added in an amount exceeding 5% by weight, the physical properties of the antibacterial elastic fiber may be lowered.

  Since the antimicrobial agent is an inorganic material, it is necessary to disperse the antimicrobial agent before adding it to the elastic fiber polymer (polyurethane). Antibacterial agents tend to agglomerate in dimethylacetamide, dimethylformamide or dimethylsulfoxide as polar solvents for elastic fiber polymers (polyurethanes), resulting in increased extrusion pressure and frequent yarn breakage during spinning There is a high possibility of doing. Therefore, an antibacterial mill or sand grind for a long time is required to maintain the second aggregate particle size of the antibacterial agent of 15 μm or less before adding the antibacterial agent to the polyurethane solution. As described above, the antimicrobial agent may turn gray at this stage.

  According to the process of the present invention, dispersants such as fatty acids, fatty acid salts, fatty acid esters or aliphatic alcohols are added to improve the dispersibility of the antibacterial agent in polar solvents, thereby reducing the antibacterial mill time. Prevent discoloration of antibacterial agents. That is, the dispersant reduces friction against the antimicrobial agent that occurs during the mill and improves the fluidity and dispersibility of the antimicrobial agent. Furthermore, you may improve the said effect by coat | covering a dispersing agent on the surface of an antibacterial agent.

  Examples of suitable fatty acids include monocarboxylic acids and dicarboxylic acids having linear or branched molecular hydrocarbons having 3 to 40 carbon atoms. Specific examples include capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid and behenic acid.

  The fatty acid salt is of the formula RCOOM where R is an alkyl or alkenyl group, preferably a straight or branched hydrocarbon having 3 to 40 carbon atoms, and M is a metal, preferably an alkali metal or alkaline earth. A compound that can be represented by Specific examples include sodium stearate, lithium stearate, zinc stearate, magnesium stearate, calcium stearate, potassium oleate and aluminum stearate.

  Examples of suitable fatty acid esters include glyceryl monostearate and glyceryl oleate.

  The aliphatic alcohol is a linear or branched hydrocarbon monovalent or polyhydric aliphatic alcohol having 3 to 40 carbon atoms. Examples of suitable aliphatic alcohols include alkanols such as n-hexanol, n-heptanol, n-octanol, 2-ethylhexanol, isooctyl alcohol, 2-octanol, methylheptanol, decyl alcohol, isodecyl alcohol , Capryl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, palmityl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol; cycloalkanols such as cyclohexanol and methylcyclohexanol; alkanediols such as propylene glycol, trimethylene glycol 1,2-butylene glycol, 2,3-butylene glycol, 1,4-butylene glycol, 1,6-hexanedio , Pinacol, 1,2-pentanediol, 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol, 1,3-butylene glycol, neopentyl glycol, 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol, 2,4-pentanediol 2,4-heptanediol, 2,2-diethyl-1,3-propanediol, 2-ethyl-2-butyl-1,3-propanediol and 2-methyl-2-butyl-1,3-propanediol Polyols such as pentaerythritol and dipentaerythritol; and mixtures thereof.

  Examples of more suitable aliphatic alcohols include stearyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, capryl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, pentaerythritol and mixtures thereof.

  Dispersants and antimicrobial agents selected from fatty acids, fatty acid salts, fatty acid esters and fatty alcohols are preferably added in a weight ratio of 1:10 to 1: 1 during the milling or sand grinding process. . Since the content of the antibacterial agent in the yarn is in the range of 0.2% to 5% by weight, the content of the dispersant in the yarn is 0.02% by weight in proportion to the content of the antibacterial agent. ~ 5% by weight. When the weight ratio is less than 1:10, the dispersion effect is negligible. On the other hand, even when the weight ratio exceeds 1: 1, the excess dispersant does not contribute to further improvement of the dispersion effect.

  As is well known in the art, segmented polyurethane polymers used to make elastic yarns by the process of the present invention react with organic diisocyanates and polymeric diols to obtain polyurethane precursors in organic solvents. It is produced by dissolving the precursor in and reacting the precursor with diamine and monoamine.

  Suitable organic diisocyanates can include, for example, diphenylmethane-4,4'-diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate, butylene diisocyanate and hydrogenated P, P'-methylene diisocyanate. Suitable polymer diols can include, for example, polytetramethylene ether glycol, polypropylene glycol, and polycarbonate diol. Diamines are used as chain extenders, and specific examples thereof include ethylene diamine, propylene diamine and hydrazine. On the other hand, monoamines are used as chain terminators, and specific examples thereof include diethylamine, monoethanolamine and dimethylamine.

  As other additives, UV stabilizers, antioxidants, NOx gas yellowing inhibitors, dyeing accelerators, chlorine-resistant agents, and the like can be further used.

  These additives may be added in combination with an antibacterial agent. More preferably, the additive is added first and then the antimicrobial agent is added just prior to spinning.

  The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to examples. However, these examples are given for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

Antibacterial agents A-F were prepared in Preparation Examples 1-6, respectively. The size of the second aggregated particles of the antibacterial agent was evaluated by the following procedure.
<Evaluation of size of second aggregated particles of antibacterial agent>
After the antibacterial agent slurry was prepared by a mill, 2 kg of the slurry was sampled. The sampled slurry was supplied to a closed tank provided with a stainless steel sieve (pore size: 15 μm) having a diameter of 3.6 cm and having a diameter of 3.6 cm at the lower discharge port. Pressure was applied so that the slurry was discharged only through the sieve. The amount of slurry that passed through the sieve in 2 minutes was measured while applying an air pressure of 1.5 kgf / cm ² . When the entire amount of slurry (2 kg) has passed through the sieve, the antimicrobial agent is considered to have a second aggregated particle size of 15 μm or less. A sample was judged to have “passed” when the entire amount of slurry sample (2 kg) passed through the sieve. If a portion of the slurry sample remained, it was determined that the sample did not pass.
Preparation Example 1: Antibacterial agent slurry A
A solution of 9.76 wt% antibacterial agent and 2.44 wt% stearic acid in dimethylacetamide was milled in a device (DCP-SUPERFLOW 170, Drais Mannheim, Germany) with zirconia balls (diameter: 0.5 mm), Antimicrobial slurry was dispersed. The antibacterial agents used in this example were ZnO 62.1 mol%, SiO ₂ 31.1 mol%, P ₂ O ₅ 2.5 mol%, Al ₂ O ₃ 2.3 mol% and Na ₂ It was a glass metal compound containing 2.0 mol% of O, and had a first average particle size of 3.5 μm. Specifically, 0.1 ton of antibacterial agent, 0.025 ton of stearic acid and 0.9 ton of dimethylacetamide were added to the slurry making tank. Thereafter, the slurry was dispersed in the mill apparatus at 600 rpm while circulating the slurry through a pipe between the tank and the mill apparatus at a speed of 24 kg / min. After 40 hours of milling, a filtration test was performed by passing the dispersed slurry through a sieve. As a result, the amount of the antibacterial agent slurry passing through the sieve was 2 kg. Therefore, it was judged that the antibacterial agent slurry “passed”. The color of the slurry was white.
Preparation Example 2: Antibacterial agent slurry B
A solution of 9.76 wt% antibacterial agent and 2.44 wt% magnesium stearate in dimethylacetamide is milled in a device with zirconia balls (diameter: 0.5 mm) (DCP-SUPERFLOW 170, Drais Mannheim, Germany) The antibacterial agent slurry was dispersed. The antibacterial agents used in this example were ZnO 62.1 mol%, SiO ₂ 31.1 mol%, P ₂ O ₅ 2.5 mol%, Al ₂ O ₃ 2.3 mol% and Na ₂ It was a glass metal compound containing 2.0 mol% of O, and had a first average particle size of 3.5 μm. Specifically, 0.1 ton of antibacterial agent, 0.025 ton of magnesium stearate and 0.9 ton of dimethylacetamide were added to the slurry making tank. Thereafter, the slurry was dispersed in the mill apparatus at 600 rpm while circulating the slurry through a pipe between the tank and the mill apparatus at a speed of 24 kg / min. After 45 hours of milling, a filtration test was performed by passing the dispersed slurry through a sieve. As a result, the amount of the antibacterial agent slurry passing through the sieve was 2 kg. Therefore, it was judged that the antibacterial agent slurry “passed”. The color of the slurry was white.
Preparation Example 3: Antibacterial agent slurry C
A solution of 9.76 wt% antimicrobial agent and 2.44 wt% sodium stearate in dimethylacetamide is milled in a device (DCP-SUPERFLOW 170, Drais Mannheim, Germany) with zirconia balls (diameter: 0.5 mm) The antibacterial agent slurry was dispersed. The antibacterial agents used in this example were ZnO 62.1 mol%, SiO ₂ 31.1 mol%, P ₂ O ₅ 2.5 mol%, Al ₂ O ₃ 2.3 mol% and Na ₂ It was a glass metal compound containing 2.0 mol% of O, and had a first average particle size of 3.5 μm. Specifically, 0.1 ton of antibacterial agent, 0.025 ton of sodium stearate and 0.9 ton of dimethylacetamide were added to the slurry making tank. Thereafter, the slurry was dispersed in the mill apparatus at 600 rpm while circulating the slurry through a pipe between the tank and the mill apparatus at a speed of 24 kg / min. After 48 hours of milling, a filtration test was performed by passing the dispersed slurry through a sieve. As a result, the amount of the antibacterial agent slurry passing through the sieve was 2 kg. Therefore, it was judged that the antibacterial agent slurry “passed”. The color of the slurry was white.
Preparation Example 4: Antibacterial agent slurry D
A solution of the antibacterial agent 9.76 wt% and stearyl alcohol 2.44 wt% dissolved in dimethylacetamide is milled in a device (DCP-SUPERFLOW 170, Drais Mannheim, Germany) with zirconia balls (diameter: 0.5 mm), Antimicrobial slurry was dispersed. The antibacterial agents used in this example were ZnO 62.1 mol%, SiO ₂ 31.1 mol%, P ₂ O ₅ 2.5 mol%, Al ₂ O ₃ 2.3 mol% and Na ₂ It was a glass metal compound containing 2.0 mol% of O, and had a first average particle size of 3.5 μm. Specifically, 0.1 ton of antibacterial agent, 0.025 ton of stearyl alcohol and 0.9 ton of dimethylacetamide were added to the slurry making tank. Thereafter, the slurry was dispersed in the mill apparatus at 600 rpm while circulating the slurry through a pipe between the tank and the mill apparatus at a speed of 24 kg / min. After 45 hours of milling, a filtration test was performed by passing the dispersed slurry through a sieve. As a result, the amount of the antibacterial agent slurry passing through the sieve was 2 kg. Therefore, it was judged that the antibacterial agent slurry “passed”. The color of the slurry was white.
Preparation Example 5: Antibacterial agent slurry E
A solution of 9.76 wt% antibacterial agent and 2.44 wt% glycerin monostearate in dimethylacetamide was milled in a device (DCP-SUPERFLOW 170, Drais Mannheim, Germany) with zirconia balls (diameter: 0.5 mm) To disperse the antibacterial agent slurry. The antibacterial agent used in this example is ZnO 62.1 mol%, SiO ₂ 31.1 mol%, P ₂ O ₅ 2.5 mol%, Al ₂ O ₃ 2.3 mol% and Na _{It was} a glass metal compound containing 2.0 mol% of ₂ O, and had a first average particle diameter of 3.5 μm. Specifically, 0.1 ton of antibacterial agent, 0.025 ton of glycerin monostearate and 0.9 ton of dimethylacetamide were added to the slurry making tank. Thereafter, the slurry was dispersed in the mill apparatus at 600 rpm while circulating the slurry through a pipe between the tank and the mill apparatus at a speed of 24 kg / min. After 43 hours of milling, a filtration test was performed by passing the dispersed slurry through a sieve. As a result, the amount of the antibacterial agent slurry passing through the sieve was 2 kg. Therefore, it was judged that the antibacterial agent slurry “passed”. The color of the slurry was white.
Preparation Example 6: Antibacterial agent slurry F
A solution of 10% by weight of the antibacterial agent dissolved in dimethylacetamide was milled in an apparatus (DCP-SUPERFLOW 170, Drais Mannheim, Germany) having zirconia balls (diameter: 0.5 mm) to disperse the antibacterial agent slurry. The antibacterial agent used in this example is ZnO 62.1 mol%, SiO ₂ 31.1 mol%, P ₂ O ₅ 2.5 mol%, Al ₂ O ₃ 2.3 mol% and Na _{It was} a glass metal compound containing 2.0 mol% of ₂ O, and had a first average particle diameter of 3.5 μm. Specifically, 0.1 ton of antibacterial agent and 0.9 ton of dimethylacetamide were added to the slurry making tank. Thereafter, the slurry was dispersed in the mill apparatus at 600 rpm while circulating the slurry through a pipe between the tank and the mill apparatus at a speed of 24 kg / min.

After milling for 72 hours, a filtration test (for size evaluation of the second aggregated particles of the antimicrobial agent) was performed by passing the dispersed slurry through a sieve. As a result, the amount of the antibacterial agent slurry passing through the sieve was 200 g. Therefore, it was determined that the antibacterial agent slurry was “not passing”. The color of the slurry was gray.
[Example 1]
A polyurethane precursor having isocyanate groups at both ends is obtained by reacting 518 g of diphenylmethane-4,4′-diisocyanate with 2328 g of polytetramethylene ether glycol (molecular weight: 1800) under a nitrogen gas flow at 85 ° C. with stirring for 90 minutes. Created. After the polyurethane precursor was cooled to room temperature, it was dissolved in 4643 g of dimethylacetamide to prepare a polyurethane precursor solution. A solution of segmented polyurethane polymer was then made by adding a solution of 54 g of propylene diamine, 9.1 g of diethylamine and 1889 g of dimethylacetamide to the polyurethane precursor solution at a temperature of 10 ° C. or lower. Ethylenebis (oxyethylene) bis- (3- (5-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy-m-tolyl) -propionate) 1.5 wt%, 5,7-di-tert-butyl-3- (3 4-dimethylphenyl) -3H-benzofuran-2-one 0.5% by weight, 1,1,1 ′, 1′-tetramethyl-4,4 ′-(methylene-di-p-phenylene) disemicarbazide 1% %, 1% by weight poly (N, N-dimethyl-2-aminoethyl methacrylate), 0.1% by weight titanium dioxide were added to the polyurethane polymer solution. The weight proportions of these additives are based on the total weight of solids of the polyurethane polymer solution. The antibacterial agent slurry created in Preparation Example 1 was then added to the polyurethane polymer solution. Therefore, the content of the antibacterial agent in the yarn was 1.5% by weight, and the content of the dispersant (stearic acid) in the yarn was 0.375% by weight. The resulting spinning stock solution was defoamed and then dry spun at a spinning temperature of 250 ° C. to produce a 40 denier / 4 filament elastic yarn. The elastic yarn was knitted into a tubular woven fabric with 100% spandex using a circular knitting apparatus (KT-400, diameter: 4 inches, 400 needle, Nagata Seiki Co., Ltd., Japan). The spandex tubular fabric was scoured using a normal scouring process. The physical properties of the scoured fabric were evaluated by the following procedures. The results are shown in Table 1.
(1) Evaluation of antibacterial action The antibacterial action of the tubular fabric was evaluated according to the following procedure. S. aureus (ATCC 6538) and E. coli (ATCC 8739) were used as test bacteria for the evaluation of antibacterial activity. The antibacterial action was determined according to the test method of Korean Industrial Standard (KS) K0693-2001.
Antibacterial action (bacteriostatic rate,%)
= [Number of bacteria surviving after 18 hours in the reference sample-Number of bacteria surviving after 18 hours in the test sample) / (Number of bacteria surviving after 18 hours in the reference sample)] × 100
Test sample: Spandex tubular fabric Reference sample: Cotton (defined in Korean Industrial Standard K 0905-1996)
(2) Evaluation of whiteness The whiteness of the tubular fabric was evaluated according to the following procedure. The brightness (“L”) value of the tubular fabric was measured using a color spectrophotometer (BYK-Gardener, USA) under the following test conditions.
Arrangement of equipment = 45 ° / 0 °, (light source / observer = D65 / 10 °, 11 mm sample port diameter, number of measurements: 3)
[Examples 2 to 5]
A spandex tubular woven fabric was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the antibacterial agent prepared in Preparation Examples 2 to 5 was used. The physical properties of the fabric were evaluated and the results obtained are shown in Table 1.
[Comparative Example 1]
A spandex tubular woven fabric was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the antibacterial agent prepared in Preparation Example 6 was used. The physical properties of the fabric were evaluated and the results obtained are shown in Table 1.

The higher the “L value”, the better the whiteness.

  As can be seen from the results shown in Table 1, the spandex fabric using the antimicrobial slurry made by the process of the present invention was superior in antimicrobial activity, spinnability and yarn color.

  As is apparent from the above description, the antibacterial elastic fiber prepared by the process of the present invention maintains excellent antibacterial properties, suppresses discoloration of the yarn, and exhibits excellent spinnability.

  While preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed for purposes of illustration, various modifications, additions and substitutions may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims. It goes without saying that those skilled in the art are possible.

Claims (9)

ZnO and 50 to 78 mol%, a SiO ₂ 21-49 mol% and the alkali metal oxide comprises from 1 to 10 mol%, the glass compound as an antibacterial agent having an average particle diameter of 0.1μm~5μm in a solvent Mixing with a dispersant;
Subjecting the mixture to sand grinding or milling;
Adding said grinded or milled mixture to a solution of segmented polyurethane polymer to produce elastic yarns. The glass compound further includes 0.1 to 19 mol% of at least one material selected from the group consisting of P ₂ O ₅ , Al ₂ O ₃ , TiO _2, and ZrO _2. The process described.   The process of claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial agent is non-porous.   The process according to claim 1, wherein the dispersant is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of fatty acids, fatty acid salts, fatty acid esters, and aliphatic alcohols.   The process according to claim 1, wherein the solvent is at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of dimethylacetamide, dimethylformamide, and dimethylsulfoxide.   The process according to claim 1, wherein 0.2 to 5% by weight of the antibacterial agent is added based on the weight of the elastic fiber.   The process of claim 1, wherein the dispersant and the antimicrobial agent are used in a weight ratio of 1:10 to 1: 1 during mixing and during milling or sand grinding.   The process of claim 1, wherein the second agglomerated particle size of the antimicrobial agent is not greater than 15 µm after mixing and after milling or sand grinding and before being added to the segmented polyurethane polymer solution.   An antibacterial elastic fiber produced by the process according to claim 1.