JP2022156363A - Rush microfiber, rush spun yarn, and method for producing rush microfiber - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a rush microfiber which is extracted from a leaf sheath of rush and is separated along a longitudinal direction so as to include a longitudinal rib.SOLUTION: After removing a foreign matter by pre-processing harvested rush, the pre-processed rush is pressed by a roller press machine and cut into a spinnable length. After drying a fiber thereof, a foreign material such as parenchyma cells and epidermis is removed by separation processing, and a rush microfiber separated along a longitudinal direction so as to include a longitudinal rib is extracted. At this time, the rush microfiber whose maximum fiber width is 60 μm or less and whose fiber length is 20 mm or more is extracted so that spinning can be performed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to natural plant fibers used in spun yarns, and more particularly to spinnable fibers using rushes and methods for producing the same.

In general, when natural plant fibers are used for spinning, raw materials such as cotton and linen obtained from flax are used (Non-Patent Document 1).

Among these, when spinning from cotton, the average fiber width (maximum width in the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction) of the isolated elementary fibers is 12 μm to 28 μm, and the fibers The length of medium-fiber cotton is 21 mm to 28 mm, and the length of long-fiber cotton is 28 mm or more. At this time, thin and long cotton filaments are used to make fine spun yarns. On the other hand, in the case of spinning from linen, filaments having a fiber width of 20 μm to 22 μm and an average fiber length of 20 to 30 mm are used. However, in the case of linen, unlike cotton, it is difficult to isolate, and long fibers (50mm to 100mm) used for spinning are overlapped by pectin, lignin, etc. , the width of the fiber is as thick as 40 μm to 80 μm at the smallest.

By the way, when spinning using such natural fibers, the fiber length must be at least 30 mm or longer. At this time, if long fibers such as linen (fibers of 100 mm or more) are used, the fibers will have a rough feel due to the large width of the fibers. It is not possible to spin fine threads below the count. On the other hand, retching the raw linen yarn with an aqueous caustic soda solution makes it possible to obtain thin filaments, but the fiber length becomes extremely short and long fibers suitable for spinning cannot be obtained.

In addition, since such cotton and linen are often imported in Japan, it is desirable to manufacture rush spun yarn using raw materials that do not rely on imports.

http://kan5.sakura.ne.jp/konwa/KuramaeHandout/kohyama.pdf

Therefore, the present invention has been made with a focus on the above problems, and provides fine fibers that can be spun using fine fibers, and fine fibers that can be spun using vegetated plants in Japan. And it aims at providing the manufacturing method.

That is, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides rush fine fibers, which are fibers extracted from rush leaf sheaths and separated along the longitudinal direction so as to include longitudinal ribs. be.

The longitudinal ribs of such rushes are very thin, about 2 μm to 5 μm, and even if parenchyma cells are attached to the longitudinal ribs, the fiber width is as thin as about 10 μm to 30 μm, and a single vertical rib Since the ribs are very long, it becomes possible to produce rush spun yarn using fine natural plant fibers.

Moreover, in such an invention, fibers having an average fiber width in the range of 10 μm to 30 μm are preferably used.

The use of such fine fibers makes it possible to obtain a soft rush spun yarn.

Moreover, when producing such rush fine fibers, the rush fine fibers are produced using a step of swelling the cut rush and a step of defibrating so that the fiber width becomes 60 μm or less.

Alternatively, a step of press-treating cut rushes, a step of adjusting the moisture content of the cut rushes, and a step of defibrating the press-treated and water-adjusted rushes so that the fiber width is 60 μm or less. and to produce rush fine fibers.

Furthermore, after being immersed in a natural antibacterial agent solution, the rush fine fibers are extracted by drying.

In addition, after being immersed in the softener liquid, the rush fine fibers are extracted by drying.

According to the present invention, rush fine fibers separated along the longitudinal direction so as to include vertical ribs are used, so that rush spun yarn can be produced using fine and long natural plant fibers. Become.

A diagram showing the leaf sheath of a rush Cross section of rush leaf sheath A diagram showing a roller press used in this embodiment. A diagram showing a disc refiner used in this embodiment A diagram showing defibration by a garnet-type anti-pilling machine used in the present embodiment. Diagram showing the production process of rush fine fibers in the present embodiment Diagram showing the production process of rush fine fibers in the present embodiment

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The rush fine fibers in this embodiment are extracted from rushes that have been cut to a length that can be spun, and are subjected to defibration treatment or the like so as to have a width of 10 μm to 30 μm so as to include the longitudinal ribs. It is within the range of and is made to defibrate to a length that can be spun. By extracting rush fine fibers in this way, it is possible to produce a soft rush spun yarn from fibers having a narrow fiber width. The rush fine fibers and the method for producing the same according to the present embodiment are described in detail below. In this embodiment, the direction along the stalk of the rush is defined as the longitudinal direction, and the cross-sectional direction of the stalk is defined as the width direction.

The rush used in this embodiment is an annual grass belonging to the rush family, a monocotyledon that also grows in Japan, and is also called Toshinso. As shown in FIG. 1, this rush grows to a length of about 1.3 m to 1.5 m at the time of harvest, and is harvested around July, which is summer in Japan.

FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the harvested rush leaf sheath. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes longitudinal ribs, which are scattered concentrically so as to surround the central portion of the pith 4 . The fiber width of the longitudinal ribs 1 is as thin as 2 μm to 3 μm at its thinnest, and serves as bones of the rush to support the rush in the longitudinal direction. On the other hand, reference numeral 2 denotes parenchyma cells, and reference numeral 3 denotes hard wall cells, which exist so as to surround the longitudinal rib 1 .

In FIG. 2, the portion indicated by A in the figure is the portion including the longitudinal rib 1 present near the center of the leaf sheath, and is the portion from which fibers with a maximum fiber width of 8 μm to 10 μm or less can be taken out.

On the other hand, the portion indicated by B located outside the longitudinal rib 1 is a portion including the longitudinal rib 1 slightly thinner than the longitudinal rib 1 indicated by A, and thin fibers with a maximum fiber width of 4 μm to 6 μm or less. It is a removable part.

In addition, the portion indicated by C, which is the outside thereof, is a portion where the longitudinal ribs 1 exist adjacently, and even if these several longitudinal ribs 1 are taken out in a state in which they are closely attached by the parenchyma 2, the largest fiber This is a portion that can be taken out as fibers with a width of 30 μm or less.

Furthermore, the portion indicated by D, which is the outermost region, is a portion where extremely thin vertical ribs 1 having a maximum fiber width of 2 μm to 3 μm or less exist, and it is a portion where extremely thin and strong fibers can be extracted. .

The longitudinal ribs 1 present in each of these parts exist for a length corresponding to the length of one stem (1.3 m to 1.5 m), and the length that can be spun is taken out from there. Spinning can produce yarns that are softer than linen.

A method for extracting fibers including such vertical ribs 1 will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG.

<Cutting process>

The rush is cut 40mm to 60mm lengthwise. At this time, non-standard rushes and rushes obtained by thinning may be used, as well as scraps of tatami mats and mats.

<Swelling treatment>

Then, the rush thus obtained is subjected to a swelling treatment. When this swelling treatment is performed, it is immersed in running water or static water for about one to two days to remove stains and prevent bacterial growth. At this time, it is preferable to replace the water every day, and the temperature of the water is preferably 40° C. or lower. In addition to water, chemical retching may be performed using lye, potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, or an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. In this chemical retching with an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, the immersion time can be shortened to 1/10 or less of that in the case of only immersion in still water. When sodium hydroxide is used, it is desirable that its concentration is 10% or less (optimally 1% or less) and the temperature of the aqueous solution is 60°C or less.

The immersed rush is then washed with water to remove germs and foreign matter.

<Press processing>

The rush obtained in this way is pressed several times in the width direction of the stem with a press to obtain a flat leaf sheath strip. If the rush is soft and has thin stems, this press treatment may not be performed. Any device may be used as a press machine for this press treatment, but in order to press a long rush, as shown in FIG. It is preferable to use a roller press 5 having a pressure adjusting spring 53 to adjust the pressing force. In addition, although he is trying to perform a press process after a swelling process here, you may perform a press process before a swelling process. When the press treatment is performed before the swelling treatment in this manner, there is an advantage that water can easily be immersed in the fibers.

<Fibrillation crushing treatment>

Next, the rush thus obtained is defibrated so as to extract fibers including longitudinal ribs. In this defibration process, a disc refiner 6a having disc specifications with straight meridian grooves as shown in FIG. 4 is used, and the fibrillation process is repeated by rotating the disc until it reaches a predetermined fineness.

<Antibacterial/softening treatment>

The pulp 4, parenchyma 2, epidermal powder, etc. are attached to the fibers that have been defibrated and crushed in this way. Therefore, in order to remove these foreign substances, the foreign substances are removed by washing with water, and an antibacterial agent and a softening agent are added as necessary. When an antibacterial agent is added, for example, a method of immersing in a bamboo antibacterial extract extracted by boiling the epidermis of bamboo in hot water, or a method of immersing in a natural antibacterial agent solution such as a woody antibacterial agent hinokitiol solution is used. be able to. The use of natural antibacterial agents in this way also has the advantage of reducing the likelihood of causing allergies.

Moreover, when giving flexibility to a fiber, it softens by immersing in a softening agent. As such a softening agent, for example, a method of immersing the fabric in an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution and boiling the fabric is used.

<Drying treatment>

The fibers thus obtained are then dried. In this drying process, the fibers are slowly dried until the moisture content of the fibers falls within the range of 10% to 50% (preferably 30%±2.5%).

<Spinning processing>

Then, the rush fine fibers thus obtained are spun to obtain a rush spun yarn. At this time, depending on the product standard, a method of selecting and spinning the vertical rib 1 of area A, the vertical rib 1 of area B, the vertical rib 1 of area C, the vertical rib 1 of area D, etc. A mixed spinning method or a spinning method in combination with other types of fibers (cotton, linen, chemical fibers, etc.) can be used. When separating each thin longitudinal rib 1 in each region in this way, it is preferable to separate using a cyclone separator or the like.

In addition, defibration treatment can be performed by another method. This defibration method will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

<Cutting treatment, swelling treatment>

Rush is cut to a length of 40 mm to 100 mm and swelling treatment is performed in the same manner as the cutting treatment and swelling treatment in FIG.

<Press processing>

Then, the rush obtained in this manner is pressed several times in the width direction of the stem with a press to obtain a flat leaf sheath strip.

<Water absorption adjustment process>

Then, the rush obtained by crushing by pressing is immersed in water to adjust the water content to 30% to 60%.

<Fibrillation crushing treatment>

Next, the leaf sheath strip whose water content has been adjusted in this way is defibrated along the longitudinal direction of the fibers. When performing this fibrillation treatment, a garnet type rewinding machine 6 as shown in FIG. 5, a flat card machine, a roller card machine, a linen carding machine, etc. are used. should be used. The rotational speed of the rollers is adjusted according to the state of the leaf sheath strip. If the rotational speed is high, fine fine fibers can be obtained, but there is a disadvantage that the fiber length is short. On the other hand, if the number of revolutions is low, the fibers become thicker, but there is an advantage that longer fibers can be obtained. Therefore, the number of rotations of the roller is adjusted according to the specifications of the product to be manufactured.

<Antibacterial/softening treatment>

Then, foreign substances are separated by a cyclone separator, and an antibacterial agent and a softening agent are added in the same manner as the antibacterial and softening treatment described above.

<Drying treatment>

The fibers thus obtained are then dried. In this drying process, the fibers are slowly dried until the moisture content of the fibers falls within the range of 10% to 50% (preferably 30%±2.5%).

<Spinning processing>

Then, the rush fine fibers thus obtained are spun to obtain a rush spun yarn. At this time, depending on the product standard, a method of selecting and spinning the vertical rib 1 of area A, the vertical rib 1 of area B, the vertical rib 1 of area C, the vertical rib 1 of area D, etc. A mixed spinning method or a spinning method in combination with other types of fibers (cotton, linen, chemical fibers, etc.) can be used. When separating each thin longitudinal rib 1 in each region in this way, it is preferable to separate using a cyclone separator or the like.

Thus, according to the above-described embodiment, the rush fine fibers, which are fibers extracted from the leaf sheath of rush growing in Japan and the like and defibrated along the longitudinal direction so as to include the longitudinal rib 1, are used. As a result, it is possible to produce rush spun yarn from rush fiber that is extremely thin and has a fiber length longer than a spinnable level.

Examples of the present embodiment will be described below.

Five months after germination, rushes in the Yatsushiro district of Kumamoto Prefecture were felled, and two leaf sheaths were crushed with a roller press. This was immersed in running well water (10 liters/hour) for 5 days. After that, it was cut to a length of 60 mm. After drying in the sun, it was dried in an electric drying oven until the water content reached 20%.
Then, it was defibrated by a sample roller carding machine with a width of 200 mm. When the rotation speed of the main drum was 500 rpm, a rush spun yarn with an average thickness of 45 μm, an average width of 160 μm and a length of 55 mm was obtained. Yield was 65%. The rush spun yarn was run through the sample roller card machine again. In this case, the main drum speed was increased to 800 rpm. As a result, rush fine fibers having an average fiber width of 55 μm and a length of 45 mm were obtained. Furthermore, when this was passed through a sample roller carder under the same conditions, the average fiber width of the fine fibers was 38 μm and the average length was 37 mm. The yield at this time was 35%. Traces of parenchyma cells (cells) were scattered on the surface of the fine fibers. There were 40% fine fibers with a length of less than 30 mm. Using this rush fine fiber, a blended yarn with cotton (20 cotton count) was obtained. The weight content of rush fine fibers is 40%. The tensile strength of the blended yarn was 610 g.

Another embodiment will now be described.

A rush spun yarn with an average fiber width of 45 μm and a length of 55 mm and a polypropylene fiber (PPF) were overlapped at a ratio of 1:1, passed through a sample roller carder twice, and mixed to form a 20 cm wide web, which was cut every 20 cm, alternately superimposed at right angles, and hot-pressed (180° C.) to produce a preboard. For comparison, a kenaf fiber/PPF board was also produced, and the weights were compared when both had the same flexural rigidity. As a result, it was found that the rush spun yarn/PPF preboard has the same performance as the kenaf fiber/PPF board.

A: Vertical rib near the center B: Outer vertical rib C: Adjacent vertical rib D: Outermost vertical rib 1: Vertical rib 2: Parenchyma 3: Hard wall cells 4... pith 5... press roller machine 51... main roller 52... crushing roller 53... pressure adjustment spring 6a... disc refiner 6b... garnet type hair-removing machine

Claims (8)

Rush fine fibers, which are fibers extracted from rush leaf sheaths and separated along the longitudinal direction to include longitudinal ribs. 2. The rush fine fiber according to claim 1, which has a fiber width of 60 μm or less and a length including longitudinal ribs of 20 mm or more. The rush fine fiber according to claim 1, wherein the fiber width is 10 µm or more and 30 µm or less. A rush spun yarn spun using the rush fine fiber according to any one of claims 1 to 3. a step of swelling the cut rush;
A step of defibrating so that the fiber width is 60 μm or less;
A method for producing rush fine fibers by. A step of pressing the cut rushes;
A step of adjusting the water content of the cut rushes;
A step of defibrating the pressed and water-adjusted rush so that the fiber width is 60 μm or less;
A method for producing rush fine fibers by. The method for producing rush fine fibers of claim 5 or claim 6, further comprising:
A method for producing rush fine fibers that are immersed in a natural antibacterial agent solution and then dried. The method for producing rush fine fibers of claim 5 or claim 6, further comprising:
A method for producing rush fine fibers that are soaked in a softener liquid and then dried.

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