JP2511837B2 - Cellulose fiber with internal hydrophilicity - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cellulosic fiber which has a higher water-absorbing performance than conventional cotton and other cellulosic fibers and maintains the original softness of cotton or cellulosic fibers. So, not only as a material for ordinary clothes and underwear, but especially for sports clothes, work clothes, and diapers that require high water absorption, diaper covers, bed sheets for bedridden elderly, etc. it can.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Cotton is a natural fiber composed of cellulose, but unlike hemp fibers such as potatoes (ramie) and flax (linen), which are also composed of cellulose, absorb water,
It is highly hygroscopic. This is due to the unique fiber structure of cotton.

[0003] In particular, there is a hollow portion called a lumen inside the fiber, and it is known that water molecules are absorbed through the lumen and small pores in the tissue to exhibit high hydrophilicity.

Under these circumstances, there have been relatively few studies on the hydrophilization of cotton fibers, and studies on the production of superabsorbent fibers / resins, superabsorbent nonwoven fabrics, ionic dye-dyeable fibers and the like have been conducted. Nothing more than.

These chemical treatments for making hydrophilic are carboxylic.
Simethylation is known.

However, the hydrophilization of the fiber surface by chemical treatment was a method having a high reactivity and sacrificing the original soft feeling of the cellulosic fiber.

No attempts have been made to convert the cellulosic fibers described below in the present invention, typically cotton fibers, into clothing fibers which are rich in water absorption without impairing the natural texture and fiber performance peculiar to cotton fibers.

[0008]

With the high degree of hydrophilicity obtained by chemical treatment of cellulosic fibers such as cotton up to now, the soft feel of the cellulosic fibers is impaired and the touch becomes poor. Therefore, in the present invention, While maintaining the original texture and soft feel of the cellulosic fiber on the outside, by improving only the water absorption and moisture absorption performance and adjusting the degree of hydrophilicity to a slight degree, especially sports clothing materials and highly absorbent sheets, etc. The purpose is to give practicality to.

[0009] For example, super absorbent cotton, which is intended in the present invention, is a fiber which exhibits a higher absorbency by about 10 to 90% than untreated cotton.

This is because it is considered that if the hydrophilic treatment is further performed, the mechanical strength is largely lowered and the feeling peculiar to the cotton fiber is impaired, so that it is not suitable as a clothing fiber.

In fact, a sample showing a water absorbency higher than that of untreated cotton by 100% or more has a remarkable change in appearance and a change in the feel of the cotton fiber.

[0012]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the inventors of the present invention have earnestly studied and, as a result, arrived at the present invention.

That is, according to the present invention, a cellulosic fiber is provided with a degree of substitution of 0.05 to 0.5 inside the fiber.
Substitution with a cidol group to make it hydrophilic, the degree of hydrophilicity of the surface layer of the fiber is substantially equal to the degree of hydrophilicity of the surface layer of the untreated fiber, the outside without impairing the original feel of the cellulosic fiber, A cellulosic fiber having improved water absorption performance , which has a water absorption rate of 40% to 100% .

More specifically, in the present invention, the cotton or other cellulosic fiber is thoroughly immersed in the 2,3-epoxy-1-propanol (glycidol) solution (for 30 minutes or more) and then adhered to the outer portion of the fiber. The existing 2,3-epoxy-1-propanol (glycidol) is washed and removed by immersing it in a solvent of the same type as the solvent used for a short time of 10 seconds to 1 minute. ~ 5
The sample is dipped in a solution containing 0% sodium hydroxide, and the hydrophilic group is subjected to an addition reaction so that the degree of substitution of the hydrophilic group increases from the outside to the center of the fiber at 30 ° C to 100 ° C. It is a fiber-treated product obtained by regioselectively hydrophilizing the inside of the cellulosic fiber obtained by the above, and is characterized in that only the water absorption performance is improved on the outside without impairing the original texture and feel of the cellulosic fiber.

[0015] As the hydrophilizing agent, hydrophilic groups when using glycidol are nonionic glycine Dole group.

Specific examples will be given below. The method of measuring the water absorption rate referred to here was to immerse the sample in distilled water for about 2 hours, put it in a centrifuge, dehydrate for 4 minutes at 4000 rpm, weigh it, and calculate by the following formula.

[0017]

[Equation 1] W ₁ : Weight of sample after centrifugal dehydration W ₀ : Weight of sample as a constant weight under the environment of 20 ° C. and 65% RH

[0018]

Example 1 5 g of cotton sliver (length 25-35 mm, average fineness 1.9d) was immersed in 0.5% sodium hydroxide aqueous solution to wash and remove impurities, and then glycidol 2
It is immersed in 200 g of an aqueous solution having a concentration of 8.6% to 54.5% for 24 hours.

Then, the glycidol attached to the fiber surface was
Immerse it in 00 cc of water for 30 seconds to remove it by washing, and then in 300 cc of 2% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (temperature: 50 ° C)
The reaction is carried out at ± 2 ° C for 1 hour to remove unreacted substances by washing.

Acetone solution can be used instead of the aqueous solution by the same procedure.

The water absorption of the internally hydrophilized cotton obtained in each case was as follows.

[0022]

[Table 1]

[0023]

[Table 2]

[0024]

Example 2 5 g of cotton sliver (length 25 to 35 mm, average fineness 1.9d) was immersed in 0.5% sodium hydroxide aqueous solution to remove impurities by washing, and then 200 g of 50% glycidol-acetone solution. Soak in for 2 hours.

Then, the glycidol attached to the fiber surface was
It is immersed in 00 cc of acetone for 30 seconds to be washed and removed, and then is allowed to react for 1 hour in 300 cc of acetone containing 20 cc of a 2% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (temperature 50 ° C. ± 2 ° C.), and then unreacted substances are removed by washing.

By repeating the same operation once to three times, three kinds of internally hydrophilized samples having different hydrophilization rates can be obtained.

At this time, the water absorption rate of the totally hydrophilized sample obtained without washing and removing the glycidol attached to the fiber surface is shown in the table below. Although the water absorption rate of the whole sample is large, the reaction proceeds to the surface. The texture was hard due to the fact that he was out.

[0028]

[Table 3]

[0029]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a fiber having a higher water absorption without deteriorating the natural texture unique to the cellulosic fiber.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cellulosic fiber is placed inside the fiber.
Place the glycidol group so that the degree of conversion is 0.05 to 0.5.
In other words, it is hydrophilized, and the degree of hydrophilicity of the surface layer of the fiber is substantially equal to the degree of hydrophilicity of the surface layer of the untreated fiber, the outside has a water absorption rate without impairing the original texture of the cellulosic fiber. Four
A cellulosic fiber having improved water absorption performance, which is 0% to 100% .