JPH11269759A - Treatment of polyester fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a treating method for forming a fine and sharp uneven structure which can not be obtained by conventional processing methods on the surface of a polyester fiber and capable of obtaining the polyester fiber improved in a deep colored and vivid dyeing property. SOLUTION: This method for treating a polyester fiber is provided by irradiating the polyester fiber loaded with particles having a photo decomposition catalytic activity e.g. a photo-semiconductor, an oxide and a sulfide, with a light to oxidize the surface of the polyester fiber partially for forming fine pores having <=0.5 μm diameter on the surface of the fiber.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for treating polyester fiber, and more particularly, to a method for treating polyester fiber which is excellent in deep color and clear dyeability.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, many studies have been made on polyester fibers to enhance deep hue and deep color. For example, a method of coating the fiber surface of a fiber fabric after dyeing with a fluorine-based treating agent (JP-A-57-176275, etc.), using a silicone-based treating agent or a urethane-based treating agent instead of the fluorine-based treating agent (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 64-45)
No. 466, etc.), in which the surface of a fiber is coated with a compound having a low refractive index to obtain a deep color and a clear dyeing property.

[0003] These methods can improve the level of deep coloration of dyed products, but have problems such as a decrease in deep chromaticity due to dry cleaning and washing treatment, and bleeding of color due to dye bleed-out. The durability of the color effect was not satisfactory.

[0004] Further, as another method for improving the dyeability,
There is a method of forming fine irregularities on the fiber surface to prevent irregular reflection of light on the fiber surface. For example, a method of adding a microporous forming agent to polyester fiber in advance and performing an alkali treatment at a higher processing stage to remove the microporous forming agent (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 54-120728, etc.) A method of subjecting the surface to plasma etching to form fine irregularities on the fiber surface (Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-11709,
Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-37225).

However, in the above method, it is necessary to subject the polyester fiber to an alkali treatment in order to remove the microporous forming agent, and the polyester fiber is formed because the surface of the polyester fiber is hydrolyzed by the alkali treatment. The profile of the microporous shape is hard to be sharp, and the effect of deep color is not sufficient. Further, there is a problem of treating the waste liquid of the alkaline liquid.

In addition, the method of performing plasma etching on the fiber surface requires special equipment for the treatment, and has a problem that it is not easy and convenient to form microporous holes, resulting in an increase in cost. Was.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and forms a fine and sharp uneven structure, which cannot be obtained by a conventional processing method, on the surface of the polyester fiber. It is an object of the present invention to propose a processing method capable of obtaining a polyester fiber having improved properties and sharp dyeability.

[0008]

According to the present invention, a polyester fiber carrying particles having photocatalytic activity is partially irradiated with light to partially oxidize the surface of the polyester fiber.
A method for treating polyester fiber, characterized by forming micropores on the fiber surface.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail.
The polyester fiber used in the present invention is terephthalic acid as the main dicarboxylic acid component, and at least one glycol, preferably ethylene glycol, trimethylene glycol, at least one alkylene glycol selected from tetramethylene glycol, etc. It is a fiber made of polyester as a component.
Further, the polyester may be modified by copolymerizing and / or blending the third component as necessary. The polyester fiber may contain optional additives as needed, for example, a catalyst, a coloring inhibitor, a heat-resistant agent, a flame retardant, an antioxidant, and inorganic fine particles.

The polyester fiber treated by the method of the present invention may be used at 100%. If necessary, natural fibers such as cotton and wool, regenerated fibers such as rayon and acetate, and other fibers besides polyester can be used. Can be used as a blended product, a mixed knitted product, or a mixed woven product together with the synthetic fiber.

Next, the particles having photocatalytic activity used in the present invention are particles having the ability to activate and activate the fiber surface by receiving and absorbing light in a specific range of wavelengths. As such particles, all having the properties of an optical semiconductor can be used, and for example, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, zinc sulfide and the like are preferably exemplified. Among them, titanium oxide is particularly preferable because of its high photolytic catalytic activity. As the titanium oxide having photocatalytic activity, any of anatase type, rutile type and amorphous type may be used, but titanium oxide having high photocatalytic activity is preferably used.

The particle size of the particles having photocatalytic activity used in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as the photocatalytic activity is not impaired, but is preferably 0.01 to 0.5 μm.
Those in the range of m are preferred. When the particle diameter of the particles having photocatalytic activity is less than 0.01 μm, the particle diameter is small, so that aggregation is likely to occur and uniform dispersion becomes difficult, and particles having a particle diameter substantially in this range are supported on the fiber surface. It becomes difficult. Further, when the particle size exceeds 0.5 μm, the effect of improving sharpness cannot be obtained because the diameter of the formed fine pores exceeds 0.5 μm, and the fiber properties deteriorate due to deterioration of the fiber surface. It is not preferable because it may cause

The amount of particles having photocatalytic activity used in the present invention is preferably in the range of 0.5 to 30% by weight, more preferably in the range of 1 to 10% by weight, based on the weight of the fiber. is there. The amount of particles having photocatalytic activity is
When the content is less than 0.5% by weight, when the particles are fixed to the fiber surface using a binder resin, the particles having the photocatalytic ability are completely covered by the binder resin, and the effect of using the particles is reduced. May not be obtained, and if the amount of the particles having photocatalytic activity exceeds 30% by weight, deterioration of the fibers is remarkably accelerated, which is not preferable.

In order to enhance the catalytic activity of the particles having photocatalytic activity used in the present invention, it is effective to carry an inorganic noble metal, such as platinum, rhodium, ruthenium or the like. Are exemplified.

As a method for supporting the particles having photocatalytic activity on polyester fibers, immersion, a pad drying method, a coating method, and a processing liquid containing the particles are used.
It can be performed by a known method such as a spray method or a laminating method, and may be appropriately selected depending on the form of the polyester fiber, the type of the processing resin, and the type of the processing solution. If necessary, a very small amount of a water-soluble binder resin such as a fiber sizing agent may be used. When a binder resin is used, the amount of particles having photocatalytic activity is preferably 0.5% by weight or more for the reasons described above.

The binder resin is preferably a resin which can be washed with water after forming fine pores on the fiber surface by light irradiation, and is preferably exemplified by a water-soluble resin such as polyvinyl alcohol. Further, it is preferable to use the binder resin in an amount of 10% by weight or less based on the polyester fiber. If the amount of the binder resin is more than 10% by weight, the particles having photocatalytic ability are completely covered with the binder resin, so that there is a possibility that the photocatalytic ability cannot be exhibited.

The particles having photocatalytic activity may be used by dissolving them in an organic solvent such as heptane, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, mineral terpene, isopropyl alcohol and the like. Self-emulsifying in water as it is, or a suitable emulsifier, for example, higher alcohol sulfate, alkylbenzene sulfonate, higher alcohol polyoxyalkylene adduct, higher fatty acid polyoxyalkylene adduct, higher fatty acid sorbitan ester, etc. And emulsified in water for use.

In the present invention, it is important to irradiate the polyester fiber carrying the particles having the photocatalytic activity with light. As a light source used for the light irradiation,
It is sufficient to select a light source containing a wavelength at which the particles having photocatalytic activity show the maximum absorption. For example, in the case of titanium oxide, a light source in the ultraviolet or near-ultraviolet region can be used. Those having a value are most preferably exemplified. Note that the irradiation time may be appropriately determined depending on the intensity of the light source and the distance between the irradiation target and the light source.

The light irradiation forms micropores on the surface of the polyester fiber. The diameter of the micropores is as follows.
Using an electron micrograph (magnification: for example, 15,000 times) of the surface of the polyester fiber in which the micropores are formed, the maximum inscribed circle of the outline of the micropores (the circle passing outside the outline) is (Not included) can be determined. The diameter (μm) of the micropores is preferably 0.5 μm or less from the viewpoint of improving sharpness.

The above treatment can be performed regardless of the form of the polyester fiber, such as raw cotton, yarn, or woven or knitted fabric. After performing such treatment, the particles having photocatalytic activity supported on the polyester fiber are washed and removed by a known washing treatment method, thereby stopping the formation of micropores by the particles. Can be.

[0021]

According to the method described above, polyester fibers having fine pores formed on the fiber surface have remarkably deep color and sharpness during dyeing as compared with known polyester fibers having an uneven structure on the fiber surface. Can be improved. Although the reason is not clear, the micropores formed by the present invention are different from those formed by alkali reduction processing as in the past, and are formed only in the particles having photocatalytic activity, Having a sharp concave shape, and the fact that the surface of the concave portion is partially oxidized and the refractive index of the surface is reduced act synergistically to obtain an effect of improving deep color sharpness. Inferred.

[0022]

As described above, the polyester fiber having excellent deep color and clear dyeing properties can be used for all applications where a conventional polyester fiber is used.
It can also be suitably used for interior applications such as curtains and carpets and as a sanitary material.

[0023]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to embodiments. In addition, unless otherwise indicated, it is based on weight. Also,
The evaluation of deep color in the examples is performed under the following conditions.

(1) Deep Coloring As a measure of the deep color effect, deep color chromaticity (K / S) is used. When the reflectance of a sample at a specific wavelength is R, the following formula (1) is used. ) Kubelka Munk (Kub)
elka-Munk). K / S = (1−R) ² / 2R (1) The larger this value is, the larger the deep color effect is. The measurement was performed by Macbeth COLOR-
EYE model 2020PL).

Example 1 A base fabric woven from 100% of polyester fibers (75 denier / 24 filaments) made of polyethylene terephthalate (basis weight: 100 g)
/ M ² ), the base fabric is immersed in an aqueous dispersion solution containing 10% by weight of P-25 (manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd., titanium oxide particles, particle size: 21 nm) to perform coating treatment (specific surface area: 50 g / m 2). ² ), and dried at a temperature of 120 ° C. for 3 minutes. A 20 W UV lamp is applied to the coated fabric for 50 times.
After irradiation for an hour, the fabric was washed with water and dried.

Next, the irradiated cloth was dyed by immersion in a dye bath having the formulation shown in Table 1 at a temperature of 130 ° C. for 60 minutes, and then in a washing bath having the same formulation as shown in Table 1.
Reduction washing was performed at a temperature of 20 ° C. for 20 minutes. The bath ratio during the dyeing and washing was 1:30. Table 2 shows the evaluation results of the obtained dyed fabrics. Note that the sharpness was determined by the visual sense (the same applies to the following comparative examples).

Comparative Example 1 A titanium oxide particle was carried in the same manner as in Example 1, using the same base fabric as in Example 1, and the table was formed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the ultraviolet lamp was not irradiated. 1 was carried out, and the obtained dyed fabric was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1. The evaluation results are also shown in Table 2.

[Comparative Example 2] A dyed fabric was treated in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the same base fabric as in Example 1 was used, titanium oxide was not supported, and an ultraviolet lamp was not irradiated. Evaluation was performed in the same manner as in Example 1. This corresponds to a normal dyeing treatment. The evaluation results are also shown in Table 2.

[Comparative Example 3] 100% of a core-sheath type composite polyester fiber containing a readily soluble alkali component and a silica sol as a microporous forming agent in a sheath portion, and a core component being usually polyester.
Examples of a dyed fabric which was subjected to an alkali weight reduction treatment at a temperature of 98 ° C. for 45 minutes in an aqueous solution containing 30 g / liter of sodium hydroxide by using a cloth comprising Evaluation was performed in the same manner as in Example 1. The evaluation results are also shown in Table 2.

[0030]

[Table 1]

[0031]

[Table 2]

In Example 1, sharp fine pores were formed, and good clear dyeability was obtained. Also, K / S
Is also large. On the other hand, in Comparative Examples 1 and 2, fine pores were not formed, and the effect of the present invention was not obtained. Further, in Comparative Example 3, the unevenness due to the fine holes was formed by the conventional method, but it did not reach the sharpness and the deep color of the fabric of Example 1.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A polyester fiber characterized in that the surface of the polyester fiber is partially oxidized by irradiating light to the polyester fiber carrying particles having photocatalytic activity, thereby forming fine pores on the surface of the fiber. Processing method. 2. The method for treating polyester fiber according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the micropores is 0.5 μm or less. 3. The method for treating polyester fiber according to claim 1, wherein the particles having photocatalytic activity are optical semiconductors. 4. The method for treating a polyester fiber according to claim 1, wherein the particles having photocatalytic activity are oxides. 5. The method for treating polyester fiber according to claim 1, wherein the particles having photocatalytic activity are sulfides.