JPH11302937A - Wiping cloth and its production - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a wiping cloth having excellent drawability and handleability. SOLUTION: This wiping cloth comprises a woven fabric obtained by arranging a spun yarn containing >=50 wt.% of a polyester yarn having a long stripe channel extending in the fiber axis direction on the surface of a fiber having 0.5-4.0 denier fineness of single fiber as warps and/or a weft. The spun yarn has >=30 wt.% and <=90 wt.% water content on the whole woven fabric. This method for producing the wiping cloth comprises weaving a spurn yarn containing >=50 wt.% of a polyester yarn having >=0.5 wt.% and <=5 wt.% polyoxyalkylene glycol content based on yarn weight as warps and a weft and subjecting the woven fabric to alkali weight loss treatment at >=5 wt.% and <=30 wt.% weight loss ratio.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wiping cloth which is excellent in wiping off moisture and dirt, and more specifically, it can effectively wipe off various liquid and particulate deposits. The present invention relates to a wiping cloth having excellent handling properties.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, wiping cloths have been widely used for wiping glass, cleaning household furniture and floors, wiping tableware, absorbing oils, and cleaning equipment. Most of them have traditionally used cloths and rags made of cotton fibers, which have good water absorption and excellent hand-held feeling. However, the one using a cotton cloth has problems that the quick-drying property after wiping with water is poor, the hygroscopicity is high, and the protein stain is easily fixed by repeated use. For this reason, when left in a high-temperature and humid environment for a long time, microorganisms tend to propagate, which is not hygienic, especially when used in a restaurant industry such as a restaurant or a fast food store, a hotel, or a home kitchen. In addition, in recent years, various wiping fabrics using ultrafine fibers have been devised, and some of them have been used. For example, JP-A-61-10
No. 3428 proposes a wiping cloth composed of ultrafine fibers of 0.9 denier or less. Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-213364 discloses a wiping cloth of 0.2 denier or less and 0.5 to 10 denier fibers. Entangled woven knits made of denier fibers have been proposed.

In general, synthetic fibers such as polyester fibers are often excellent in mechanical strength, chemical resistance, quick drying, and the like, but generally have poor fiber surface irregularities, such as glass and metal products. Since it is slippery to those having a smooth surface, the ability to wipe off dirt is poor, so that it has been difficult to use it for wiping applications. Therefore, the purpose of using ultrafine fibers is to increase the fiber surface area by making the constituent fibers of the fabric finer, to improve the wiping function and the adsorption ability, and to give a soft feeling and a tactile sensation. However, it is difficult to obtain a good balance of the firmness and thickness and the soft texture, as in the case of fabrics made of natural cellulosic fibers. Since it is still hydrophobic, there is a problem that water absorption is insufficient. For these reasons, the wiping fabric using the ultrafine fibers is limited to the use of wiping a small amount of dirt. Furthermore, as a method for producing the above-mentioned ultrafine fibers, there is a method of splitting fibril-bonding composite fibers and a method of dissolving and removing the sea component of the sea-island composite fibers. However, since a special manufacturing apparatus and a special processing method are required, there is a problem that the product cost is extremely increased. That is, as described above, in each case, there are advantages and disadvantages, and at present, anything satisfying all in terms of the wiping function, the handleability, and the product cost has not yet been obtained.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a wiping cloth which can effectively wipe off moisture and adhered dirt, has an excellent hand-holding feeling, has a quick-drying property and is easy to handle. And

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems The present inventors have conducted intensive studies to solve the above-mentioned problems, and as a result, the single fiber fineness was 0.5.
d and 4.0 d or less, and a spun yarn containing at least 50% by weight of a polyester fiber having a vertically elongated groove extending in the fiber axis direction on the fiber surface is arranged on the warp yarn and / or the weft yarn. A wiping fabric comprising a woven fabric comprising: The content of spun yarn is 30% by weight or more in the whole woven fabric,
The wiping cloth according to claim 1, wherein the wiping cloth is 90% by weight or less. A spun yarn containing 50% by weight or more of a polyester fiber having a polyoxyalkylene glycol content of 0.5% by weight or more and 5% by weight or less with respect to the fiber weight is used as a warp yarn and / or a weft yarn. A method for producing a wiping cloth, comprising weaving and performing an alkali weight loss treatment at a weight loss rate of 5% or more and 30% or less. As a result, the inventors have found that the desired characteristics can be obtained, and have completed the invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail. The warp yarn or the weft yarn constituting the wiping cloth of the present invention contains 50% by weight or more of a polyester fiber having a continuous streak groove oriented on the surface in the fiber axis direction. The striation groove continuously penetrates in the longitudinal direction in the fiber axis direction. The striations have an average length of 30 μm or more and a width of 3 μm or less. There are 5 to 50 linear grooves extending in a streak shape in an outer circumferential direction of a cross section perpendicular to the fiber axis per an average distance of 10 μm, and some of the fibers are fibrillated.

[0007] The formation of such narrow streak grooves on the fiber surface is a major factor in giving a good wiping function to the fabric. That is, the formation of the above-mentioned streaks promotes the absorption of moisture, increases the adsorption area, and furthermore, the edge portion has an effect of scraping off the deposits, so that dirt can be effectively removed. it is conceivable that. If the streak is less than 30μ in length or more than 3μ in width,
At the same time as the water-absorbing capacity is reduced, the surface becomes poor in unevenness, so that good wiping performance cannot be obtained. More preferably, the streak groove has an average length of 50 μm or more and a width of 2 μm or less. It is important that the ratio of the polyester fiber to the spun yarn is 50% by weight or more. If the content is less than 50% by weight, sufficient water absorption and wiping properties cannot be obtained. A more preferred content of the polyester fiber is 60% by weight or more.

The above-mentioned water-absorbing polyester fiber used in the present invention can be produced by, for example, reducing the weight of a fiber containing a polyoxyalkylene glycol by an alkali. %
As described above, it is composed of a polyester containing ethylene terephthalate at 5% by weight or less as a main repeating unit. The polyester has terephthalic acid or an ester-forming derivative thereof as a dicarboxylic acid component, and ethylene terephthalate having ethylene glycol or an ester-forming derivative thereof as a glycol component as a main repeating unit.A dicarboxylic acid component, and / or A component in which a part of the glycol component is replaced with another dicarboxylic acid component and / or a glycol component may be used. Further, as other dicarboxylic acid components constituting the polyester,
For example, a dicarboxylic acid such as isophthalic acid, 5-sulfoisophthalic alkali metal salt, naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, diphenylcarboxylic acid, diphenylsulfondicarboxylic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid or an ester thereof, p-oxy benzoic acid,
Examples thereof include oxycarboxylic acids such as p-β-oxyethoxybenzoic acid and esters thereof. Other glycol components constituting the polyester include, for example, alkylene glycols having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, 1,4, cyclohexanedimethanol, neopentyl glycol,
Examples thereof include 4-bis (β-oxyethoxy) benzene, bisglycol ether of bisphenol A, and polyalkylene glycol. Furthermore, the above-mentioned polyesters may have no problem even if they contain other copolymer components within a range not to impair the object of the present invention.

The polyester described above may be any polyester synthesized by any known method. For example, in the case of polyethylene terephthalate, terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol may be directly esterified or dimethyl terephthalate may be used. By performing a transesterification reaction with ethylene glycol and the like, a glycol ester of terephthalic acid or a low condensate thereof is produced, and then synthesized by a method of polycondensation.In the synthesis, a known catalyst, an antioxidant, a coloring inhibitor, Of course, it is also possible to add an ether bond by-product inhibitor, a light stabilizer, a flame retardant, and the like. The polyoxyalkylene glycol contained in the polyester includes, for example, all generally known ones. Specific examples thereof include polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, and random or block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. Polymerization, polytetramethylene glycol, a block copolymer obtained by adding ethylene oxide to polytetramethylene glycol, neopentyl glycol, or a compound obtained by adding ethylene oxide to a bisphenol-based glycol, and a polyoxy group having hydroxyl groups at both ends. Examples include an alkylene compound, monophenoxy polyethylene glycol, nonylphenoxy polyethylene glycol, and the like. Further, the terminal group of the polyoxyalkylene glycol may be a hydroxyl group, may be blocked with an organic group having a non-ester forming property, or an ether bond, an ester bond, a carbonate bond, or the like,
It may be bonded to another ester-forming organic group. Further, in the present invention, as the polyoxyalkylene glycol added to the polyester, other additives may be mixed in advance.

In the present invention, the amount of polyoxyalkylene glycol added to the polyester fiber is preferably 0.5% by weight or more and 5.0% by weight or less. When the addition amount of the polyoxyalkylene glycol is less than 0.5% by weight, on the fiber surface after the weight loss treatment, vertically long multi-slots arranged in the fiber axis direction are not clearly formed, and the water absorption becomes insufficient. Good wiping properties and natural-like feel cannot be obtained. In addition, the addition amount is 5.0% by weight.
Exceeding the range is not preferable because the mechanical strength and light fastness are significantly reduced. The addition amount of the polyoxyalkylene glycol is more preferably from 1.0% by weight to 3.0% by weight.

[0011] In the present invention, the fiber surface having a unique uneven shape called a streak is formed by the polyoxyalkylene glycol contained in the form of streaks in the fiber axis direction at or near the surface of the present fiber due to the alkali weight reduction treatment. Is rapidly dissolved, the portion becomes an active site in the alkali dissolution reaction, and the fiber weight is reduced. As described above, the polyester fiber contains a hydrophilic polyoxyalkylene glycol, and the fiber surface has a streaky irregular shape, so that the water absorption becomes good, which cannot be obtained with a normal polyester fiber. It is believed that an excellent wiping function is provided.

It is desirable that the content of the polyester fiber in the whole fabric is 30% by weight or more and 90% by weight or less. If the content is less than 30% by weight, it is difficult to obtain sufficient water absorption and wiping functions. If the content is more than 90% by weight, the mechanical strength of the fabric becomes remarkable and the durability becomes poor. A more preferable content of the polyester fiber is in a range of 40% by weight or more and 80% or less.

Further, in the present invention, an antioxidant, an antistatic agent,
Antibacterial agent, deodorant, flame retardant, hydrophilic agent, water repellent, softener,
Additives such as pigments, matting agents, fluorescent whitening agents, ultraviolet absorbers, inorganic fine particles, etc. can be blended or provided as necessary. The cross-sectional shape of the fibrillated fiber is not particularly limited, and a known shape such as a triangular cross-section, a star cross-section, a Y cross-section, a U cross-section, a hollow cross-section, and a flat cross-section as well as a normal round cross-section is employed. However, in terms of ease of fibrillation, a modified cross section such as a triangular cross section, a Y cross section, or a star cross section is preferable.

Further, a spun yarn using 50% by weight or more of the polyester fiber obtained by the above method is used as a warp yarn and / or a weft yarn to form a fabric, and then an alkali weight reduction process is performed. At the time of this processing, a liquid flow type dyeing apparatus or the like generally applied to weight reduction processing is used. It is important that the weight loss rate by the alkali weight reduction process is 5% by weight or more and 30% by weight or less. When the weight loss rate is less than 5% by weight, the formation of the streaks on the surface of the fiber is not sufficiently performed, and sufficient wiping performance can be obtained. On the other hand, when the weight loss rate exceeds 30% by weight, the polyester fibers are excessively dissolved, the mechanical strength of the fabric is significantly reduced, and the durability is poor. More preferably, it is desirable from the viewpoint of the properties of the cloth to perform the weight-reduction processing at a weight-reduction rate of 5% by weight or more and 20% by weight or less. Examples of the alkali used in the alkali weight reduction processing include alkali metal compounds, hydroxides, carbonates, and the like (hereinafter, referred to as alkali compounds), for example, sodium hydroxide,
Examples include potassium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, cesium hydroxide, bidium hydroxide, tetraethylammonium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate and the like. Among them, low cost, large dissolving capacity,
Sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide are preferably used.

The processing conditions for the alkali reduction processing are slightly different depending on the kind of the alkali compound used, but the concentration of the processing solution may be 0.1 to 30% by weight. When the concentration of the treatment solution is 0.1% by weight or less, a substantial dissolution reaction does not proceed,
If it exceeds 0% by weight, the rate of weight loss becomes too fast, so that in any case, appropriate weight reduction processing cannot be performed. A more preferred concentration of the processing solution is 0.5 to 10% by weight. The temperature of the alkaline solution is desirably in the range of room temperature to 100 ° C., and the treatment time is preferably in the range of 1 minute to 2 hours.

In the present invention, the fibrillated fiber may be, if necessary, a synthetic fiber such as ordinary polyester or polyamide, a semi-synthetic fiber such as acetate fiber, a regenerated fiber such as rayon, polynosic, cupra, or cotton, hemp. ,
Naturally, natural fibers such as wool can be appropriately mixed to simultaneously add features and functions of other materials.

The fabric of the present invention described above has a very good dirt and moisture wiping function, a soft texture, and excellent drying properties after use and washing.
It is suitably used for household and commercial wiping cloths, dirt wiping, and various cleaner products. In addition, since the fabric of the present invention has a natural fiber-like feel and good water absorption,
It can also be used for daily necessities such as towels, handkerchiefs and gloves, or bedding products such as futon covers and sheets.

In the following, methods for evaluating the physical properties of fibers and fabrics according to the present invention are shown. Surface morphology of the fiber: The surface of the fiber constituting the fabric was observed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) at a magnification of 2000 to 5000 times, and the state of formation of the streaks was examined. Water absorption (Larose method): After dropping distilled water from a burette onto a cloth by a water dropping method, water absorption was evaluated by measuring the amount of water absorbed inside the cloth after 1 minute. ○ indicates good water absorption, and × indicates poor water absorption. Wipeability: A dirt wipeability test on the glass surface was performed by 10 inspectors. ○ indicates good wiping performance, and X indicates that wiping is difficult. Hand: Ten inspectors sensuously evaluated the feel (hand feeling) and touch of the fabric. ○ indicates good hand feeling, and X indicates poor hand feeling. Drying property: A drying property test is performed after washing the fabric. ○ indicates that quick drying is excellent, and X indicates that quick drying is poor. Protein adhesion: The adhesion amount of protein components after 3 weeks of use was analyzed. ○ indicates that the amount of adhesion is small, and X indicates that the amount of adhesion is large. Durability: The fabric shape after 50 washes was evaluated by appearance inspection. ○ indicates excellent durability, and × indicates poor durability.

[0019]

(Example 1) Esterification was carried out from terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol by a conventional method, and after initial condensation, polyethylene glycol (average molecular weight: 20,000) was added to a hindered phenol system immediately before completion of polymerization. 1,3,5-trimethyl 2,4,6-tris (3,5-ditert-butyl-)
1.0% of 4-hydroxybenzyl) benzene (manufactured by Ciba Geigy Co., Ltd., trade name: Irganox 1330) was added and melted and mixed so that the PEG content was 2% by weight, and the polymerization of the PEG-containing polyester was completed. A PEG-containing polyester having an intrinsic viscosity (η) of 0.635 (measured in a mixed solvent of phenol / tetrachloroethane = 6/4 at 30 ° C.) was obtained. Using this polymer, a spinneret having 36 circular spinning holes for producing a solid fiber having an opening area S of a spinning hole single hole of 0.78 was used, and a discharge amount Q per single hole was used.
Was melt-spun at 290 ° C. under the condition of 0.5 g / min. The spun yarn was solidified by cooling at room temperature with cooling air at a speed of 1300 m / min and stretched 3.5 times at a stretching temperature of 150 ° C. by a conventional method. Thereafter, the drawn polyester yarn is cut into equal lengths to produce staples having a fiber length of 38 mm and a fineness of 1.2 denier, and then using the above staples at 100% by weight, a spun yarn of English cotton count 30 ′S / 1 ( Twist coefficient 3.2) was produced. A plain woven fabric is formed by using the spun yarn obtained above as a weft yarn and a 30-count spun yarn of a polyester fiber as a warp yarn, and scouring (95 ° C. × 30 minutes) and presetting (180 ° C.) according to a conventional method. X 30 seconds)
Was carried out, and a weight reduction treatment of 15% by weight was carried out at a bath temperature of 90 to 95 ° C. using a 20 g / l aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. At the time of processing, a liquid flow type dyeing apparatus generally applied to weight reduction processing was used. After that, dyeing 130 ° C x
The final set was performed at 160 ° C. × 1 minute for 45 minutes. The obtained fabric was excellent in water absorption and wiping properties, and also had a good hand-held feeling. When the fiber surface of the fabric weft was observed with an electron microscope, it was recognized that a large number of vertically elongated streak grooves were generated. Table 1 shows the evaluation results of the properties of the fabric.

Example 2 A fabric was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the fineness of the PEG-added polyester fiber was changed to 2.5 denier. The resulting fabric was excellent in wiping off moisture and dirt, and had a good hand-held feeling. Observation of the fiber surface of the dough weft yarn with an electron microscope revealed that many longitudinal streak grooves occurred. Table 1 shows the results of evaluating the properties of the cloth.

Example 3 A spun yarn of No. 30 obtained by blending 60% by weight of the polyester staple obtained in Example 1 and 40% by weight of a normal polyester staple was used for the warp yarn and the weft yarn. In the same manner as in Example 1,
Fabric was made. The resulting fabric was excellent in wiping off moisture and dirt, and had a good hand-held feeling. When the fiber surface of the dough was observed with an electron microscope, many fibers having vertically long streak grooves were observed. Table 1 shows the results of evaluating the properties of the cloth.

Example 4 A 30-count spun yarn obtained by blending 60% by weight of the polyester staple obtained in Example 1 and 40% by weight of rayon staple was used as a warp yarn and a weft yarn to form a fabric. In the same manner as in Example 1, alkali reduction processing was performed. When the fiber surface of the dough was observed with an electron microscope, many fibers having vertically long streak grooves were observed. The water absorption of the cloth was good, and the cloth was excellent in wiping off moisture and dirt. Table 1 shows the results of evaluating the properties of the cloth.

Comparative Example 1 A fabric was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the 30th spun yarn consisting of 100% by weight of the polyester staple of Example 1 was used for the warp yarn and the weft yarn. The obtained fabric was excellent in water absorbency and softness, but had insufficient fabric strength and poor durability. Table 1 shows the results of evaluating the properties of the cloth.

Comparative Example 2 40% by weight of the polyester staple of Example 1 and ordinary polyester staple 60
A fabric was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that a 30-count spun yarn obtained by blending the weight% was used. The obtained fabric was poor in wiping off moisture and dirt. Table 1 shows the results of evaluating the properties of the cloth.

(Comparative Example 3) A plain woven fabric is produced by using a 75-denier normal polyester filament yarn as the warp yarn and a split-type composite fiber filament yarn (150d / 40f, 8 divisions) made of polyester and polyamide as the weft yarn. After that, the above-mentioned conjugate fiber was divided. The fabric has problems such as lack of firmness, thickness and water absorption, and high product cost. Table 1 shows the results of evaluating the properties of the cloth.

(Comparative Example 4) A fabric was constructed using 30-count spun yarn of cotton for the warp yarn and the weft yarn, and then finished by a usual processing method. The resulting fabric was excellent in wiping off moisture and dirt, and had a very good hand feeling, but was poor in quick drying after use and washing. Table 1 shows the results of evaluating the properties of the cloth.

[0027]

[Table 1]

[0028]

The wiping cloth using the water-absorbing polyester fiber of the present invention not only has excellent wiping properties of various kinds of adhered substances but also has a natural fiber-like touch, so that it is extremely excellent in handleability. It has a characteristic not found in conventional polyester fiber fabrics and can be suitably used as a wiping fabric.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A spun yarn having a single fiber fineness of 0.5 d or more and 4.0 d or less and containing 50% by weight or more of a polyester fiber having a vertically elongated groove extending in the fiber axis direction on the surface of the fiber. A wiping fabric comprising a woven fabric obtained by arranging a warp yarn and / or a weft yarn. 2. The spun yarn content is 30% by weight in the whole woven fabric.
The content is at least 90% by weight or less.
The wiping fabric according to the above. 3. A spun yarn containing at least 50% by weight of a polyester fiber having a polyoxyalkylene glycol content of 0.5% by weight or more and 5% by weight or less with respect to the fiber weight, a warp yarn and / or A method for producing a wiping cloth, comprising weaving using a weft yarn and performing an alkali weight loss treatment at a weight loss rate of 5% or more and 30% or less.