Hydrophobic fiber and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

A hydrophobic fiber is provided which, obtained by modifying a natural fiber-containing fiber material without the use of fluorine compounds, has improved quick-dry properties, durability, wash-and-wear properties and antifouling properties while sufficiently maintaining the moisture absorption and desorption of the natural fibers; a manufacturing method of said fiber is also provided. By fixing a silicone elastomer film to at least part of the surface of a fiber material that contains cellulose fibers and/or animal fibers, the fiber is made into a hydrophobic fiber with a surface tension of less than 72 mN/m. The silicone elastomer film comprises methylhydrogen polysiloxane cross-linked with zinc stearate as the crosslinking agent.

1 . A hydrophobic fiber which is rendered hydrophobic by modifying a fiber material containing at least one of a cellulose fiber or an animal fiber;
 the hydrophobic fiber being characterized in that a silicone elastomer film having methylhydrogen polysiloxane crosslinked with zinc stearate as a crosslinking agent is affixed to at least a portion of a surface of the fiber material, the hydrophobic fiber having a surface tension of less than 72 mN/m.   
     
     
         2 . The hydrophobic fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein the silicone elastomer film contains conductive fine particles made of an n-type semiconductor containing zinc oxide as a principal component. 
     
     
         3 . A hydrophobic fiber manufacturing method for obtaining a hydrophobic fiber by modifying a fiber material containing at least one of a cellulose fiber or an animal fiber, comprising the steps of:
 immersing at least a portion of the fiber material in a mixed solution obtained by mixing zinc stearate into an aqueous dispersion in which silicone elastomer particles containing methylhydrogen polysiloxane as a principal component are dispersed; and   obtaining the hydrophobic fiber having a surface tension of less than 72 mN/m by affixing a film shaped silicone elastomer in which the particles are crosslinked using the zinc stearate as a crosslinking agent to at least a portion of a surface of the fiber material.   
     
     
         4 . The hydrophobic fiber manufacturing method according to  claim 3 , further comprising the steps of adding and causing to be contained in the mixed solution conductive fine particles made of an n-type semiconductor containing zinc oxide as a principal component, and obtaining the hydrophobic fiber having the conductive fine particles supported on the surface thereof.