Fiber structure and method for manufacturing same

Abstract

A fiber structure contains polyester fibers 1 and a hydrophilic polyester resin treatment agent, wherein part 2 a of a molecule 2 of the hydrophilic polyester resin treatment agent is absorbed in at least part of the polyester fibers 1, and the remainder 2 b of the molecule extends along the surface of the polyester fibers 1 to hydrophilize the surface. The fiber structure has the properties below: (1) antifouling properties of grade 4 or higher according to the gray scale assessment determined by applying 200 g of muddy water, which is a mixture of normal staining soil and sand and distilled water at a ratio of 1:1, to the fiber structure, followed by standing for 24 hours, washing, and drying; (2) water absorbability of 10 seconds or less according to the falling-drop method; and (3) diffusivity of 55 minutes or less according to the diffusible residual water content test (dropping 0.6 mL of water). Thus, the present invention provides a fiber structure not involving curing to keep a good texture while having high antifouling properties, water absorbability, diffusivity, etc.

1 . A fiber structure comprising polyester fibers and a hydrophilic polyester resin treatment agent,
 wherein part of a molecule of the hydrophilic polyester resin treatment agent is absorbed in at least part of the polyester fibers, and the remainder of the molecule extends along the surface of the polyester fibers to hydrophilize the surface, and   wherein the fiber structure has the properties below:   (1) antifouling properties of grade 4 or higher according to the gray scale assessment specified in JIS L 0805 (2005), determined using the fiber structure prepared by applying 200 g of muddy water, which is a mixture of normal staining soil and sand and distilled water at a ratio of 1:1, to the fiber structure, followed by standing for 24 hours, washing according to the method 103 specified in JIS L 0217 (1995), and drying;   (2) water absorbability of 10 seconds or less according to the falling-drop method specified in JIS L 1907 (2004); and   (3) diffusivity of 55 minutes or less according to the diffusible residual water content test, method A-1, specified in ISO 17617 (dropping 0.6 mL of water).   
     
     
         2 . The fiber structure according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the hydrophilic polyester resin treatment agent is a linear block copolymer in which a polyester group and a hydrophilic group are linked together at their terminals, and   the hydrophilic polyester resin treatment agent has a molecular weight of 5000 to 8000.   
     
     
         3 . The fiber structure according to  claim 2 , wherein the polyester group has a molecular weight of 200 to 1000. 
     
     
         4 . The fiber structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the fiber structure further has the properties below:
 (4) antibacterial properties of 2.2 or more, which is an antibacterial activity value measured based on the antibacterial property test specified in JIS L 1902 (2015).   
     
     
         5 . The fiber structure according to  claim 4 , wherein the fiber structure further comprises an antibacterial agent that is fixed to the surface of the molecule of the hydrophilic polyester resin treatment agent on the polyester fibers. 
     
     
         6 . The fiber structure according to  claim 4 , wherein at least part of the antibacterial agent is absorbed in at least part of the polyester fibers. 
     
     
         7 . The fiber structure according to  claim 4 , wherein the antibacterial agent has a molecular weight of 200 to 1000. 
     
     
         8 . The fiber structure according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the fiber structure comprises at least one selected from a knitted fabric and a woven fabric, and   the knitted fabric has diffusivity of 55 minutes or less, and the woven fabric has diffusivity of 45 minutes or less according to the diffusible residual water content test, method A-1, specified in ISO 17617 (dropping 0.6 mL of water).   
     
     
         9 . A method for producing a fiber structure comprising polyester fibers and a hydrophilic polyester resin treatment agent, wherein part of a molecule of the hydrophilic polyester resin treatment agent is absorbed in at least part of the polyester fibers, and the remainder of the molecule extends along the surface of the polyester fibers to hydrophilize the surface, and wherein the fiber structure has the properties below:
 (1) antifouling properties of grade 4 or higher according to the gray scale assessment specified in JIS L 0805 (2005), determined using the fiber structure prepared by applying 200 g of muddy water, which is a mixture of normal staining soil and sand and distilled water at a ratio of 1:1, to the fiber structure, followed by standing for 24 hours, washing according to the method 103 specified in JIS L 0217 (1995), and drying;   (2) water absorbability of 10 seconds or less according to the falling-drop method specified in JIS L 1907 (2004); and   (3) diffusivity of 55 minutes or less according to the diffusible residual water content test, method A-1, specified in ISO 17617 (dropping 0.6 mL of water),   the method comprising:   
       subjecting an untreated fiber structure to immersion heating in an aqueous solution containing the hydrophilic polyester resin treatment agent to make part of the molecule of the hydrophilic polyester resin treatment agent absorbed in at least part of the polyester fibers and the remainder of the molecule extend along the surface of the polyester fibers to hydrophilize the surface. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the immersion heating comprises heating from room temperature to a temperature ranging from 110° C. to 135° C. and keeping the temperature for 20 to 120 minutes, followed by cooling, and water washing. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein in the immersion heating, an antibacterial agent is added in the same bath with the aqueous solution. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising, after the immersion heating, padding with an aqueous solution containing an antibacterial agent, and heating. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein in the immersion heating, a disperse dye is added in the same bath with the aqueous solution.