Bathroom components

Abstract

To provide bathroom components with excellent stain resistance and durability. [Solution] The bathroom component 1 has a base material 2 installed in the bathroom and an anti-fouling layer 3 that covers the surface of the base material 2. The base material 2 is made of a hard resin, and the anti-fouling layer 3 is made of a hydrophilic resin. For example, the bathroom component 1 constitutes an apron 102 that covers the outside perimeter of the main body 101 of the tub.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a bathroom member.

Background Art

[0002] For example, in a bathroom, a side plate member called an apron is used on the side surface of a bathtub such as a system bath. In a bathroom, scale forms on the surface of the apron, and sebum stains adhere to it. In particular, in the case of a dark-colored bathtub, stains such as scale are more noticeable.

[0003] When dirt occurs on the apron, it is usually scrubbed with a sponge or the like. However, since the apron is a resin molded product, scratches are likely to occur on the surface. In addition, there is a concern about the deterioration of the apron and the generation of mold due to dirt accumulating in the generated scratches.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need for an apron that is difficult for dirt to adhere to, easy to clean when dirt adheres, and does not get scratched on the surface during cleaning (for example, refer to Patent Document 1 below).

[0005] Specifically, in Patent Document 1 below, in a bathtub, a surface layer containing photocatalytic oxide particles, silicone, and a water-repellent fluororesin is formed on the surface of the apron portion, or a surface layer containing photocatalytic oxide particles, amorphous silica, and a water-repellent fluororesin is formed, and moreover, a bathtub having a contact angle of 90° or more with water on its surface is disclosed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] Incidentally, the bathtub described in Patent Document 1 above uses a photocatalyst. Therefore, the apron of the resin molded body is prone to deterioration over time due to the action of this catalyst.

[0008] This invention was proposed in view of the above conventional circumstances, and aims to provide a bathroom component with excellent stain resistance and durability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides the following means. [1] A base material to be installed in the bathroom, The substrate has an anti-fouling layer that covers the surface of the substrate, The aforementioned substrate is made of a hard resin, The aforementioned stain-resistant layer is made of a hydrophilic resin, and is a component for bathrooms. [2] The thickness of the antifouling layer is 1 to 10 μm, The bathroom component according to [1], characterized in that the contact angle between the anti-fouling layer and water is 45° or less. [3] The bathroom component according to [1], characterized in that the surface on the side where the anti-fouling layer is provided has the same or greater pencil hardness as the base material. [4] The bathroom component according to [1], characterized in that the base material constitutes the apron of the bathtub. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] As described above, the present invention provides a bathroom component with excellent stain resistance and durability. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing a bathroom using a bathroom component according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a bathroom component. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings used in the following explanation, the dimensions of each component may be shown on a different scale to make them easier to see, and the dimensional ratios of each component may not necessarily be the same as in reality.

[0013] As an embodiment of the present invention, for example, the bathroom component 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 will be described. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a bathroom using the bathroom component 1. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the bathroom component 1.

[0014] As shown in Figure 1, the bathroom component 1 of this embodiment is used as part of a bathtub 100 installed in a bathroom. The bathtub 100 comprises a tub body 101 and an apron 102. The bathroom component 1 of this embodiment constitutes the apron 102 that covers the outside perimeter of the tub body 101.

[0015] As shown in Figure 2, the bathroom component 1 of this embodiment has a base material 2 and an anti-fouling layer that covers the surface of the base material 2.

[0016] A rigid resin is used for the base material 2. Examples of rigid resins include polyvinyl chloride resin, ABS resin, ASA resin, AES resin, acrylic resin, polyethylene, and polypropylene. These resins may be used individually or in combination of two or more. In this embodiment, ABS resin is used as the base material 2. Fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) can also be used as the base material 2.

[0017] For example, the base material 2 can be molded using methods such as extrusion molding or injection molding. These molding methods also include foam molding and multi-color molding. It is also possible to produce the base material 2 by vacuum forming.

[0018] The antifouling layer 3 is a film made of a hydrophilic resin. The antifouling layer 3 is composed of, for example, an organic hydrophilic material. As the organic hydrophilic material, a film containing a binder having a hydrophilic group is preferable. As the hydrophilic group, a hydroxyl group, a sulfonic group or its salt, a carboxy group or its salt, a poly(oxyalkylene) group, an ammonium salt, etc. can be used.

[0019] In this embodiment, as the antifouling layer 3, a film containing a polymer of a bifunctional (meth)acrylate having a sulfonic acid group or its salt; a film containing a polymer of a vinyl monomer having an N-methylol group or an N-alkoxymethylol group, a vinyl monomer having a sulfonic acid group, and an alkyl (meth)acrylate monomer; a film containing a polymer having a hydrophilic group and an alkoxysilyl group, etc. are used.

[0020] The thickness of the antifouling layer 3 is preferably 1 to 10 μm. If the thickness of the antifouling layer 3 becomes too thin, the antifouling property by the above-mentioned hydrophilic resin and the durability such as scratch resistance will be insufficient. On the other hand, if the thickness of the antifouling layer 3 becomes too thick, it will not only be difficult to follow the shape of the base material 2, but also be a waste of materials and uneconomical.

[0021] As the coating method of the antifouling layer 3, for example, roll coating, spray coating, flow coating, bar coating, brush coating, etc. are used. Also, when forming the antifouling layer 3, a tough resin may be blended in the binder of the coating film. As such a resin, for example, a monomer or oligomer having an acrylic group or a methacrylic group can be used. Thereby, not only the durability such as scratch resistance and abrasion resistance of the base material 2 is improved, but also the followability to bending can be improved.

[0022] The contact angle of the antifouling layer 3 with water is preferably 45° or less, more preferably 30° or less, and even more preferably 20° or less. By making the contact angle of the antifouling layer 3 with water 45° or less, sufficient hydrophilicity can be obtained.

[0023] In this embodiment, it is preferable that the side of the bathroom component 1 on which the anti-fouling layer 3 is provided has a pencil hardness equal to or greater than that of the base material 2. Specifically, if the pencil hardness of the base material 2 is B, it is preferable that the pencil hardness of the bathroom component 1 be B or HB, and it is sufficient if it exhibits a hardness equal to or one rank or more than that of the pencil hardness of the base material 2. This makes it possible to improve durability such as scratch resistance.

[0024] In the bathroom component 1 of this embodiment having the above-described configuration, the surface of the base material 2 constituting the apron 102 is covered with a stain-resistant layer 3 made of hydrophilic resin, thereby providing excellent stain resistance and durability.

[0025] In other words, with the bathroom component 1 of this embodiment, dirt adhering to the apron 102 can be easily removed by washing with water, and dirt is less likely to adhere to the apron 102. Furthermore, mold growth can be suppressed, and scratches on the surface of the apron 102 due to scrubbing can be prevented. In addition, weather resistance and chemical resistance can also be expected.

[0026] It should be noted that the present invention is not necessarily limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0027] For example, in the above embodiment, the bathroom component 1 that constitutes the apron 102 of the bathtub 100 described above is illustrated, but the present invention can be broadly applied to bathroom components used in a bathroom.

[0028] Furthermore, the shape and size of the bathroom component to which the present invention is applied are not limited to the shape of the base material 2 described above, but can be appropriately changed according to the application. [Examples]

[0029] The effects of the present invention will be made clearer by the following examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the following examples and can be implemented with appropriate modifications without altering its essence.

[0030] (Example 1) In Example 1, a UV-curable coating agent containing hydrophilic groups was applied to the surface of a substrate made of ABS resin using a roll-coating method, and then exposed to 300 J / cm². 2 A sample was prepared by curing it with ultraviolet light under the specified conditions to form an antifouling layer with a thickness of 3 μm.

[0031] (Comparative Example 1) In Comparative Example 1, a sample was prepared in which no antifouling layer was formed on the surface of a substrate made of ABS resin.

[0032] The samples from Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 were subjected to evaluation tests for the following properties: "contact angle," "overall hardness," "fouling resistance," "weather resistance," and "abrasion resistance."

[0033] (contact angle) The water contact angle of the sample surface was measured in accordance with the "Test Method for Wettability of Substrate Glass Surfaces" of "JIS R 3257". A PCA-1 manufactured by Kyowa Interface Science Co., Ltd. was used for the measurement.

[0034] (Stain-resistant) The removal of the contaminated liquid, which consisted of oleic acid with added carbon black, was confirmed by spraying it with water after it was applied at room temperature. The evaluation criteria were as follows: ○: No contaminated liquid remaining ×: Remaining contaminated liquid present

[0035] (Overall hardness) A hardness test was conducted in accordance with the "Scratch Hardness (Pencil Method)" standard of "JIS K 5600". A pencil scratch hardness tester manufactured by Yasuda Seiki Seisakusho Co., Ltd. was used for this test.

[0036] (weather resistance) The changes in the appearance of the samples were confirmed by accelerated weathering tests (300h) in accordance with "JIS A 1415". The evaluation criteria are as follows: ○: No change in appearance ×: Appearance has changed.

[0037] (Abrasion resistance) Furthermore, the appearance of the samples was examined after rubbing them with a dry cloth under a load of 500 gf 1000 times. The evaluation criteria were as follows: ○: No change in appearance ×: Appearance has changed.

[0038] [Table 1]

[0039] As shown in Table 1, the sample from Example 1 exhibits superior stain resistance, weather resistance, and abrasion resistance compared to the sample from Comparative Example 1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1...Bathroom components 2...Base material 3...Stain-resistant layer 100...Bathtub 101...Tank body 102...Apron

Claims

1. A base material to be installed inside the bathroom, The substrate has an anti-fouling layer that covers the surface of the substrate, The aforementioned substrate is made of a hard resin, The aforementioned stain-resistant layer is made of a hydrophilic resin, and is a component for bathrooms.

2. The thickness of the antifouling layer is 1 to 10 μm. The bathroom component according to claim 1, characterized in that the contact angle between the anti-fouling layer and water is 45° or less.

3. The bathroom component according to claim 1, characterized in that the surface on the side where the anti-fouling layer is provided has a pencil hardness equal to or greater than that of the base material.

4. The bathroom component according to claim 1, characterized in that the base material constitutes the apron of the bathtub.

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