Photocatalytic fiber and fabric using thereof, and fabric product using the fabric

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a photocatalytic fiber which excels in durability, and decomposition ability against harmful components and can be mass-produced at low cost, a fabric using the fiber, and a fabric product using the fabric. The photocatalytic fiber of the present invention contains a photocatalyst being attached to the fiber. The fiber is preferably having an aspect of forming a thread to which the photocatalyst being attached by spinning after dipping the fiber in a solution at least containing the photocatalyst, an aspect of forming the thread to which the photocatalyst being attached by dipping the fiber in the solution containing at least the photocatalyst after spinning, and an aspect wherein the photocatalyst is a photocatalytic apatite. The fabric of the present invention is characterized by using the photocatalytic fiber. The fabric product of the present invention is characterized by using the fabric.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefits of the priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-090772, filed on Mar. 29, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a photocatalytic fiber favorable for forming sanitary materials such as mask, medical cloth, bandage, and gauze, room decorative articles such as curtain, carpet and wall paper, clothing items such as uniform and clothes, livingwares such as towel, sheets and beddings and various filters which excel in decomposition ability of harmful components such as harmful materials or disease agents contained in air, soil and water, a fabric with excellent photocatalytic function using the fiber, and a fabric product using the fabric which is capable of exhibiting excellent photocatalytic function for prolonged period. [0004] 2. D...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a photocatalytic fiber and fabric that can effectively remove harmful components from air, soil, and water without using binders or adhesives. The photocatalyst is attached to the fiber or fabric using a crosslinking process, which improves the binding property and prevents impairment of strength and texture. The fabric is formed by crossing and tangling the fiber and holding the photocatalyst in meshes or crossings, resulting in increased contact area with harmful components and preventing degradation of the fabric. The fabric can be mass-produced at low cost and is durable and comfortable to use. It can be used for various fabric products such as protective masks, antidust masks, and medical cloth.

Problems solved by technology

The sick house syndrome caused by harmful materials such as formaldehyde which are produced from building materials or adhesive bonds used for wall papers in the house has become an issue.

It may be possible for the activated carbon or chemical absorbent to absorb harmful materials such as formaldehyde to some extent, however, there is a problem such that the absorption ability relative to the harmful materials gradually fade off and / or disappear after long-term use.

It is possible to physically catch disease agents such as bacteria, virus, pollen, etc. in this case, however, it is impossible to kill or inactivate these disease agents and it is difficult to take preventive measures against infectious diseases to perfection.

However, the viruses smaller than the absorbent particle hardly comes in contact with the titanium oxide when they are absorbed by the absorbent, thereby making it difficult to decompose and remove all the material absorbed by the absorbent.

Moreover, because the titanium dioxide decomposes organic materials as described above, organic materials are not usable as binders or adhesives and particular kind of binders or adhesives such as inorganic binders must be used.

Furthermore, when binders or adhesives are used, photocatalyst is buried inside of these binders or adhesives and the buried portion does not exhibit photocatalytic function, thereby degrading the photocatalytic function and possibly making it uneconomical because of the wasted use of expensive photocatalyst.

And also, binders or adhesives may impair the texture of the mask.

In these cases, however, binding property between the surface of the base material and titanium dioxide is insufficient, and most of the titanium dioxide falls off from the base material by washing, etc., significantly degrading the photocatalytic function.

In this case, however, when binders or adhesives are used for adhesion to the base material, photocatalytic apatite is buried in these binders or adhesives, resulting in degraded photocatalytic function and making it uneconomical.

And also, when binders, etc. are used, or when the photocatalytic apatite is attached by dipping, the photocatalytic apatite is attached only to the surface of the base material, and a problem still remains such that the photocatalytic apatite is likely to fall off by washing.

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