Coating agent for housing equipment

Abstract

To provide a coating agent which excels in safety and environmental aspects, strongly adheres to various base materials, ensures long-term persistence of excellent antifouling, mildewproof, and antibacterial effects, offers excellent durability and water resistance, and has superior applicability with reduced irritating odor.SOLUTION: Provided is a novel coating agent which reduces unpleasant irritating odor without the use of toluene or ethylbenzene, while retaining the functional performance of conventional coating agents. Specifically, the coating agent according to the present invention comprises at least one of ethyl alcohol and propyl alcohol as a substitute for toluene contained in the coating agent.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

Technical field to which the invention belongs

[0001] The present invention provides a coating agent that is safe and environmentally friendly, has high adhesion to various substrates, maintains excellent stain-resistant, mildew-resistant, and antibacterial effects for a long period of time, has excellent durability and water resistance, suppresses irritating odors, and is easy to apply.

[0002] In recent years, with the rise in lifestyle awareness, there has been an increased awareness of cleaning, etc., and there is a growing need for easier daily cleaning and for maintaining the cleanliness of residential and housing facilities such as kitchens, bathrooms, washbasins, toilets, etc. In response to these needs, research has been conducted into "fouling prevention" technologies that can easily remove dirt without full-scale cleaning work or with only simple cleaning work.

[0003] Recently, when building a new home or renovating to replace existing home equipment, services have been provided to pre-coat bathroom sinks, kitchens, and other home equipment. Applying this coating to the surface of home equipment provides a stain-resistant effect, and even if dirt or other contaminants do adhere to the equipment, it can be easily cleaned to maintain its cleanliness. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-67657 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-160311 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, conventional coatings have the problem of emitting a strong, pungent odor for a certain period of time. This strong, pungent odor requires residents of homes with coatings to leave the area until the odor subsides, which is inconvenient. Furthermore, if humans inhale this pungent odor, it can cause health problems such as headaches and nausea.

[0006] There are also issues regarding the health and working environment of workers who carry out coating work on residential equipment, etc. In recent years, there have been many cases where worker working environments have become problematic due to the emphasis on compliance. It is not desirable to have workers handle coating agents with pungent odors that may cause health problems.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and aims to provide a new coating agent that does not use toluene or ethylbenzene, which are contained in conventional coating agents, and that reduces unpleasant, irritating odors. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In view of the above-mentioned prior art, the present inventors have conducted extensive research and have invented a new coating agent that maintains the functional effects of conventional coating agents, but does not use toluene or ethylbenzene, and reduces the unpleasant, irritating odor.

[0009] That is, the coating agent according to the present invention is characterized by containing at least ethyl alcohol, propyl alcohol, 3-methyl-3-methoxybutanol, and tetraethyl silicate, and having a low irritating odor.

[0010] The coating agent according to the present invention is also characterized by the fact that it contains at least one of ethyl alcohol and propyl alcohol as a substitute for toluene, and has a less irritating odor.

[0011] Furthermore, the coating agent according to the present invention is characterized in that, among the compounds constituting the coating agent, The content of tetraethyl silicate may be 5% to 10%, the content of ethyl alcohol may be 25% to 30%, the content of propyl alcohol may be 1% to 5%, and the content of 3-methyl-3-methoxybutanol may be 30% to 35%.

[0012] The coating agent according to the present invention is characterized in that it can be applied to the surface of any of resin, ceramic, plated metal, painted metal, stainless steel, artificial marble, and tile. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] The coating agent according to the present invention can reduce the unpleasant irritating odor without using toluene, which is contained in conventional coating agents. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] Table showing the composition, ingredient information and content of the coating agent according to the present invention [Figure 2] Table showing drug resistance of the coating agent according to the present invention [Figure 3] Results of a questionnaire survey regarding the coating agent according to the present invention. [Figure 4] Table showing odor test results (irritation level, unpleasantness level) of the coating agent according to the present invention DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described.

[0016] A coating agent according to the present invention was prepared having the following component composition and content: The content of tetraethyl silicate is 5% to 10%, the content of ethyl alcohol is 25% to 30%, the content of propyl alcohol is 1% to 5%, and the content of 3-methyl-3-methoxybutanol is 30% to 35%. This coating agent does not contain toluene or ethylbenzene (Figure 1).

[0017] The coating agent according to the present invention was tested for its coating effect. First, a 300 mm square artificial marble made of acrylic resin was divided into three equal parts, and the three sections were coated with the coating agent according to the present invention, a commercially available coating agent containing toluene, and nothing (an uncoated blank). Next, as a preliminary test, a dye simulating dirt was sprayed onto the surface and then wiped off, and it was confirmed that the dirt could be wiped off from all parts.

[0018] Next, commercially available dishwashing detergent was dropped onto the surface, and the surface was scrubbed 365 times with a 3M white scotch tape. This process simulates cleaning with detergent every day for a year. After that, a dye was sprayed on the surface again to simulate dirt, and the surface was wiped with water to check how much of the dye remained.

[0019] The test results showed that both the coating agent of the present invention and the commercially available coating agent removed the dye cleanly, but the color remained on the blank. Based on these results, it is expected that if the item is scrubbed and cleaned with detergent for a year, it will become more difficult to remove stains from uncoated areas. No difference in the anti-fouling effect was observed between the coating agent of the present invention and the commercially available coating agent (the results of this test will be submitted separately in a document submission).

[0020] The coating agent of the present invention showed no change in the coating film even after 2,000 reciprocating strokes in the same test as above. Therefore, it is believed that the antifouling effect of the coating agent of the present invention will last for about five years.

[0021] Next, a chemical durability test was conducted to test the coating effect of the coating agent of the present invention. The coating agent of the present invention and a commercially available coating agent were each applied to a glass plate and allowed to dry for five days. After that, chemicals were dropped onto the glass plate and checked 10 minutes later to see if any traces remained. As a result, no reaction was observed in any of the samples, demonstrating that both the coating agent of the present invention and the commercially available coating agent have resistance to these chemicals (Table 2). It was also shown that there is no difference in chemical durability between the coating agent of the present invention and the commercially available coating agent.

[0022] Next, general consumers were tested for their subjective sense of security regarding the coating agent of the present invention. Ten subjects were involved, consisting of seven men and three women, with ages ranging from one teenager to six in their 40s and three in their 50s. They were present during the coating process for both the coating agent of the present invention and a commercially available coating agent, and were asked to confirm odors and other factors, and to conduct a questionnaire survey to assess the sense of security in various situations. The ingredients of each coating agent were kept secret, and the identity of the coating agent of the present invention was kept secret.

[0023] The test results are shown in Table 3. All 10 general consumers chose only the coating agent of the present invention when asked about the sense of security in various situations. None of them answered that the commercially available coating agent gave them a sense of security compared to the coating agent of the present invention. Therefore, the coating agent of the present invention suppresses the unpleasant, irritating odor that is unique to coating agents, and therefore provides a sense of security compared to conventional commercially available coating agents.

[0024] Next, a sensory test was conducted on the odor of the coating agent according to the present invention and a commercially available coating agent (Figure 4). Evaluation items included responses on a scale of pleasant / unpleasant intensity and the intensity of odor irritation. The subjects were the same as above. This sensory test was designed with reference to literature such as "Odor evaluation combining sensory testing and instrumental analysis (Environmental Management Center, Hino Branch, Analysis Center, Odor Analysis and Countermeasures Group)."

[0025] The odor of the test samples was checked immediately after coating the surfaces with the coating agent of the present invention and the commercially available coating agent, and participants responded to a questionnaire. The odor intensity was categorized into six levels: "odorless, barely detectable odor, weak odor that is recognizable, easily detectable odor, strong odor, and overpowering odor." Two participants felt that the coating agent of the present invention had an easily detectable odor, and eight participants felt that it had a strong odor. In contrast, seven participants felt that the commercially available coating agent had a strong odor, and three participants felt that it had an overpowering odor. The results showed that the coating agent of the present invention had a weaker odor than the commercially available coating agent.

[0026] Next, the subjects were asked to rate the pleasantness or unpleasantness of the odor on an eight-point scale: extremely pleasant, very pleasant, pleasant, neither pleasant nor unpleasant, slightly unpleasant, unpleasant, very unpleasant, and extremely unpleasant. With regard to the coating agent of the present invention, one person found it very pleasant, five people found it neither pleasant nor unpleasant, and eight people found it slightly unpleasant. In contrast, with regard to the commercially available coating agent, seven people found it unpleasant, two people found it very unpleasant, and one person found it extremely unpleasant. With regard to the pleasantness or unpleasantness of the odor, the coating agent of the present invention gave better results than the commercially available coating agent.

[0027] From the above test results, it can be seen that the coating agent according to the present invention has a coating function at least equivalent to that of conventional commercially available coating agents, while reducing the strength and unpleasantness of the odor.

Claims

1. containing at least ethyl alcohol, propyl alcohol, 3-methyl-3-methoxybutanol, and tetraethyl silicate; A coating agent characterized by its low irritating odor.

2. As a substitute for toluene contained in coating agents, At least one of ethyl alcohol or propyl alcohol; A coating agent characterized by its low irritating odor.

3. Among the compounds that make up the coating agent, The content of tetraethyl silicate is selected from the range of 5% to 10%; the content of ethyl alcohol is selected from the range of 25% to 30%; the content of propyl alcohol is selected from the range of 1% to 5%; 3. The coating agent according to claim 1, wherein the content of 3-methyl-3-methoxybutanol is selected from the range of 30% to 35%.

4. 4. The coating agent according to claim 1, which can be applied to the surface of any of resin, ceramic, plated metal, painted metal, stainless steel, artificial marble, and tile.

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