Resin composition beautifully coloring hue intrinsic to natural product

Abstract

To provide a resin composition capable of effectively suppressing color fading and capable of forming into various shapes, by beautifully color developing into green by using materials derived from natural products containing chlorophyll such as used tea leaves.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to a resin composition comprising (A) a resin; (B) a material derived from a natural product containing chlorophyll; and (C) a copper-containing powder, wherein the a value is -0.1 or less, and the ΔE after 4 hours of D65 light irradiation is 5 or less, allowing the inherent color of the natural product to be beautifully expressed. Here, component (B) may be used tea leaves. When the total amount of components (A) and (B) is 100 pts.mass, the amount of component (B) may be 0.2 pts.mass or more, and the amount of copper contained in component (C) may be 0.1 to 4 pts.mass. The a value of the resin composition may be -0.15 or less, the ΔE after 4 hours of D65 light irradiation may be less than 1.5, and the L value may be 28 or higher.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a resin composition that can beautifully develop the green color of natural products containing chlorophyll, such as used tea leaves, and inhibit fading. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, demand for tea-based beverages, such as bottled tea drinks, has grown, and the amount of used tea leaves, which are the extraction residue generated during the production of tea-based beverages by extracting tea components from tea leaves, has been increasing year by year. Used tea leaves, which have a high moisture content, are generally treated as waste by drying and burning to prevent spoilage due to storage. However, such waste treatment requires large-scale facilities, which is extremely costly, and also results in the emission of large amounts of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.

[0003] In addition, used tea leaves contain chlorophyll, a pigment that produces a green color. Chlorophyll not only produces a natural green color, but also has antibacterial and deodorizing effects. If used tea leaves, which contain chlorophyll and were previously discarded, could be reused as a coloring agent and incorporated into products, it would be possible to impart a beautiful (or vivid) green color derived from natural products as well as antibacterial and deodorizing effects to the products, which could ultimately contribute to resource conservation. However, chlorophyll has the disadvantage of easily fading (discoloring), for example from green to yellow, in a short period of time, especially under light exposure.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a recycling system for used tea leaves, etc., that can produce a reusable green liquid or fine powder from the extraction residue of used tea leaves used in PET bottled tea beverages. This system comprises a device that adds water to the extraction residue and stirs it, a mixer that crushes the stirred liquid residue, a pressure copper kettle that generates convection in the crushed liquid under high temperature and pressure, a stepped copper concentrator that evaporates the water while the extract from the pressure copper kettle flows over a sloped copper surface, and a filtration device and / or sedimentation device that filters the concentrated liquid to separate solids and liquids. This system is said to extract chlorophyll and other substances from the extraction residue, thereby producing a concentrated liquid restored to its green color and a fine powder residue. However, this recycling system involves complex processes using large-scale equipment equipped with a pressure copper kettle and copper slopes, requiring cost, time, and effort.

[0005] Patent Document 2 discloses a method for producing a green matcha paste and the matcha paste obtained by this method. This method involves contacting a mixture of matcha and water with copper at a pressure of 0.5 MPa to 2.0 MPa and a slurry temperature of 100 to 150°C for 5 minutes to 5 hours, resulting in a matcha paste containing 1 g or more of copper per kg of matcha paste solids. This matcha paste is bright green and is said to be suitable for use as an additive in foods and cosmetics. However, this matcha paste is limited to use in foods and cosmetics, and no other applications are anticipated. Furthermore, to obtain a paste product, the process of incorporating copper components into the matcha paste requires that matcha and copper be contacted exclusively in an aqueous slurry state.

[0006] Patent Document 3 discloses functional cellulose containing a metal chlorophyllin derivative, a natural dye, that exhibits excellent color development and colorfastness, making it suitable for use as a dye in cosmetics and food. This document also describes cellulose containing a metal chlorophyllin derivative in its fibers, which is formed by chemically replacing the central metal of the chlorophyllin compound in tea leaves with a metal. Patent Document 3 also describes that such cellulose is produced by a method comprising the steps of extracting and removing polyphenols from tea leaves, substituting the central metal of the chlorophyllin compound contained in tea leaf residue to improve the color development of the chlorophyllin compound, and then dispersing the extracted and removed polyphenols in cellulose. This cellulose and its production method are said to provide a cellulose material that is resource-efficient, safe, and has excellent color development, making it suitable for use as a colorant in foods and cosmetics. However, according to the production method described in this document, in order to obtain a final cellulose product, washing and rinsing treatments are required after substituting the central metal of the chlorophyllin compound and before recovering the cellulose product. As a result of this washing treatment, the metal compound used in the process of substituting the central metal of the chlorophyllin compound is removed from the product. Furthermore, the document does not disclose any specific uses other than as a coloring agent for foods and cosmetics. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-254270 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-018188 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-053130 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] In the prior art, no resin composition has been developed that beautifully displays the green color of natural products containing chlorophyll, effectively inhibits fading, can be molded into various shapes, and is easy to prepare. Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a resin composition that uses a material derived from a natural product containing chlorophyll, which has a beautiful green color, can effectively suppress fading, can be molded into various shapes including three-dimensional shapes, and is easy to prepare. Another object of the present invention is to provide a resin composition that beautifully develops the green color of used tea leaves, a natural product containing chlorophyll, effectively inhibits fading, can be molded into various shapes including three-dimensional shapes, and is easy to prepare. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide novel articles formed from such resin compositions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] Aspects or embodiments of the present invention that can accomplish one or more of these objectives are summarized as follows. [1]. A resin composition that beautifully develops the inherent colors of natural products, (A) Component: resin; (B) component: a material derived from a natural product containing chlorophyll; and (C) Component: Copper-containing powder Including, a value is less than or equal to -0.1, ΔE after 4 hours of exposure to D65 light is 5 or less, Resin composition. [2]. The resin composition according to item [1], wherein the component (B) is used tea leaves. [3]. The resin composition according to item [1] or [2], wherein the amount of the component (B) is 0.2 parts by mass or more when the total amount of the component (A) and the component (B) is 100 parts by mass. [4]. The resin composition according to item [1] or [2], wherein the amount of the component (B) is 0.2 parts by mass or more and 50 parts by mass or less when the total amount of the component (A) and the component (B) is 100 parts by mass. [5]. The resin composition according to any one of the above items [1] to [4], wherein the amount of copper contained in the component (C) is 0.1 parts by mass or more and 4 parts by mass or less when the total amount of the component (A) and the component (B) is 100 parts by mass. [6]. The resin composition according to any one of the above items [1] to [5], wherein the a value is −0.15 or less, and ΔE after 4 hours of irradiation with D65 light is less than 1.5. [7]. The resin composition according to any one of the above items [1] to [6], wherein the L value is 28 or more. [8]. Pellets formed from the resin composition according to any one of the above items [1] to [7]. [9]. An article formed from the resin composition according to any one of the above items [1] to [7]. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, by incorporating a resin and copper-containing powder together with a material derived from a natural product containing chlorophyll and adjusting the a-value and ΔE after 4 hours of irradiation with D65 light within a specific range, it is possible to obtain a resin composition that beautifully develops the green color of the material derived from a natural product containing chlorophyll, effectively suppresses fading, can be molded into various shapes including three-dimensional shapes, and is easy to prepare. According to one preferred aspect of the present invention, a resin composition can be obtained that beautifully develops the green color of used tea leaves, a natural product containing chlorophyll, effectively inhibits fading, can be molded into various shapes including three-dimensional shapes, and is easy to prepare. According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a novel article that is formed from a resin composition that provides such excellent properties and that can be used in a wide range of applications can be obtained. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] 1. Components of the resin composition The resin composition of the present invention contains a resin as component (A), a material derived from a natural product containing chlorophyll as component (B), and a copper-containing powder as component (C). In a preferred embodiment, the resin composition of the present invention comprises a resin as component (A), used tea leaves, which are a material derived from a natural product and contain chlorophyll, as component (B), and a copper-containing powder as component (C).

[0012] (A) Component: Resin The resin of component (A) contained in the resin composition of the present invention forms the matrix of the resin composition or a binder for the various components, and is not particularly limited. The resin of component (A) is preferably one that does not impair the aesthetic appeal of the beautiful (or vivid) green color emitted from chlorophyll. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of directly reflecting the beautiful green color emitted from chlorophyll in the product, the resin of component (A) is preferably a transparent resin or a white resin (one that does not impart a dark color other than green, such as black or gray). As the resin of component (A), a thermosetting resin (e.g., an epoxy resin or a thermosetting elastomer) can be used, but from the viewpoint of ease of molding (particularly injection molding) the resin composition, a thermoplastic resin is more preferable.

[0013] Examples of the thermoplastic resin of component (A) include, but are not limited to, vinyl chloride homopolymers, vinyl chloride copolymers such as vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate, polyolefin resins such as high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene, ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene / (meth)acrylic acid ester copolymer, and polypropylene resins, styrene resins such as polystyrene, acrylonitrile / styrene copolymer, styrene / butadiene copolymer, and acrylonitrile / butadiene / styrene copolymer, (meth)acrylic acid resins such as polymethyl methacrylate, polyurethane, polyester resin, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyacetal, fluororesin, acrylonitrile / butadiene copolymer, and mixtures of any two or more of these resins.

[0014] In one embodiment, the thermoplastic resin used as the resin of component (A) may preferably comprise a polyolefin resin such as a polypropylene resin, more preferably a polypropylene resin. Polypropylene resins have the advantages of low specific gravity and high moldability, as well as excellent mechanical strength, abrasion resistance, chemical resistance, and wear resistance. Examples of polypropylene-based resins include, but are not limited to, homopolypropylene, propylene-ethylene random copolymers, propylene-ethylene block copolymers, and copolymers of propylene and other small amounts of α-olefins (non-limiting examples include 2-methyl-1-propene, 1-butene, 2-methyl-1-butene, 3-methyl-1-butene, 2-ethyl-1-butene, 2,3-dimethyl-1-butene, 3,3-dimethyl-1-butene, 2-ethyl-3-methyl-1-butene, 2,3,3-trimethyl-1-butene, 1-pentene, 2-methyl-1-pentene, 3-methyl-1-pentene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, 2-ethyl-1-pentene, 3-ethyl-1-pentene, 4-ethyl-1-pentene, 2,4-dimethyl-1-pentene, 3 , 3-dimethyl-1-pentene, 4,4-dimethyl-1-pentene, 2,4,4-trimethyl-1-pentene, 2-propyl-1-pentene, 1-hexene, 2-methyl-1-hexene, 3-methyl-1-hexene, 4-methyl-1-hexene, 5-methyl-1-hexene, 2-ethyl-1-hexene, 3-ethyl-1-hexene, 4-ethyl-1-hexene, 2,5-dimethyl-1-hexene, 3,3-dimethyl-1-hexene, 4,4-dimethyl-1-hexene, 4,5-dimethyl-1-hexene, 1-heptene, 2-propyl-1-heptene, 3-propyl-1-heptene, 5-ethyl-2-methyl-1-heptene, 1-octene, 1-nonene, 1-decene, 1-undecene, and 1-dodecene. Here, the propylene-ethylene random copolymer refers to a propylene-based crystalline random copolymer, and the propylene-ethylene block copolymer includes a mixture of a crystalline polypropylene component (homopolypropylene, propylene-ethylene random copolymer, or copolymer of propylene with a small amount of other α-olefin) and a copolymer rubber component of ethylene and an α-olefin.

[0015] In one embodiment, the thermoplastic resin used as the resin of component (A) may preferably comprise a thermoplastic elastomer in applications where it is desirable to impart flexibility to the molded article. Such thermoplastic elastomers include, but are not limited to, various elastomers such as polyolefin elastomers, aromatic vinyl compound elastomers (styrene elastomers), polyester elastomers, polyurethane elastomers, polyvinyl chloride elastomers, etc. Thermoplastic elastomers other than those exemplified here may also be used.

[0016] Polyolefin elastomers typically contain crystalline hard segments of polyolefins such as polypropylene and polyethylene, and amorphous soft segments of rubber components such as copolymers formed from ethylene and α-olefins (e.g., those having 3 to 30 carbon atoms), such as ethylene-propylene rubber. Polyolefin elastomers include block copolymers and random copolymers composed of these crystalline hard segments and amorphous soft segments.

[0017] The aromatic vinyl compound-based elastomer (styrene-based elastomer) is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a block copolymer of styrene and an α-olefin, a block copolymer of an aromatic vinyl compound such as styrene and a conjugated diene compound, or a hydrogenated product thereof. Examples of block copolymers of styrene and α-olefins include styrene-ethylene-propylene block copolymers, styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-ethylene-ethylene-propylene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymers, and styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymers. Examples of aromatic vinyl compounds constituting block copolymers of aromatic vinyl compounds such as styrene and conjugated diene compounds or hydrogenated products thereof include styrene, t-butylstyrene, α-methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene, divinylbenzene, 1,1-diphenylstyrene, N,N-diethyl-p-aminoethylstyrene, vinyltoluene, and p-tert-butylstyrene. Examples of conjugated dienes constituting block copolymers of aromatic vinyl compounds such as styrene and conjugated diene compounds or hydrogenated products thereof include 1,3-butadiene, isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene), 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene, and chloroprene (2-chloro-1,3-butadiene).

[0018] Polyester-based elastomers are not particularly limited, but examples include polyether ester block copolymers, polyester-ester block copolymers, and polyether ester-ester block copolymers, each of which has an aromatic polyester as the crystalline phase and a poly(alkylene oxide) glycol and / or aliphatic polyester as the amorphous phase. The hard segments of the crystalline phase can be formed, for example, from polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, or polyethylene isophthalate. The soft segments of the amorphous phase can be formed, for example, from polyalkyl ethers or polyalkyl esters. The polyurethane elastomer is not particularly limited, but examples thereof include polyester urethane elastomers (adipate, caprolactone, polycarbonate, etc.) and polyether urethane elastomers.

[0019] The polyvinyl chloride elastomer is not particularly limited, but examples thereof include those containing vinyl chloride resin and acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), and those containing vinyl chloride resin, acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), and ethylene-propylene-non-conjugated diene terpolymer (EPDM). The vinyl chloride resin may be produced by a conventional method such as suspension polymerization, bulk polymerization, fine suspension polymerization, or emulsion polymerization of vinyl chloride or a mixture of vinyl chloride and a comonomer copolymerizable therewith. Examples of comonomers copolymerizable with vinyl chloride include vinyl esters such as vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, and vinyl laurate, acrylic esters such as methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, and butyl acrylate, methacrylic esters such as methyl methacrylate and ethyl methacrylate, maleic esters such as dibutyl maleate and diethyl maleate, fumaric esters such as dibutyl fumarate and diethyl fumarate, vinyl ethers such as vinyl methyl ether, vinyl butyl ether, and vinyl octyl ether, vinyl cyanides such as acrylonitrile and methacrylonitrile, α-olefins such as ethylene, propylene, and styrene, vinylidene halides or vinyl halides other than vinyl chloride such as vinylidene chloride and vinyl bromide, and polyfunctional monomers such as diacryl phthalate and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate. Examples of non-conjugated dienes that constitute ethylene-propylene-non-conjugated diene terpolymers (EPDM) include, but are not limited to, dicyclopentadiene (DCPD), methyltetrahydroindene (MTHI), methylenenorbornene (MNB), ethylidenenorbornene (ENB), and the like. The resin of component (A) may be one resin alone or a mixture of two or more resins, including those exemplified above but not limited to these.

[0020] In one embodiment, the resin of component (A) may comprise 50% by weight or more of thermoplastic resin based on the total weight of the resin, or 60% by weight or more, 70% by weight or more, 80% by weight or more, 90% by weight or more, or substantially 100% by weight of thermoplastic resin based on the total weight of the resin. In one embodiment, the resin of component (A) includes a thermoplastic resin, and may include 50% by mass or more, 60% by mass or more, 70% by mass or more, 80% by mass or more, 90% by mass or more, or substantially 100% by mass of a polypropylene-based resin relative to the total mass of the thermoplastic resin. In one embodiment, the resin of component (A) may contain 50% by mass or more of polypropylene resin relative to the total mass of the resin, 60% by mass or more, 70% by mass or more, 80% by mass or more, 90% by mass or more, or substantially 100% by mass of polypropylene resin relative to the total mass of the resin. In one embodiment, the resin of component (A) includes a thermoplastic resin, and may include 50% by mass or more, 60% by mass or more, 70% by mass or more, 80% by mass or more, 90% by mass or more, or substantially 100% by mass of a thermoplastic elastomer relative to the total mass of the thermoplastic resin. In one embodiment, the resin of component (A) may contain 50% by mass or more of the thermoplastic elastomer relative to the total mass of the resin, 60% by mass or more, 70% by mass or more, 80% by mass or more, 90% by mass or more, or substantially 100% by mass of the thermoplastic elastomer relative to the total mass of the resin. In one embodiment, the resin of component (A) includes a thermoplastic resin, and may include 50% by mass or more, 60% by mass or more, 70% by mass or more, 80% by mass or more, 90% by mass or more, or substantially 100% by mass of a polypropylene resin and a thermoplastic elastomer relative to the total mass of the thermoplastic resin.

[0021] In one embodiment, the resin of component (A) may not contain polylactic acid. In one embodiment, the resin of component (A) may not contain chitosan.

[0022] (B) Ingredient: Material derived from natural products containing chlorophyll The chlorophyll-containing natural product-derived material of component (B) contained in the resin composition is not particularly limited, as long as it has the function of imparting the beautiful (or vivid) green aesthetic of chlorophyll to the molded article. Chlorophyll is a pigment that produces a green color and also has antibacterial and deodorizing effects. In the present invention, a natural product containing chlorophyll or a processed product thereof can be used as component (B), or chlorophyll or a chlorophyll-concentrated substance extracted from a natural product by a known method can be used as component (B). Chlorophyll is generally found in a wide range of organisms, including terrestrial plants (including tea), algae, cyanobacteria, and plankton. Examples of foods rich in chlorophyll include sprouts, spinach, parsley, lettuce, and green and yellow vegetables (e.g., komatsuna), as well as fruits (e.g., kiwi). Chlorophyll is also found in large amounts in algae and phytoplankton (e.g., spirulina and chlorella). Any of these natural products containing chlorophyll can be used in the present invention. They can be dried to reduce the moisture content or rendered substantially moisture-free, and then used as a component of the resin composition either as is or in powder form after being crushed.

[0023] Preferred examples of the (B) component derived from natural products containing chlorophyll include dried or dried-ground tea leaves and dried or dried-ground tea leaves, which are the residue left after extracting tea components from tea leaves. The type of tea is not particularly limited, but green tea, which contains a large amount of chlorophyll, is preferred. By effectively utilizing used tea leaves, which have traditionally been treated as waste, it is possible to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, and also save on the enormous costs required for treatment facilities.

[0024] When tea leaves are used, the source of the tea leaves is not particularly limited, but commercially available tea leaves (already dried) can be used. Used tea leaves can be those discarded or disposed of from homes or tea beverage manufacturing plants. Used tea leaves also include the so-called dregs, which are the residue left after tea components have been extracted from tea leaves using hot water several times (for example, 2 to 6 times). Used tea leaves have a high moisture content when the tea components are extracted, so they can be used as is or crushed after drying. Drying can be carried out at a temperature above room temperature, for example, 40°C to 100°C, preferably 50°C to 90°C, for 10 minutes to 20 hours, preferably 30 minutes to 15 hours, or 1 hour to 10 hours. The moisture content of used tea leaves after drying may be, for example, 5% by mass or less, or 3% by mass or less, preferably 1% by mass or less, more preferably 0.5% by mass or less, even more preferably 0.1% by mass or less, and most preferably substantially 0 (zero)% by mass. (Note that the moisture content of perilla leaves after drying, described below, may be in a similar range.)

[0025] When the processing scale is small, the tea leaves or used tea leaves can be crushed by sealing them in a flexible plastic container and applying an external compressive force. When the processing scale is relatively large, the tea leaves or used tea leaves can be crushed by known mechanical means. The upper limit of the average particle size of the tea leaves or used tea leaves or their crushed product may be, for example, 15 mm or less, or 12 mm or less, 10 mm or less, 8 mm or less, 6 mm or less, 5 mm or less, 4 mm or less, 3 mm or less, 2 mm or less, 1 mm or less, 500 μm or less, or 300 μm or less, from the viewpoints of, for example, blendability into the resin composition, the intended use, appearance, and design of the molded article to be produced. On the other hand, the lower limit of the average particle size of the tea leaves or used tea leaves, or ground material thereof, may be, for example, from the viewpoint of the ease of mixing into the resin composition, the intended use, appearance, and design of the molded article to be produced, usually 5 μm or more, or 8 μm or more, 10 μm or more, 12 μm or more, 14 μm or more, 16 μm or more, 18 μm or more, or 20 μm or more. The range of the average particle size of the tea leaves or used tea leaves, or ground material thereof, may be any combination of any of the upper and lower limits. In this specification, the average particle size of particles of ground tea leaves or used tea leaves, etc., is the volume cumulative median diameter (D50 ) value obtained by the laser diffraction / scattering method. 50 The upper limit of measurement for particle size (particle diameter) is generally about 1 mm to 2 mm, depending on the instrument. Therefore, if it is found difficult to accurately measure the average particle size using this method, an image of an arbitrary portion of the particle group is created by magnifying it (for example, about 50 to 200 times) with an optical microscope, and the average of the maximum lengths of the 20 particles observed is used as the average particle size.

[0026] Another specific example of a material derived from natural sources containing chlorophyll (B) is a land plant such as perilla. The perilla source may be natural or commercially available. Perilla leaves can be dried under the same conditions as tea leaves and then used as is or crushed. Dried perilla leaves can be pulverized by known mechanical means, similar to tea leaves. The upper limit of the average particle size of perilla leaves or their pulverized product may be, for example, 15 mm or less, or 12 mm or less, 10 mm or less, 8 mm or less, 6 mm or less, 5 mm or less, 4 mm or less, 3 mm or less, 2 mm or less, 1 mm or less, 500 μm or less, or 300 μm or less, from the viewpoints of blendability into resin compositions and the intended use, appearance, and design of the molded articles to be produced. On the other hand, the lower limit of the average particle size of perilla leaves or their pulverized product may be, for example, 5 μm or more, or 8 μm or more, 10 μm or more, 12 μm or more, 14 μm or more, 16 μm or more, 18 μm or more, or 20 μm or more, from the viewpoints of blendability into resin compositions and the intended use, appearance, and design of the molded articles to be produced. The range of the average particle size of perilla leaves or their pulverized product may be any combination of these upper and lower limits.

[0027] When the total amount of the resin (A) component and the chlorophyll-containing natural product-derived material (B) contained in the resin composition is taken as 100 parts by mass, the amount of the chlorophyll-containing natural product-derived material (B) may typically be 0.1 parts by mass or more. By providing 0.1 parts by mass or more of the component (B) relative to 100 parts by mass of the total of the components (A) and (B), the green color generated by the chlorophyll can be clearly observed. From a similar perspective, the amount of the component (B) relative to 100 parts by mass of the total of the components (A) and (B) may preferably be 0.2 parts by mass or more, more preferably 0.3 parts by mass or more, even more preferably 0.5 parts by mass or more, and even more preferably 1 part by mass or more. Furthermore, the amount of component (B) per 100 parts by mass of the combined total of components (A) and (B) may generally be 60 parts by mass or less, from the viewpoint of appropriately maintaining the beauty (or vividness) and brightness of the green color from chlorophyll. From the same viewpoint, the amount of component (B) per 100 parts by mass of the combined total of components (A) and (B) may be preferably 50 parts by mass or less, more preferably 40 parts by mass or less, even more preferably 30 parts by mass or less, and even more preferably 20 parts by mass or less. In a preferred embodiment, the amount of component (B) relative to 100 parts by mass of the total amount of components (A) and (B) may be typically 0.1 parts by mass or more and 60 parts by mass or less, preferably 0.2 parts by mass or more and 50 parts by mass or less, more preferably 0.3 parts by mass or more and 40 parts by mass or less, even more preferably 0.5 parts by mass or more and 30 parts by mass or less, and even more preferably 1 part by mass or more and 20 parts by mass or less. The suitable amount of component (B) relative to 100 parts by mass of the total amount of components (A) and (B) may depend on the type and drying state of the chlorophyll-containing natural product (chlorophyll content in the natural product).

[0028] In one embodiment, the naturally-derived material containing chlorophyll (B) may contain 50% by mass or more of used tea leaves relative to the total mass of the material, or 60% by mass or more, 70% by mass or more, 80% by mass or more, 90% by mass or more, or substantially 100% by mass of used tea leaves relative to the total mass of the material. In one embodiment, the chlorophyll-containing natural product-derived material (B) may include a material derived from a plant, food, or food waste containing chlorophyll other than tea leaves. The amount of such material derived from a plant, food, or food waste other than tea leaves may be 1% by mass or less, or 1% by mass or more, 5% by mass or more, or 10% by mass or more, based on the total mass of the chlorophyll-containing natural product-derived material (B). In one embodiment, the B) material derived from natural products containing chlorophyll may consist solely of used tea leaves and materials derived from plants, foods, or food waste containing chlorophyll other than used tea leaves, in which case the proportion of used tea leaves may be, for example, 30% by mass or more, or 40% by mass or more, 50% by mass or more, 60% by mass or more, 70% by mass or more, 80% by mass or more, or 90% by mass or more.

[0029] (C) Component: Copper-containing powder The copper-containing powder of component (C) contained in the resin composition provides the resin composition and its molded article with the function of inhibiting fading of the chlorophyll contained in component (B) in the resin composition, particularly rapid fading of chlorophyll under light irradiation conditions (such as exposure to sunlight). The copper-containing powder of component (C) is not particularly limited as long as it is a material that provides this function, and may be copper powder (substantially pure copper powder), or a mixture, compound, or alloy of copper with other components. Although not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that when the copper-containing powder of component (C) is contained in the resin composition, particularly when the resin composition is kneaded to form a molded article, the magnesium atom, which is the central metal of the chlorophyll contained in component (B), is replaced with a copper atom, thereby stabilizing the chemical structure and suppressing fading of the green color emitted from the chlorophyll. From the viewpoint of broadening the range of uses for articles molded from the resin composition, it is also preferable to use a copper-containing powder having high bactericidal, antiviral and antioxidant properties as the copper-containing powder of component (C).

[0030] Non-limiting examples of copper-containing powders for component (C) are listed below. These may be used alone or in combination. Examples of copper compounds with bactericidal and antiviral properties that make up copper-containing powders include the monovalent copper compounds cuprous chloride (CuCl), cuprous acetate (Cu(CHCOO)), cuprous iodide (CuI), cuprous bromide (CuBr), cuprous oxide (CuO), cuprous hydroxide (CuOH), cuprous cyanide (CuCN), and cuprous thiocyanate (CuSCN). Examples of copper compounds having antioxidant properties that constitute the copper-containing powder include copper iodide, copper (I) bromide, copper (II) bromide, copper (I) chloride, copper acetate, copper propionate, copper benzoate, copper adipate, copper terephthalate, and copper isophthalate.

[0031] Examples of more stable divalent copper compounds that can be used to make up the copper-containing powder include inorganic divalent copper compounds such as copper sulfate, copper nitrate, copper iodate, copper perchlorate, copper oxalate, copper tetraborate, ammonium copper sulfate, copper amidosulfate, and ammonium copper chloride, copper pyrophosphate, and inorganic acid salts of divalent copper such as copper carbonate, divalent copper halides such as copper chloride, copper fluoride, and copper bromide, as well as copper oxide, copper sulfide, azurite, malachite, and copper azide. Examples of divalent copper carboxylates, which are divalent copper organic compounds, include copper formate, copper acetate, copper propionate, copper butyrate, copper valerate, copper caproate, copper enanthate, copper caprylate, copper pelargonate, copper caprate, copper myristic acid, copper palmitate, copper margarate, copper stearate, copper oleate, copper lactate, copper malate, copper citrate, copper benzoate, copper phthalate, copper isophthalate, copper terephthalate, copper salicylate, copper mellitic acid, Examples of the divalent copper organic compounds include copper oxalate, copper malonate, copper succinate, copper glutarate, copper adipate, copper fumarate, copper glycolate, copper glycerate, copper gluconate, copper tartrate, copper acetylacetonate, copper ethylacetoacetate, copper isovalerate, copper β-resorcylate, copper diacetoacetate, copper formylsuccinate, copper salicylamate, copper bis(2-ethylhexanoate), copper sebacate, and copper naphthenate. Examples of other divalent copper organic compounds include copper oxine, copper acetylacetonate, copper ethylacetoacetate, copper trifluoromethanesulfonate, copper phthalocyanine, copper ethoxide, copper isopropoxide, copper methoxide, and copper dimethyldithiocarbamate. These divalent copper compounds can exhibit excellent antiviral and antibacterial properties when combined with titanium oxide such as crystalline rutile titanium oxide.

[0032] Examples of copper alloys constituting the copper-containing powder include Cu-Zn, Cu-Sn, Cu-Al, Cu-Ag, Zn-Sn-Cu, Zn-Al-Cu-Mg, etc. More specific examples of copper alloys include high-copper alloys such as beryllium copper, titanium copper, silver-containing copper, tin-containing copper, chromium copper, zirconium copper, copper-iron alloy, and Corson alloy, brasses such as red brass, 73 brass, 64 brass, tin-containing brass, naval brass, Admiralty brass, aluminum brass, and high-strength brass, bronzes such as phosphor bronze and aluminum bronze, nickel silver, nickel-tin copper, and cupronickel.

[0033] The use of Cu-Sn (copper-tin alloy) as the copper alloy is preferable from the viewpoint of imparting antibacterial properties to the article. The copper-tin alloy preferably contains, for example, 60 to 90 atomic % copper and 10 to 40 atomic % tin, and more preferably contains 60 to 85 atomic % copper and 15 to 40 atomic % tin. When the tin content of the copper-tin alloy is 10 atomic % or more, corrosion or discoloration due to contact of the article with moisture can be suppressed. The higher the copper content, the more improved the antibacterial performance can be.

[0034] The copper-containing powder of component (C), for example, copper alloy powder, may be a copper-containing powder obtained by water atomization or gas atomization. Water-atomized copper-containing powder or gas-atomized copper-containing powder is obtained by spraying high-pressure water or gas onto a copper-containing material melted at high temperature, scattering it, and then cooling and solidifying it as it falls. In water atomization, the rapid cooling rate causes solidification before surface tension acts, which can produce irregularly shaped powder. Water atomized copper-containing powders have the characteristic of providing good moldability due to their irregular shape. On the other hand, gas atomization tends to produce roughly spherical powders because the slow cooling rate causes solidification while surface tension acts. Gas atomized copper-containing powders offer the advantage of being highly packed due to their spherical shape.

[0035] From the viewpoint of moldability of the article, the average particle size of the copper-containing powder of component (C) may be usually 5 to 1000 μm, more preferably 10 to 800 μm, even more preferably 20 to 500 μm, and even more preferably 30 to 300 μm. The average particle size here refers to the median diameter, d50 (μm), which can be measured using a laser diffraction / scattering particle size distribution analyzer.

[0036] When the total amount of the resin (A) and the chlorophyll-containing natural product-derived material (B) contained in the resin composition is taken as 100 parts by mass, the amount of copper contained in the copper-containing powder (C) (hereinafter referred to as the "copper equivalent amount") is typically 0.1 parts by mass or more. Having a copper equivalent amount of component (C) of 0.1 parts by mass or more per 100 parts by mass of the combined total of components (A) and (B) makes it possible to suppress chlorophyll fading, particularly rapid chlorophyll fading under light irradiation conditions (such as exposure to sunlight). From a similar perspective, the copper equivalent amount of component (C) per 100 parts by mass of the combined total of components (A) and (B) is preferably 0.2 parts by mass or more, more preferably 0.3 parts by mass or more, even more preferably 0.5 parts by mass or more, and even more preferably 1 part by mass or more. Furthermore, the copper-equivalent amount of component (C) per 100 parts by mass of the combined total of components (A) and (B) may typically be 8 parts by mass or less, from the viewpoint of appropriately maintaining the beauty (or vividness) and brightness of the green color from chlorophyll. From the same viewpoint, and from the viewpoint of avoiding blackening of the molded article, the copper-equivalent amount of component (C) per 100 parts by mass of the combined total of components (A) and (B) may preferably be 6 parts by mass or less, more preferably 5 parts by mass or less, even more preferably 4.5 parts by mass or less, even more preferably 4 parts by mass or less, and even more preferably 3.5 parts by mass or less. In a preferred embodiment, the copper-equivalent amount of component (C) per 100 parts by mass of the combined total of components (A) and (B) may be typically 0.1 parts by mass or more and 8 parts by mass or less, preferably 0.2 parts by mass or more and 6 parts by mass or less, more preferably 0.3 parts by mass or more and 5 parts by mass or less, even more preferably 0.5 parts by mass or more and 4.5 parts by mass or less, even more preferably 1 part by mass or more and 4 parts by mass or less, and even more preferably 1 part by mass or more and 3.5 parts by mass or less. In one embodiment, the copper-containing powder of component (C) may contain copper iodide in an amount equivalent to 50% by mass or more of copper iodide relative to the total copper amount of the powder, or may contain copper iodide in an amount equivalent to 60% by mass or more, 70% by mass or more, 80% by mass or more, 90% by mass or more, or substantially 100% by mass of copper iodide relative to the total copper amount of the powder. In one embodiment, the copper-containing powder of component (C) may contain a copper alloy such as a copper-tin alloy in an amount equivalent to 50% by mass or more of the total copper amount of the powder, or may contain a copper alloy such as a copper-tin alloy in an amount equivalent to 60% by mass or more, 70% by mass or more, 80% by mass or more, 90% by mass or more, or substantially 100% by mass of the total copper amount of the powder. In one embodiment, the copper-containing powder of component (C) may contain 50% by mass or more of copper powder (substantially pure copper powder) based on the total copper equivalent of the powder, or 60% by mass or more, 70% by mass or more, 80% by mass or more, 90% by mass or more, or substantially 100% by mass of copper powder based on the total copper equivalent of the powder. In one embodiment, the mass proportion (copper equivalent) of copper iodide, copper alloys such as copper-tin alloys, and copper powder in the copper-containing powder of component (C) may be 50 mass% or more, 60 mass% or more, 70 mass% or more, 80 mass% or more, 90 mass% or more, or substantially 100 mass%. In one embodiment, the resin composition of the present invention may contain a metal-containing powder other than the (B) chlorophyll-containing material derived from a natural product and the (C) copper-containing powder. The amount of such other metal-containing powder (in terms of the metal) may be, for example, 0.1% by mass or less, or 0.1% by mass or more, 0.3% by mass or more, 0.5% by mass or more, or 1% by mass or more, based on the total mass of the resin composition. The amount of other metal-containing powder (in terms of the metal) may be, for example, 5% by mass or less, based on the total mass of the resin composition.

[0037] Other optional ingredients The resin composition of the present invention may contain, for example, any additional component as needed in addition to the above-described components (A), (B), and (C), to the extent that it does not contradict the object of the present invention. (Alternatively, the resin composition of the present invention may not contain any of these additional components.) Examples of such optional additional components include heat stabilizers such as hydrotalcite, light stabilizers, ultraviolet absorbers, crystal nucleating agents, antiblocking agents, sealant improvers, mold release agents (e.g., stearic acid, silicone oil, etc.), lubricants such as polyethylene wax and zinc stearate, colorants, pigments, inorganic fillers (e.g., alumina, talc, calcium carbonate, mica, vulcanite, clay, etc.), foaming agents (organic and inorganic), flame retardants (e.g., hydrated metal compounds, red phosphorus, ammonium polyphosphate, antimony compounds, silicone, etc.), and materials derived from natural products that do not contain chlorophyll.

[0038] In one embodiment, the resin composition of the present invention may or may not contain a material derived from a natural product that does not contain chlorophyll as an additional component other than the above-mentioned components (A), (B), and (C). In addition, in one embodiment, the resin composition of the present invention may or may not contain a material derived from a natural product other than used tea leaves as an additional component other than the above-mentioned components (A), (B), and (C). In one embodiment, the resin composition of the present invention may or may not contain, as an additional component other than the above-mentioned components (A), (B), and (C), a material derived from wood fiber substances (for example, processed wood or wood fiber products such as wood, bark, pulp, paper, bamboo powder, etc.) in addition to used tea leaves. In one embodiment, the resin composition of the present invention may or may not contain an antioxidant as an additional component other than the above-mentioned components (A), (B), and (C).

[0039] When the resin composition of the present invention optionally contains any additional component other than the above-described components (A), (B), and (C), the amount of such additional component is not particularly limited as long as it does not contradict the object of the present invention. The amount may be, for example, from 0.1% by mass to 10% by mass, or from 0.5% by mass to 5% by mass, based on the total amount of the resin composition.

[0040] 2. Optical properties of resin compositions The resin composition of the present invention has an a value of −0.1 or less, and a ΔE (a measure of the degree of progress of fading) of 5 or less after 4 hours of irradiation with D65 light. Regarding the aesthetic quality of the resin composition, the a-value was used as an objective index of whether the green color emitted from the chlorophyll contained in the naturally-derived material (B) is clearly visible to an observer. When the a-value of the resin composition is -0.1 or less, the green color emitted from the chlorophyll is clearly (or vividly) visible, and the aesthetic quality of the article molded from the resin composition can be improved. Furthermore, the ΔE value of the resin composition after 4 hours of exposure to D65 light indicates the degree of fading of the green color emitted from the chlorophyll of component (B). When the ΔE value of the resin composition after 4 hours of exposure to D65 light is 5 or less, fading of the green color emitted from the chlorophyll when the resin composition is left in a specified environment for a certain period of time is sufficiently suppressed, and the high aesthetic quality of the article molded from the resin composition can be maintained. D65 illuminant is the standard illuminant established by the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) and corresponds to the average noon light in Europe / Northern Europe, and is also called daylight illuminant.

[0041] From the above viewpoint, the a value of the resin composition of the present invention may be preferably −0.15 or less (or less than −0.15), more preferably −0.3 or less, even more preferably −0.5 or less, even more preferably −1 or less, and still more preferably −1.5 or less. Furthermore, from the above viewpoints, the ΔE of the resin composition of the present invention after 4 hours of irradiation with D65 light may be preferably 4.5 or less (or less than 4.5), more preferably 4 or less (or less than 4), more preferably 3.5 or less (or less than 3.5), more preferably 3 or less (or less than 3), more preferably 2.5 or less (or less than 2.5), more preferably 2 or less (or less than 2), more preferably 1.5 or less (or less than 1.5), even more preferably 1 or less (or less than 1), even more preferably 0.8 or less (or less than 0.8), even more preferably 0.6 or less (or less than 0.6), and even more preferably 0.4 or less (or less than 0.4).

[0042] The resin composition of the present invention may have an L value (a measure of brightness) of usually 25 or more, preferably 28 or more, more preferably 32 or more, even more preferably 36 or more, and even more preferably 40 or more. The L value of the resin composition indicates the brightness of the green color emitted from the chlorophyll contained in the naturally-derived material of component (B). When the L value of the resin composition is generally 25 or more, preferably 28 or more, the green color emitted from the chlorophyll is sufficiently bright and visible, thereby enhancing the aesthetic appeal of articles molded from the resin composition.

[0043] The a value, ΔE, and L value are defined based on JIS Z8781-4:2013, which is based on the standard set by the International Commission on Illumination (CIE). In the L*a*b* color space, a color space that represents the color of an object, lightness is represented by L*, and chromaticity, which indicates hue and saturation, is represented by a* and b*. a* and b* indicate the color direction, with a* (positive a value) indicating red, -a* (negative a value) indicating green, b* (positive b value) indicating yellow, and -b* (negative b value) indicating blue. The larger the absolute value of -a* (negative a value) (the smaller the number), the clearer (or more vivid) the green appears to be, and the smaller the absolute value (the larger the number), the duller the green becomes, and the less clear (or vivid) it becomes. L* (i.e., L value) indicates the brightness, or lightness, of a color. For the same -a value, the larger the L* (L value), the brighter the green will be perceived, and the smaller the L* (L value), the darker the green will be perceived. ΔE is a measurement standard that quantifies the difference between two colors, so it can be used as a measure of the degree of fading. ΔE is also expressed as ΔE*ab. In mathematical terms, ΔE*ab=[(ΔL*) 2 +(Δa*) 2 +(Δb*) 2 〕 1 / 2 Conceptually, the measurement range of ΔE is 0 to 100, with the closer to 0 the smaller the color difference, and the closer to 100 the greater the color difference.

[0044] In the present application, as described in the subsequent Examples, the a value, ΔE and L value can be determined as follows. Specifically, in accordance with JIS Z8722:2009, an X-Rite Ci7800 integrating sphere spectrophotometer was used to measure the XYZ coordinates under geometric condition c, including specular reflection components. These were then converted to obtain the L*a*b* coordinates (i.e., the a and L values) of a rectangular molded plate of the resin composition, measuring 64.4 mm long, 64.4 mm wide, and 3.0 mm thick. Next, the molded plate was irradiated with a D65 light source (average northern daylight) from a distance of approximately 46 cm for four hours, after which the post-processing transmitted color was observed using the X-Rite Ci7800 integrating sphere spectrophotometer under a D65 light source and a 10-degree field of view. A white standard plate was used as the white background. The color difference (ΔE) was calculated using the calculation method (ΔE*ab(CIE 1976)) of the spectrophotometer's dedicated software, Color iControl iQ Color Management Software. The particular colorimeter and its dedicated software may be obtained from other suppliers as long as they have similar specifications.

[0045] 3. Molded body of resin composition The method for obtaining a molded article from the resin composition may be any known method, but for example, it can be carried out as follows. First, a resin (A), a chlorophyll-containing natural product-derived material (B), a copper-containing powder (C), and optional components (if necessary) can be mixed in predetermined proportions to form a mixture. Components (A), (B), and (C) (and optional components) can be simultaneously or in any order added to a melt-kneader and melt-kneaded, preferably at a resin temperature of 100 to 300°C, to obtain a resin composition as a mixture of these components. Examples of melt-kneaders include batch kneaders such as pressure kneaders and mixers; extrusion kneaders such as single-screw extruders and twin-screw extruders (co-rotating twin-screw extruders or counter-rotating twin-screw extruders); and calendar roll kneaders. These melt-kneaders may also be used in any combination. The resulting resin composition can be pelletized by any method and then molded into any desired product by any method. Pelletization can be performed by hot cutting, strand cutting, underwater cutting, or other methods.

[0046] It is desirable to attach a die to the discharge end of a melt kneader such as an extrusion kneader, and obtain the melt-kneaded resin composition as pellets by strand cutting or hot cutting. In addition to strand cutting and hot cutting, an underwater cutting method can be used in which the resin composition is cut with a cutter above a die in contact with water. When obtaining pellets of the resin composition, the shape of the pellets is not particularly limited, but can be, for example, cylindrical, spherical, oval, etc. The diameter of the die attached to the discharge end of the melt kneader to obtain pellets (i.e., the diameter of the obtained pellets) is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 2 mm to 20 mm, or 3 mm to 15 mm.

[0047] The processing conditions when using a twin-screw extruder are not particularly limited, but the screw rotation speed can be adjusted usually in the range of 30 rpm to 1000 rpm, preferably 50 rpm to 600 rpm, and the resin composition temperature at the die outlet can be adjusted usually in the range of 40° C. to 300° C., preferably 60° C. to 250° C. The screws of the twin-screw extruder may be of a parallel type or a conical type, and the rotation directions may be the same or different.

[0048] The pellets can then be molded, typically using an injection molding machine, into a plate, sheet, film, or three-dimensional shape such as a substantially cubic shape, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, a substantially sphere, a substantially oval sphere, a substantially cylindrical shape, a substantially prismatic shape, or a combination thereof, or any other desired shape. The injection temperature for the injection molding machine depends on the type of resin, but may be, for example, 100°C to 300°C, or 120°C to 250°C. Other injection conditions, such as injection pressure, injection speed, mold temperature, pressure in the dwelling step, dwell time, and cooling time, can be appropriately adjusted with reference to known examples. Examples of molding methods that can be used instead of injection molding include extrusion molding and compression molding.

[0049] The use of the article that is a molded product of the resin composition of the present invention is not particularly limited, but it can be used for any purpose as long as it is desired to achieve the aesthetic appeal of a beautiful (or vivid) green color. For example, anticipated uses of the materials include household appliance components, toy components, gardening components, and other daily necessities; industrial parts; automobiles, such as automobile components; building materials; and packaging materials. More specifically, anticipated uses of the materials include the following: household appliance components, such as watch components, mobile phone components, and white goods; toy components, such as plastic model components, diorama components, and video game console components; gardening components, such as planter components, vase components, and flowerpot components; automobile components, such as bumper components and instrument panels; packaging materials, such as food packaging, textile packaging, and miscellaneous goods packaging; and other uses, such as monitor components, office automation (OA) equipment components, medical components, drain pans, toiletry components, bottles, and containers. Further anticipated uses of the materials include wall coverings, kitchen fixtures, furniture components, such as desks and shelves, stationery components, miscellaneous goods, household goods (such as shoehorns, paperweights, and tissue boxes), and office supplies. The uses of the articles that are molded products of the resin composition of the present invention are not limited to the specific examples given here, but can be further expanded depending on future consumer demands. In a preferred embodiment, the resin composition of the present invention can be molded into an article and is not generally intended for use in food or cosmetics. [Example]

[0050] Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to examples. The present invention is not intended to be limited to the following examples.

[0051] Materials used (A) Component: Resin (A-1) Polypropylene resin SunAllomer Co., Ltd. Polypropylene "PM600A" (A-2) Polyethylene resin Linear low-density polyethylene "Novatec (registered trademark) LL UF240" manufactured by Japan Polyethylene Co., Ltd. (abbreviated as "UF240" in Table 1) (A-3) Elastomer resin Dow Chemical Company's polyolefin elastomer "ENGAGE(R) 8411" Dow Chemical Company's olefin block copolymer "INFUSE(R) 9817" Elastomer "LEOSTOMER (registered trademark) LJ-1160N" manufactured by Riken Technos Corporation (abbreviated as "LJ-1160N" in Table 1) Riken Technos Corporation's olefin elastomer "MULTIUSE LEOSTOMER (registered trademark) LE-3160N" (abbreviated as "LE-3160N" in Table 1)

[0052] (B) Ingredient: Material derived from natural products containing chlorophyll (B-1) Used tea leaves 50g of dried tea leaves from a commercially available green tea ("Commercial Sencha" manufactured by Oigawa Tea Garden Co., Ltd.) were placed in a heat-resistant container, 1800mL of hot water was poured over, and the tea leaves were left to stand for 1 minute. After that, the water was drained from the tea leaves using a tea strainer, and they were dried in a dryer at 70°C for 6 hours. These were used as "used tea leaves." (B-2) Dried tea leaves 50 g of dried tea leaves from a commercially available green tea (Oigawa Tea Garden's "Commercial Sencha") were placed in a heat-resistant container, 1800 mL of hot water was poured over them, and the tea was left to stand for 1 minute. After that, the tea was strained and drained five times. The tea was then dried in the same manner as above and used as the "dake (5 times)." (B-3) Shiso Fresh perilla leaves were dried in a dryer at 70°C for 6 hours, then crushed by hand into powder with a maximum diameter of approximately 2 mm, which was used as the "perilla" material.

[0053] (C) Component: Copper-containing powder Copper iodide: CuI Copper-tin alloy: Gas atomized copper-tin alloy powder (67% copper / 33% tin) manufactured by Fukuda Metal Foil & Powder Co., Ltd. Copper-based antiviral agent "Bro-MIP" Copper powder: Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd., copper powder (abbreviated as "copper powder" in Table 1)

[0054] (E) Component: Optional component Lubricant / stabilizer: zinc stearate (abbreviated as "Zn-St" in Table 1) Heat stabilizer: Hydrotalcite "ALCAMIZER (registered trademark) 1" manufactured by Kyowa Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.

[0055] Example 1 98 parts by weight of SunAllomer Co., Ltd.'s polypropylene "PM600A," 2 parts by weight of used tea leaves, and 0.9 parts by weight of copper iodide (CuI) were placed in a plastic bag and manually mixed at room temperature to form a uniform blend. This blend was then placed in the hopper tank of a twin-screw extruder and thoroughly melt-kneaded at a screw rotation speed of 90 rpm and a die outlet resin temperature of 200°C. The blend was then extruded as a string-like strand from the die head of the twin-screw extruder, water-cooled in a water bath, and cut into cylindrical pellets. The pellets thus obtained were injected into an injection molding machine and molded under the conditions of a cylinder set temperature of 200°C, an injection speed of 100 mm / sec, an injection pressure of 100 MPa, and a mold temperature of approximately 50°C, to obtain a rectangular molded plate (resin plate) measuring 64.4 mm in length, 64.4 mm in width, and 3.0 mm in thickness.

[0056] <Examples 2 to 23 and Comparative Examples 1 to 8> Pellets and molded bodies were obtained in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the components and amounts of the blend were changed as shown in Table 1, the kneading temperature during melt-kneading in the hopper tank of the twin-screw extruder was appropriately changed to a temperature condition at which the resin of the blend melted, and the cylinder setting temperature and mold temperature during injection into the injection molding machine were appropriately changed.

[0057] For each of Examples 1 to 23 and Comparative Examples 1 to 8, the components and amounts (parts by mass) of the blends (resin compositions), as well as the optical properties and moldability results obtained by the following measurement and evaluation methods, are shown in Table 1.

[0058] Measurement method for a value, L value, and ΔE of molded resin composition plate For each example, rectangular molded plates of the above formulations, measuring 64.4 mm long, 64.4 mm wide, and 3.0 mm thick, were prepared using an X-Rite Ci7800 integrating sphere spectrophotometer. XYZ coordinates were measured under geometric condition c, including specular reflection, using the X-Rite Ci7800 integrating sphere spectrophotometer. These coordinates were converted to L*a*b* coordinates, resulting in the a and L values. The molded plates were then irradiated with a D65 light source (average northern daylight) from a distance of approximately 46 cm for four hours. The post-processing transmitted color was then observed using the X-Rite Ci7800 integrating sphere spectrophotometer under a 10-degree field of view with the D65 light source. A white standard plate was used as the white background. Color difference (ΔE) was calculated using the calculation method (ΔE*ab(CIE 1976)) in the spectrophotometer's dedicated software, Color iControl iQ.

[0059] Evaluation of moldability of resin compositions According to the pellet preparation procedure described above, the above-mentioned blends prepared for each example were placed in the hopper tank of a twin-screw extruder and kneaded at a temperature condition where the blend resin melted. This blend was extruded through a die head, cooled in a water bath as a string-like strand, and cut into pellets. The success or failure of strand formation and the stability of the strand during cutting were evaluated as follows. ◎: The strand surface was smooth and cutting was stable. ○: The strand surface was uneven, but it did not break and cutting was stable. △: The resin was poorly held together, and although strands could be formed, the strands were sometimes broken and lacked stability. ×: The resin did not come together and strands could not be formed.

[0060] [Table 1-1]

[0061] [Table 1-2]

[0062] From the evaluation results of the optical properties shown in Table 1 for Examples 1 to 23, it can be seen that a molded body of a resin composition containing component (A) resin, component (B) tea leaves or perilla, which are materials derived from natural products containing chlorophyll, and component (C) copper-containing powder, gives a beautiful green color because the a value is -0.1 or less, preferably -0.15 or less, and that fading is effectively suppressed because the ΔE after 4 hours of exposure to D65 light is 5 or less, particularly less than 2, preferably less than 1.5. On the other hand, from the evaluation results of the optical properties shown in Table 1 for Comparative Examples 1 to 8, it can be seen that, depending on the molded body of the resin composition that does not contain a metal-containing powder or that alternatively contains a metal-containing powder other than a copper-containing powder, the a value was greater than -0.1, so that a beautiful green color was not obtained, or ΔE after 4 hours of exposure to D65 light was greater than 5, so that fading progressed significantly at an unacceptable rate. Thus, the resin composition of the present invention can be easily prepared by simply mixing components (A), (B), and (C). Furthermore, this resin composition can be used to easily obtain molded articles of desired shapes using conventional injection molding. These molded articles beautifully exhibit the green color of the natural chlorophyll-containing material, effectively inhibit fading, and preferably provide sufficient brightness. Therefore, molded articles made from the resin composition of the present invention can be suitably used in a wide range of applications, including daily necessities, industrial parts, automotive components, building materials, and packaging materials.

Claims

1. A resin composition that beautifully develops the inherent colors of natural products, (A) component: resin; (B) component: a material derived from a natural product containing chlorophyll; and (C) Component: Copper-containing powder Including, the a value is −0.1 or less, ΔE after 4 hours of irradiation with D65 light is 5 or less, Resin composition.

2. The resin composition according to claim 1, wherein the component (B) is used tea leaves.

3. 3. The resin composition according to claim 1, wherein the amount of the component (B) is 0.2 parts by mass or more when the total amount of the component (A) and the component (B) is 100 parts by mass.

4. 3. The resin composition according to claim 1, wherein the amount of the component (B) is 0.2 parts by mass or more and 50 parts by mass or less when the total amount of the component (A) and the component (B) is 100 parts by mass.

5. 3. The resin composition according to claim 1, wherein the amount of copper contained in the component (C) is 0.1 parts by mass or more and 4 parts by mass or less when the total amount of the component (A) and the component (B) is 100 parts by mass.

6. The resin composition according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the a value is −0.15 or less and ΔE after 4 hours of irradiation with D65 light is less than 1.

5.

7. The resin composition according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the L value is 28 or more.

8. A pellet formed from the resin composition according to claim 1 or 2.

9. An article formed from the resin composition according to claim 1 or 2.

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