Water absorption processing agent, fiber product and manufacturing method of fiber product

Abstract

To provide a water absorption processing agent capable of imparting water absorption properties excellent in washing durability.SOLUTION: A water absorption processing agent includes a polymer (P) of a polymerizable component including a monomer (A), a monomer (B) and optionally a monomer (C). A ratio of a sum of the monomer (A) and the monomer (B) is 61-100 mass% in the polymerizable component. A ratio of the monomer (C) is 12 mass% or less in the polymerizable component. In the water absorption processing agent, the monomer (A) is a monomer having at least one kind selected from a primary amino group, a secondary amino group, a tertiary amino group and a quaternary ammonium group, the monomer (B) is a monomer having a polyoxyalkylene group, and the monomer (C) is a monomer having an alkyl group having 12 to 30 carbon atoms (however, excluding the monomer (A) and the monomer (B)).SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a water-absorbent agent capable of imparting water-absorbency with excellent washing durability, a textile product to which the water-absorbent agent is attached, and a method for producing a textile product using the water-absorbent agent. [Background technology]

[0002] Synthetic fibers such as polyester and acrylic have excellent properties and are used in many fields, including industrial, interior, and clothing applications. However, synthetic fibers are less hygroscopic and absorbent than natural fibers such as cotton and linen, so when used for clothing, they may not be sufficiently absorbent (sweat-absorbent).

[0003] In order to solve this problem of water absorption, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a composition in which a specific cationic component is blended with a copolymer of acrylonitrile and a specific nonionic monomer. Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a method of imparting water absorbency and washing durability to polyester fibers by treating the fibers with a hydrophilic polyester in combination with a specific aromatic compound. However, these conventional processing agents are sometimes limited in the types of fibers to which they can impart water absorbency, making them less versatile, and the washing durability of the absorbency may also be insufficient. [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-083023 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-032608 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a water-absorbent processing agent capable of imparting water-absorbency with excellent washing durability, a textile product obtained by applying the water-absorbent processing agent, and a method for producing a textile product including a step of treating the textile product with the water-absorbent processing agent. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] As a result of extensive research into solving the above problems, the present inventors have found that a water-absorbing agent containing a specific polymer can solve the above problems.

[0006] That is, the water absorption agent of the present invention includes the following aspects. <1> A water-absorbing agent containing a polymerizable component polymer (P) containing the following monomer (A), the following monomer (B), and optionally the following monomer (C), wherein the total proportion of the monomer (A) and the monomer (B) in the polymerizable component is 61 to 100 mass%, and the proportion of the monomer (C) in the polymerizable component is 12 mass% or less. Monomer (A): A monomer having at least one group selected from a primary amino group, a secondary amino group, a tertiary amino group, and a quaternary ammonium group Monomer (B): Monomer having a polyoxyalkylene group Monomer (C): A monomer having an alkyl group having 12 to 30 carbon atoms (excluding the monomer (A) and the monomer (B)). <2> The monomer (A) contains at least one selected from the group consisting of a compound represented by the following general formula (1) and a compound represented by the following general formula (2): <1> The water-absorbing agent according to claim 1. [ka] (In formula (1), R 1 and R 2 R each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. 3 represents a hydrogen atom or -COOM (M is a hydrogen atom or an alkali metal atom). X represents -COO-R 15 -, -CON(R 16 )-R 17 - or -CH2- (R 15 and R 17 are each independently an alkylene group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or a hydroxyalkylene group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms; R 16represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms.) However, when X is -CH2-, R 4 and R 5 are each independently a group represented by the following general formula (3), an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or a hydrogen atom; and when X is not -CH2-, R 4 and R 5 are each independently an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or a hydrogen atom. [ka] (In formula (2), R 6 and R 7 R each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. 8 represents a hydrogen atom or -COOM (M is a hydrogen atom or an alkali metal atom). X represents -COO-R 15 -, -CON(R 16 )-R 17 - or -CH2- (R 15 and R 17 are each independently an alkylene group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or a hydroxyalkylene group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms; R 16 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms.) However, when X is -CH2-, R 9 , R 10 and R 11 are each independently a group represented by the following general formula (3), an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and when X is not -CH2-, R 9 、 R 10 and R 11 are each independently an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms. - is an organic or inorganic anion. [ka] (In formula (3), R 12 , R 13 and R 14 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. <3> The monomer (B) contains a compound represented by the following general formula (4): <1> or <2> The water-absorbing agent according to claim 1. [ka] (In formula (4), R 18 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. Y represents -COO-R 19 , -CON(R 20 )R 19 , or -CH2O-R 19 (R 19 Ha-(C z H 2z O) n R 21 where n is a number between 1 and 100, and z is a number between 2 and 4. R 21 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. <4> The monomer (C) contains a compound represented by the following general formula (5): <1> ~ <3> The water-absorbing agent according to any one of the preceding claims. [ka] (In formula (5), R 22 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. 23 indicates an alkyl group having 12 to 30 carbon atoms. <5> The proportion of the polymer (P) in the nonvolatile content of the water-absorbing agent is 57% by mass or more. <1> ~ <4> The water-absorbing agent according to any one of the preceding claims. <6> Contains a nonionic surfactant, <1> ~ <5> The water-absorbing agent according to any one of the preceding claims. <7> containing a cationic surfactant, <1> ~ <6> The water-absorbing agent according to any one of the preceding claims. <8> the total proportion of the monomer (A) and the monomer (B) in the polymerizable component is 80 mass% or more; <1> ~ <7> The water-absorbing agent according to any one of the preceding claims. <9> When made into an aqueous solution with a non-volatile content of 1% by mass, the light transmittance at 25°C is 40% or more at a wavelength of 670 nm and an optical path length of 10 mm. <1> ~ <8> The water-absorbing agent according to any one of the preceding claims. <10> <1> ~ <9> A textile product to which the water-absorbing agent according to any one of the preceding items is attached. <11> Fiber materials <1> ~ <9> 10. A method for producing a textile product, comprising a step of treating the textile product with a treatment liquid containing the water absorption processing agent according to any one of the preceding claims. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The water-absorbing agent of the present invention can impart water-absorbing properties that are excellent in washing durability. The textile products obtained by applying the water-absorbing agent of the present invention have excellent water-absorbing properties and durability to washing. According to the method for producing textile products including a step of treating with the water-absorbing agent of the present invention, textile products having water absorbency and excellent washing durability can be obtained. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The water-absorbing agent of the present invention contains a polymer (P) of polymerizable components containing a monomer (A), a monomer (B), and optionally a monomer (C), as will be explained in detail below.

[0009] [Monomer (A)] Monomer (A) is contained in the polymerizable component and is a monomer having at least one selected from a primary amino group, a secondary amino group, a tertiary amino group, and a quaternary ammonium group. Monomer (A) is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoints of water absorbency and texture, it is preferable that it has at least one selected from a tertiary amino group and a quaternary ammonium group, and a tertiary amino group is more preferable. The monomer (A) is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of water absorption and texture, it preferably contains at least one selected from the group consisting of a compound represented by the following general formula (1) and a compound represented by the following general formula (2), and it is more preferable to contain a compound represented by the following general formula (1). The monomer (A) may be used alone or in combination of two or more types. The monomer (A) may be either a monofunctional monomer having one ethylenically unsaturated double bond in the molecule or a crosslinking agent-type monomer having multiple ethylenically unsaturated double bonds in the molecule, but from the viewpoint of solution stability of the polymer, it is preferable to include a monofunctional monomer having one ethylenically unsaturated double bond in the molecule.

[0010] [ka]

[0011] In formula (1), R 1 and R 2 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. R 1 , and R 2 In terms of water absorption and texture, a hydrogen atom is preferred. In formula (1), R 3 represents a hydrogen atom or -COOM (M is a hydrogen atom or an alkali metal atom), and a hydrogen atom is preferred from the viewpoint of solution stability. The alkali metal is not particularly limited, but examples include sodium, potassium, and lithium, and sodium and potassium are preferred from the viewpoint of safety and solution stability.

[0012] In formula (1), X is -COO-R 15 -, -CON(R 16 )-R 17 - or -CH2-, and in terms of the texture of textile products treated with water-absorbing agents, -COO-R 15 -or-CON(R 16 )-R 17 - is preferred, and -CON(R 16 )-R 17 - is more preferred. In formula (1), R in X 15 and R 17 each independently represents an alkylene group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or a hydroxyalkylene group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and from the viewpoints of water absorbency and texture, an alkylene group having 2 to 3 carbon atoms or a hydroxyalkylene group having 2 to 3 carbon atoms is preferred, and an alkylene group having 2 to 3 carbon atoms is more preferred. In formula (1), R in X16 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and from the viewpoint of water absorbency, a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 carbon atom is more preferred, and a hydrogen atom is even more preferred.

[0013] In formula (1), when X is -CH2-, R 4 and R 5 are each independently a group represented by the following general formula (3), an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or a hydrogen atom; in terms of water absorbency and texture, a group represented by the following general formula (3), an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or a hydrogen atom is preferred, a group represented by the following general formula (3), an alkyl group having 1 carbon atom, or a hydrogen atom is more preferred, and a group represented by the following general formula (3) or a hydrogen atom is even more preferred. In formula (1), when X is not -CH2-, R 4 and R 5 are each independently an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or a hydrogen atom, and from the viewpoints of water absorbency and texture, an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms is preferred, an alkyl group having 1 to 2 carbon atoms is more preferred, and an alkyl group having 1 carbon atom is even more preferred.

[0014] [ka]

[0015] In formula (2), R 6 and R 7 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. R 6 , and R 7 In terms of water absorption and texture, a hydrogen atom is preferred. In formula (2), R 8 represents a hydrogen atom or -COOM (M is a hydrogen atom or an alkali metal atom), and a hydrogen atom is preferred from the viewpoint of solution stability. The alkali metal is not particularly limited, but examples include sodium, potassium, and lithium, and sodium and potassium are preferred from the viewpoint of safety and solution stability.

[0016] In formula (2), X is -COO-R15 -, -CON(R 16 )-R 17 - or -CH2-, and in terms of the texture of textile products treated with water-absorbing agents, -COO-R 15 -or-CON(R 16 )-R 17 - is preferred, and -CON(R 16 )-R 17 - is more preferred. In formula (2), R 15 and R 17 each independently represents an alkylene group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or a hydroxyalkylene group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and from the viewpoints of water absorbency and texture, an alkylene group having 2 to 3 carbon atoms or a hydroxyalkylene group having 2 to 3 carbon atoms is preferred, and an alkylene group having 2 to 3 carbon atoms is more preferred. In formula (2), R 16 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and from the viewpoint of water absorbency, a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 carbon atom is more preferred, and a hydrogen atom is even more preferred.

[0017] In formula (2), when X is -CH2-, R 9 , R 10 and R 11 are each independently a group represented by the following general formula (3), an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms. In terms of water absorbency and texture, a group represented by the following general formula (3) or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms is preferred, and a group represented by the following general formula (3) or an alkyl group having 1 carbon atom is more preferred. In formula (2), when X is not -CH2-, R 9 , R 10 and R 11 are each independently an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and from the viewpoints of water absorbency and texture, an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms is preferred, an alkyl group having 1 to 2 carbon atoms is more preferred, and an alkyl group having 1 carbon atom is even more preferred.

[0018] In formula (2), Q -is an organic or inorganic anion, and is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include chloride ion, bromide ion, iodide ion, methyl sulfate ion, ethyl sulfate ion, methyl carbonate ion, ethyl carbonate ion, etc., and from the viewpoints of water absorbency and texture, chloride ion and bromide ion are preferred, with chloride ion being more preferred.

[0019] [ka]

[0020] In formula (3), R 12 , R 13 and R 14 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. R 13 , R 14 is preferably a hydrogen atom in terms of water absorbency and texture.

[0021] The monomer (A) is not particularly limited as long as it is a monomer having at least one selected from a primary amino group, a secondary amino group, a tertiary amino group, and a quaternary ammonium group. Specifically, among the compounds represented by the general formula (1), X is -COO-R 15 Examples of the compound represented by formula (I) include N,N-dimethylaminomethyl (meth)acrylate, N,N-dimethylaminoethyl (meth)acrylate, N,N-dimethylaminopropyl (meth)acrylate, N,N-diethylaminomethyl (meth)acrylate, N,N-diethylaminoethyl (meth)acrylate, N,N-diethylaminopropyl (meth)acrylate, and N,N-dimethyl-N-(2-hydroxy-3-(meth)acroyloxypropyl)-amine. Among the compounds represented by general formula (1), X is -CON(R 16 )-R 17 Examples of the compound in this group include N,N-dimethylaminopropyl(meth)acrylic acid amide, N,N-dimethylaminoethyl(meth)acrylic acid amide, and N,N-dimethylaminomethyl(meth)acrylic acid amide. When X in general formula (1) is -CH2-, examples include diallylamine and diallylmethylamine. As the compound represented by general formula (1), in terms of water absorbency and texture, N,N-dimethylaminopropyl (meth)acrylate, N,N-dimethylaminoethyl (meth)acrylate, N,N-dimethylaminomethyl (meth)acrylate, N,N-dimethylaminopropyl (meth)acrylic acid amide, N,N-dimethylaminoethyl (meth)acrylic acid amide, and N,N-dimethylaminomethyl (meth)acrylic acid amide are preferred, N,N-dimethylaminopropyl acrylate, N,N-dimethylaminoethyl acrylate, N,N-dimethylaminomethyl acrylate, N,N-dimethylaminopropyl acrylic acid amide, N,N-dimethylaminoethyl acrylic acid amide, and N,N-dimethylaminomethyl acrylic acid amide are more preferred, and N,N-dimethylaminopropyl acrylic acid amide, N,N-dimethylaminoethyl acrylic acid amide, and N,N-dimethylaminomethyl acrylic acid amide are even more preferred. Here, (meth)acrylic means methacrylic or acrylic.

[0022] The compound represented by general formula (1) can also be used as its acid salt. Examples of the acid salt include neutralized salts of inorganic salts such as hydrochlorides and sulfates, and neutralized salts of various organic acids, and the acid salt may form a salt with any of a primary amino group, a secondary amino group, and a tertiary amino group.

[0023] The compound represented by general formula (2) is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include quaternary salts of the compound represented by general formula (1) with methyl chloride, ethyl chloride, benzyl chloride, methyl bromide, ethyl bromide, benzyl bromide, methyl iodide, ethyl iodide, benzyl iodide, dimethyl sulfate, diethyl sulfate, dimethyl carbonate, and diethyl carbonate. In terms of water absorbency, quaternary salts with methyl chloride, ethyl chloride, benzyl chloride, dimethyl sulfate, and diethyl sulfate are preferred, and quaternary salts with methyl chloride and dimethyl sulfate are more preferred. As the compound represented by general formula (2), in terms of water absorbency and texture, N,N-dimethylaminopropyl (meth)acrylate, N,N-dimethylaminoethyl (meth)acrylate, N,N-dimethylaminomethyl (meth)acrylate, N,N-dimethylaminopropyl(meth)acrylic acid amide, N,N-dimethylaminoethyl(meth)acrylic acid amide, and quaternized salts of N,N-dimethylaminomethyl(meth)acrylic acid amide with methyl chloride are preferred, N,N-dimethylaminopropyl acrylate, N,N-dimethylaminoethyl acrylate, N,N-dimethylaminomethyl acrylate, N,N-dimethylaminopropylacrylic acid amide, N,N-dimethylaminoethylacrylic acid amide, and quaternized salts of N,N-dimethylaminomethylacrylic acid amide with methyl chloride are more preferred, and N,N-dimethylaminopropylacrylic acid amide, N,N-dimethylaminoethylacrylic acid amide, and quaternized salts of N,N-dimethylaminomethylacrylic acid amide with methyl chloride are even more preferred. Here, (meth)acrylic means methacrylic or acrylic.

[0024] The monomer (A) other than the compound represented by the general formula (1) and the compound represented by the general formula (2) is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include N,N-dimethylaminobutyl (meth)acrylate, N,N-diethylaminobutyl (meth)acrylate, and N,N-dimethylaminobutyl (meth)acrylic acid amide.

[0025] [Monomer (B)] Monomer (B) is included in the polymerizable component and is a monomer having an ethylenically unsaturated double bond in the molecule and having a polyoxyalkylene group. The monomer (B) is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of solution stability, it is preferably a compound represented by the following general formula (4). The monomer (B) may be either a monofunctional monomer having one ethylenically unsaturated double bond in the molecule or a crosslinking agent-type monomer having multiple ethylenically unsaturated double bonds in the molecule, but from the viewpoint of solution stability of the polymer, it is preferable that the monomer (B) contains a monofunctional monomer having one ethylenically unsaturated double bond in the molecule.

[0026] The average number of moles of oxyalkylene added in the polyoxyalkylene group of the monomer (B) is not particularly limited, but is preferably 1 to 100 moles in terms of ease of polymerization, water absorbency, and ease of adjusting the light transmittance at a wavelength of 670 nm to 40% or more, as described below. The upper limit of the number of moles is more preferably 80, and even more preferably 50. On the other hand, the lower limit of the number of moles is more preferably 2 or more, and even more preferably 4 or more.

[0027] [ka]

[0028] In formula (4), R 18 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. In formula (4), Y is -COO-R 19 , -CON(R 20 )R 19 , or -CH2O-R 19 In terms of water absorption and texture, -COO-R 19 , or -CH2O-R 19 is preferred, and -COO-R 19 is more preferred. In formula (4), R 19 Ha-(C z H 2z O) n R 21n is a number of 1 or more and 100 or less, and from the viewpoint of ease of polymerization, the upper limit of n is preferably 80, more preferably 60, and even more preferably 50. On the other hand, the lower limit of n is preferably 2, more preferably 4, and even more preferably 9, from the viewpoints of water absorbency and ease of adjusting the light transmittance at a wavelength of 670 nm, which will be described later, to 40% or more. Also, for example, it is preferably 2 or more and 80 or less, and more preferably 4 or more and 60 or less. z is a number of 2 or more and 4 or less, and from the viewpoint of water absorbency, it is preferably 2 or 3, and more preferably 2. R 21 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and is preferably a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 carbon atom in terms of water absorbency.

[0029] The monomer (B) is not particularly limited as long as it is a monomer having a polyoxyalkylene group, and specific examples thereof include monofunctional monomers such as polyethylene glycol mono(meth)acrylate, polypropylene glycol mono(meth)acrylate, poly(ethylene glycol-tetramethylene glycol) monomethacrylate, and methoxypolyethylene glycol mono(meth)acrylate, diethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, triethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, polyethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, dipropylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, tripropylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, polypropylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, polypropylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, and polytetramethylene glycol monomethacrylate. Examples of suitable polyfunctional monomers include polyalkylene glycol di(meth)acrylates such as ethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, polytetramethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, and ethoxylated polypropylene glycol di(meth)acrylate; and polyfunctional monomers such as ethoxylated bisphenol A di(meth)acrylate (EO addition 2-30). In terms of water absorbency and texture, polyethylene glycol mono(meth)acrylate, methoxypolyethylene glycol mono(meth)acrylate, and polypropylene glycol mono(meth)acrylate are preferred, polyethylene glycol mono(meth)acrylate and methoxypolyethylene glycol mono(meth)acrylate are more preferred, and methoxypolyethylene glycol mono(meth)acrylate is particularly preferred. The monomer (B) may be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds.

[0030] [Monomer (C)] Monomer (C) is optionally contained in the polymerizable component and is a monomer having an alkyl group having 12 to 30 carbon atoms (excluding the monomers (A) and (B)). The monomer (C) is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of water absorption and texture, it is preferable that the monomer (C) is a compound represented by the following general formula (5). Monomer (C) may be either a monofunctional monomer having one ethylenically unsaturated double bond in the molecule, or a crosslinking agent-type monomer having multiple ethylenically unsaturated double bonds in the molecule.

[0031] [ka]

[0032] In formula (5), R 22 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. In formula (5), R 23 represents an alkyl group having from 12 to 30 carbon atoms, and from the viewpoints of water absorbency and ease of adjusting the light transmittance at a wavelength of 670 nm, which will be described later, to 40% or more, the upper limit of the carbon number is preferably 24, more preferably 22, and even more preferably 18. On the other hand, the lower limit of the carbon number is preferably 12, more preferably 13, and even more preferably 14. Furthermore, for example, 12 to 24 is preferred, and 12 to 18 is more preferred.

[0033] The monomer (C) is not particularly limited as long as it is a monomer having an alkyl group having from 12 to 30 carbon atoms, and specific examples thereof include (meth)acrylic acid ester monomers such as dodecyl (meth)acrylate, tridecyl (meth)acrylate, tetradecyl (meth)acrylate, pentadecyl (meth)acrylate, hexadecyl (meth)acrylate, heptadecyl (meth)acrylate, octadecyl (meth)acrylate, nonadecyl (meth)acrylate, arachidyl (meth)acrylate, behenyl (meth)acrylate, lignoselenyl (meth)acrylate, serotinyl (meth)acrylate, and melicinyl (meth)acrylate. The monomer (C) may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0034] [Other monomers] The polymerizable component may contain, as other monomers, monomers other than the monomer (A), the monomer (B) and the monomer (C). The other monomers are not particularly limited, but examples thereof include monofunctional monomers having one ethylenically unsaturated double bond in the molecule, such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, (meth)acrylic acid ester monomers (excluding those having an alkyl group having from 12 to 30 carbon atoms), nitrile monomers, styrene monomers, acrylamide monomers, (meth)acrylic acid hydroxyalkyl monomers, vinyl halide monomers, and vinyl ester monomers, as well as crosslinking agent monomers having multiple ethylenically unsaturated double bonds in the molecule. The other monomers may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0035] The (meth)acrylic acid ester monomer (excluding those having an alkyl group having from 12 to 30 carbon atoms) is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include acrylic acid ester monomers such as methyl (meth)acrylate, ethyl (meth)acrylate, propyl (meth)acrylate, butyl (meth)acrylate, pentyl (meth)acrylate, hexyl (meth)acrylate, heptyl (meth)acrylate, octyl (meth)acrylate, nonyl (meth)acrylate, decyl (meth)acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl (meth)acrylate, sec-butyl (meth)acrylate, tert-butyl (meth)acrylate, undecyl (meth)acrylate, phenyl (meth)acrylate, isobornyl (meth)acrylate, and cyclohexyl (meth)acrylate. Here, (meth)acrylic means methacrylic or acrylic.

[0036] The nitrile monomer is not particularly limited, but examples thereof include acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, α-chloroacrylonitrile, α-ethoxyacrylonitrile, and fumaronitrile. The styrene-based monomer is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include styrene, vinyltoluene, α-methylstyrene, p-ethylstyrene, 2,4-dimethylstyrene, pn-butylstyrene, p-tert-butylstyrene, pn-hexylstyrene, pn-octylstyrene, pn-nonylstyrene, pn-decylstyrene, pn-dodecylstyrene, α-methylstyrene, dimethylstyrene, n-methoxystyrene, p-phenylstyrene, p-chlorostyrene, and 3,4-dichlorostyrene.

[0037] The acrylamide monomer is not particularly limited, but examples thereof include acrylamide, methacrylamide, diacetone acrylamide, dimethyl acrylamide, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylamide, isopropyl acrylamide, diethyl acrylamide, acrylamide-t-butylsulfonic acid, etc. Furthermore, an example of a similar monomer is acryloylmorpholine.

[0038] The hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate monomer is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include 2-hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate, 3-hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxybutyl (meth)acrylate, 3-hydroxybutyl (meth)acrylate, 4-hydroxybutyl (meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxypentyl (meth)acrylate, 3-hydroxypentyl (meth)acrylate, 4-hydroxypentyl (meth)acrylate, 5-hydroxypentyl (meth)acrylate, 2,3-dihydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate, 2,3-dihydroxybutyl (meth)acrylate, and 2,4-dihydroxybutyl (meth)acrylate.

[0039] The vinyl halide monomer is not particularly limited, but examples thereof include vinyl chloride, vinyl bromide, and vinyl fluoride. The vinyl ester monomer is not particularly limited, but examples thereof include vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, and vinyl butyrate.

[0040] The crosslinking agent monomer is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include alkanediol di(meth)acrylates such as ethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, 1,4-butanediol di(meth)acrylate, 1,6-hexanediol di(meth)acrylate, 1,9-nonanediol di(meth)acrylate, 1,10-decanediol di(meth)acrylate, neopentyl glycol di(meth)acrylate, 3-methyl-1,5 pentanediol di(meth)acrylate, and 2-methyl-1,8 octanediol di(meth)acrylate; propoxylated bisphenol A di(meth)acrylate, propoxylated ethoxylated bisphenol A di(meth)acrylate, and glycerin di(meth)acrylate. Examples of the crosslinkable monomer include difunctional crosslinkable monomers, trifunctional monomers, and tetrafunctional or higher crosslinkable monomers such as 2-hydroxy-3-acryloyloxypropyl methacrylate, dimethylol-tricyclodecane di(meth)acrylate, divinylbenzene, ethoxylated glycerin triacrylate, 1,3,5-tri(meth)acryloyl hexahydro-1,3,5-triazine, triallyl isocyanurate, pentaerythritol tri(meth)acrylate, trimethylolpropane tri(meth)acrylate, 1,2,4-trivinylbenzene, ditrimethylolpropane tetra(meth)acrylate, pentaerythritol tetra(meth)acrylate, and dipentaerythritol hexa(meth)acrylate.

[0041] [Polymer (P) and its production method] The polymer (P) contained in the water-absorbing agent of the present invention is a polymer of polymerizable components containing monomer (A), monomer (B), and optionally monomer (C). When the proportions of monomer (A), monomer (B), and monomer (C) in the polymerizable components are within a specific range, a water-absorbing agent with excellent washing durability can be obtained. The reason why excellent water absorbency with washing durability is obtained is not particularly limited, but it is believed that the polymerizable component contains the monomer (A) and the monomer (B) in a specific ratio, which increases affinity with fibers and suppresses shedding during washing, resulting in excellent washing durability, and that the ratio of monomer (C) is a specific ratio or less, which increases the hydrophilicity of the polymer (P), resulting in good water absorbency.

[0042] The proportion of the monomer (A) in the polymerizable component is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of improving washing durability, it is preferably 1 to 99% by mass. The upper limit of this proportion is more preferably 95% by mass, even more preferably 90% by mass, and particularly preferably 80% by mass. On the other hand, the lower limit of this proportion is more preferably 5% by mass, even more preferably 10% by mass, and particularly preferably 15% by mass. Also, for example, it is more preferably 5 to 95% by mass, and even more preferably 10 to 90% by mass.

[0043] The proportion of the monomer (B) in the polymerizable component is not particularly limited, but is preferably 1 to 99% by mass in terms of improving water absorption and facilitating adjustment of the light transmittance at a wavelength of 670 nm to 40% or more, as described below. The upper limit of this proportion is more preferably 95% by mass, even more preferably 90% by mass, and particularly preferably 80% by mass. Meanwhile, the lower limit of this proportion is more preferably 5% by mass, even more preferably 10% by mass, and particularly preferably 15% by mass. Furthermore, for example, the proportion is more preferably 5 to 95% by mass, and even more preferably 10 to 90% by mass.

[0044] The proportion of the monomer (C) in the polymerizable components is 12% by mass or less. If the proportion exceeds 12% by mass, the hydrophilicity of the polymerized product decreases, tending to result in poor water absorption. The upper limit of the proportion is preferably 10% by mass, more preferably 8% by mass, and even more preferably 5% by mass, from the viewpoints of water absorption and ease of adjusting the light transmittance at a wavelength of 670 nm, as described below, to 40% or more. On the other hand, the lower limit of the proportion is preferably 0% by mass, more preferably 0.1% by mass, and even more preferably 1% by mass. Also, for example, the proportion is preferably 0 to 12% by mass, more preferably 0.1 to 10% by mass, and even more preferably 1 to 8% by mass.

[0045] The total proportion of the monomer (A) and the monomer (B) in the polymerizable components is 61 to 100% by mass. If this proportion is less than 61% by mass, it becomes difficult to achieve both improved water absorbency and improved adhesion to fibers, and water absorbency after washing tends to be poor. The upper limit of this proportion is more preferably 99.5% by mass, even more preferably 99% by mass, and particularly preferably 98% by mass. On the other hand, the lower limit of this proportion is more preferably 70% by mass, even more preferably 80% by mass, and particularly preferably 90% by mass. Also, for example, 70 to 99% by mass is more preferable, and 80 to 98% by mass is even more preferable.

[0046] The proportion of other monomers in the polymerizable component is not particularly limited, but is preferably 39% by mass or less so as not to impair water absorption and adhesion to fibers. The upper limit of this proportion is more preferably 30% by mass, even more preferably 20% by mass, and particularly preferably 10% by mass. Meanwhile, the lower limit of this proportion is preferably 0% by mass, more preferably 0.5% by mass, even more preferably 1% by mass, and particularly preferably 2% by mass. Furthermore, for example, a proportion of 0.5 to 30% by mass is more preferred, and a proportion of 1 to 20% by mass is even more preferred.

[0047] The polymer (P) of the present invention can be obtained by a known method for producing a polymer, and is not particularly limited, for example, by a copolymerization step of copolymerizing polymerizable components. In some cases, the method may include a step of neutralizing the copolymer with a specific acidic compound.

[0048] The copolymerization step is a step in which polymerizable components are copolymerized. In the copolymerization step, in addition to the polymerizable components and water, a polymerization initiator and the like are used, but the polymerization method is not particularly limited as long as it is a known method. That is, one or more of the methods such as emulsion polymerization, solution polymerization, suspension polymerization, and bulk polymerization can be used. In addition, a solvent, a chain transfer agent, and the like can also be used.

[0049] The solvent used in the polymerization can be used to improve the compatibility of the polymerizable components and to suppress the molecular weight of the resulting copolymer. Examples of the solvent include alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, i-propanol, butanol, pentanol, ethylene glycol, and glycerin.

[0050] The polymerization initiator is not particularly limited, but is preferably a water-soluble polymerization initiator, since it can carry out a stable polymerization reaction.For example, the water-soluble polymerization initiator can be exemplified by persulfates such as ammonium persulfate, potassium persulfate, sodium persulfate, etc.; peroxides such as t-butyl hydroperoxide, t-butylperoxymaleic acid, succinic acid peroxide, etc.; azo compounds such as 2,2'-azobis-(2-amidinopropane dihydrochloride), 2,2'-azobis-[2-methyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)propionamide], 2,2'-azobis-[2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl)propane], 2,2'-azobis-[2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl)propane] dihydrochloride, 4,4'-azobis-(4-cyanovaleric acid), etc. The mass proportion of the polymerization initiator is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.1 to 4 mass %, more preferably 0.3 to 3.5 mass %, and particularly preferably 0.5 to 3 mass %, relative to the polymerizable component.

[0051] The copolymerization step is not particularly limited, but can be carried out at an appropriate polymerization temperature and time by a method such as emulsion polymerization, solution polymerization, suspension polymerization, or bulk polymerization.

[0052] Next, the neutralization step of neutralizing the copolymer obtained in the copolymerization step with an acidic compound will be described. In the neutralization step, an acidic compound is added to a dispersion containing the copolymer in the presence of water to convert the copolymer into its neutralized product. The acidic compound is not particularly limited, and may be an organic acid or an inorganic acid, with organic acids being preferred in terms of solution stability. Examples of organic acids include formic acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, malic acid, adipic acid, tartaric acid, benzoic acid, citric acid, pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid, and salicylic acid. From the viewpoints of safety and ease of handling, acetic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, and malic acid are preferred, and acetic acid and lactic acid are most preferred. Examples of inorganic acids include sulfuric acid, nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, carbonic acid, phosphoric acid, boric acid, metasilicic acid, and silicic anhydride.

[0053] [Water-absorbing agent and its manufacturing method] The water-absorbing agent of the present invention contains a polymer (P). The proportion of polymer (P) in the nonvolatile content of the water-absorbing agent is not particularly limited, but is preferably 57% by mass or more in order to provide sufficient washing durability. The upper limit of this proportion is more preferably 100% by mass, even more preferably 98% by mass, and particularly preferably 95% by mass. On the other hand, the lower limit of this proportion is more preferably 1% by mass, even more preferably 10% by mass, particularly preferably 30% by mass, and very preferably 57% by mass. Also, for example, it is preferably 1 to 100% by mass, more preferably 10 to 98% by mass, and even more preferably 57 to 95% by mass. The non-volatile content in the present invention is determined by the method described in the Examples.

[0054] The water-absorbing agent of the present invention preferably contains a nonionic surfactant in order to improve the water-absorbing property of the processed product. The nonionic surfactant is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include polyalkylene glycols such as oxyethylene-oxypropylene block or random copolymers, terminal alkyl ether compounds of polyalkylene glycols such as oxyethylene-oxypropylene block or random copolymers, polyoxyalkylene alkyl ethers, polyoxyalkylene alkylaryl ethers (polyoxyalkylene nonylphenyl ether, etc.), polyoxyalkylene polycyclic aryl ethers (polyoxyalkylene tristyrylphenyl ether, polyoxyalkylene distyrylphenyl ether, polyoxyalkylene styrylphenyl ether, polyoxyalkylene tristyrylmethylphenyl ether, polyoxyalkylene distyrylmethylphenyl ether, polyoxyalkylene benzyl phenyl ether, polyoxyalkylene cumyl phenyl ether, polyoxyalkylene dicumyl phenyl ether, polyoxyalkylene naphthyl ether, etc.), polyoxyalkylene alkylamine, polyoxyalkylene alkylamide, polyoxyalkylene fatty acid ester, polyoxyalkylene fatty acid diester, polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether fatty acid ester, polyoxyalkylene alkyl aryl ether fatty acid ester, polyoxyalkylene polycyclic aryl ether fatty acid ester, polyoxyalkylene castor oil ether, polyoxyalkylene hydrogenated castor oil ether, polyoxyalkylene polyhydric alcohol ether, etc.

[0055] Examples of alkyl groups constituting nonionic surfactants include methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, hexyl, 2-ethylhexyl, decyl, lauryl, isodecyl, tridecyl, cetyl, stearyl, oleyl, and behenyl groups, and may have an unsaturated bond and may be primary, secondary, or tertiary, and may have a linear or branched structure.

[0056] Examples of alkylaryl groups constituting nonionic surfactants include tolyl, xylyl, cumyl, octylphenyl, 2-ethylhexylphenyl, nonylphenyl, decylphenyl, and methylnaphthyl groups, and there are no limitations on the position or number of the alkyl groups.

[0057] Examples of polycyclic aryl groups constituting the nonionic surfactant include a styrylphenyl group, a styrylmethylphenyl group, a styrylnonylphenyl group, an alkylstyrylphenyl group, a tristyrylphenyl group, a distyrylphenyl group, a distyrylmethylphenyl group, a tristyrylphenyl group, a benzylphenyl group, a dibenzylphenyl group, an alkyldiphenyl group, a diphenyl group, a cumylphenyl group, and a naphthyl group, and there are no limitations on the position or number of the substituent.

[0058] Examples of polyhydric alcohols constituting nonionic surfactants include sorbitol, sorbide, sorbitan, pentaerythritol, trimethylolpropane, glycerin, neopentyl glycol, xylitol, erythritol, alkanolamines, and sugars.

[0059] Examples of polyoxyalkylene groups constituting the nonionic surfactant include polyoxyethylene groups, polyoxypropylene groups, polyoxybutylene groups, etc., with polyoxyethylene groups and polyoxypropylene groups being preferred. When two or more types are used, they may form any of block adducts, alternating adducts, and random adducts. Furthermore, it is preferred that the polyoxyalkylene group essentially contains a polyoxyethylene group. The proportion of polyoxyethylene groups in the polyoxyalkylene groups is preferably 40 mol% or more, more preferably 50 mol%, even more preferably 60 mol% or more, and particularly preferably 80 mol% or more. The number of moles of oxyalkylene groups added is preferably 1 to 300, more preferably 3 to 200, and even more preferably 5 to 100.

[0060] The proportion of nonionic surfactant in the nonvolatile content of the water-absorbing agent is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0 to 99% by mass in order to impart sufficient durable water absorbency to textile products. The upper limit of this proportion is more preferably 90% by mass, even more preferably 70% by mass, and particularly preferably 43% by mass. Meanwhile, the lower limit of this proportion is more preferably 0.1% by mass, even more preferably 1% by mass, and particularly preferably 5% by mass. Furthermore, for example, the proportion is more preferably 0.1 to 90% by mass, and even more preferably 1 to 43% by mass.

[0061] The water-absorbing agent of the present invention preferably contains a cationic surfactant in order to impart a good texture to textile products. The cationic surfactant is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include alkyl quaternary ammonium salts such as lauryl trimethyl ammonium chloride, myristyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, palmityl trimethyl ammonium chloride, stearyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, oleyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, cetyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, behenyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, coconut oil alkyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, beef tallow alkyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, stearyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, coconut oil alkyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, cetyl trimethyl ammonium methosulfate, oleyl dimethyl ethyl ammonium ethosulfate, dioctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, dilauryl dimethyl ammonium chloride, distearyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, and octadecyl diethyl methyl ammonium sulfate; (polyoxyethylene) lauryl amino ether lactate, stearyl amino ether lactate, di(polyoxyethylene) lauryl methyl ammonium chloride, and alkyl quaternary ammonium salts such as octadecyl diethyl methyl ammonium sulfate; (Polyoxyalkylene) alkylamino ether salts such as di(polyoxyethylene) laurylethylammonium ethosulfate, di(polyoxyethylene) hardened beef tallow alkylethylamine ethosulfate, di(polyoxyethylene) laurylmethylammonium dimethyl phosphate, and di(polyoxyethylene) stearylamine lactate; acylamidoalkyl quaternary ammonium salts such as N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-N,N-dimethyl-N-stearoylamidopropylammonium nitrate, lanolin fatty acid amidopropylethyldimethylammonium ethosulfate, and lauroylamidoethylmethyldiethylammonium methosulfate; alkylethenoxy quaternary ammonium salts such as dipalmityl polyethenoxyethyl ammonium chloride and distearyl polyethenoxymethyl ammonium chloride; alkylisoquinolinium salts such as laurylisoquinolinium chloride; benzalkonium salts such as lauryldimethylbenzylammonium chloride and stearyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride;Benzethonium salts such as benzyldimethyl{2-[2-(p-1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutylphenoxy)ethoxy]ethyl}ammonium chloride; pyridinium salts such as cetylpyridinium chloride; imidazolinium salts such as oleylhydroxyethylimidazolinium ethosulfate and laurylhydroxyethylimidazolinium ethosulfate; acyl basic amino acid alkyl ester salts such as N-cocoylarginine ethyl ester pyrrolidone carboxylate and N-lauroyllysine ethyl ester chloride; laurylamine chloride, stearylamine bromine Examples of the amine salts include primary amine salts such as methylamine sulphate, hardened tallow alkylamine chloride, and rosin amine acetate; secondary amine salts such as cetyl methylamine sulphate, lauryl methylamine chloride, dilaurylamine acetate, stearyl ethylamine bromide, lauryl propylamine acetate, dioctylamine chloride, and octadecyl ethylamine hydroxide; dilauryl methylamine sulphate, lauryl diethylamine chloride, lauryl ethyl methylamine bromide, diethanol stearyl amide ethylamine trihydroxyethyl phosphate, and stearyl amide.

[0062] The proportion of cationic surfactant in the nonvolatile content of the water-absorbing agent is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0 to 99% by mass in order to impart sufficient durable water absorbency to textile products. The upper limit of this proportion is more preferably 90% by mass, even more preferably 70% by mass, and particularly preferably 43% by mass. Meanwhile, the lower limit of this proportion is more preferably 0.1% by mass, even more preferably 1% by mass, and particularly preferably 5% by mass. Furthermore, for example, the proportion is more preferably 0.1 to 90% by mass, and even more preferably 1 to 43% by mass.

[0063] The water-absorbing agent of the present invention may contain other components as long as the effects of the present invention are not impaired. Other components include water, oils, anionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, inorganic substances, preservatives, pH adjusters, antifoaming agents, solvents, fatty acids (salts), and the like.

[0064] The solvents include methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, 2-methylpropanol, 1,1-dimethylethanol, 1-pentanol, 2-pentanol, 3-pentanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, 1,1-dimethylpropanol, 3-methyl-2-butanol, 1,2-dimethylpropanol, 1-hexanol, 2-methyl-1-pentanol, 4-methyl-2-pentanol, 2-ethyl-1-butanol, 1-heptanol, 2-heptanol, 3-heptanol, ethylene glycol, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate, and ethylene glycol monobutyl ether acetate. ester, propylene glycol, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol dimethyl ether, dipropylene glycol, dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether, dipropylene glycol monoethyl ether, tripropylene glycol, tripropylene glycol monomethyl ether, polypropylene glycol, hexylene glycol, benzyl alcohol, sorbite, polyalkylene glycol, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, 2-pentanone, 3-pentanone, 2-hexanone, methyl isobutyl ketone, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, methyl propionate, methyl lactate, ethyl lactate, pentyl lactate, diisopropyl ether, dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, pyridine, N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, and N-methylpyrrolidone.

[0065] When the present invention includes water, the water may be any of pure water, distilled water, purified water, soft water, ion-exchanged water, and tap water.

[0066] The water-absorbing agent of the present invention may contain a processing chemical that can be used simultaneously with the water-absorbing finish, as long as it does not impair the effects of the present invention. Examples of processing chemicals include discoloration inhibitors, discoloration inhibitors, insect repellents, mildewproofing agents, anti-mite agents, deodorizing agents, antistatic agents, water and oil repellents, UV absorbers, flame retardants, stain resistant agents, deep color enhancers, smoothing agents, softeners, pigments, fluorescent brighteners, matting agents, penetrating agents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, defoamers, antibacterial agents, deodorizing agents, antiviral agents, antiallergens, heat-shielding agents, hard finishing agents, synthetic resins, sewability improvers, crosslinking agents, and solvents. A plurality of these chemicals may be contained. Known chemicals can be used for each chemical.

[0067] The method for producing the water-absorbing agent of the present invention is not particularly limited, and any known production method can be selected. For example, the water-absorbing agent can be obtained by mixing and stirring the polymer (P) with water and other components.

[0068] The nonvolatile content of the water-absorbing agent of the present invention is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.1 to 80% by mass from the viewpoints of solution stability and economy. The upper limit of the concentration is more preferably 70% by mass, even more preferably 60% by mass, and particularly preferably 50% by mass. Meanwhile, the lower limit of the concentration is more preferably 1% by mass, even more preferably 5% by mass, and particularly preferably 10% by mass. Furthermore, for example, the concentration is more preferably 1 to 70% by mass, and even more preferably 5 to 60% by mass. The nonvolatile content and nonvolatile content concentration in the present invention are those determined by the method described in the Examples.

[0069] When the water-absorbing agent of the present invention is prepared as an aqueous solution with a nonvolatile content of 1% by mass, the light transmittance at 25°C with an optical path length of 10 mm and a wavelength of 670 nm is not particularly limited, but is preferably 40% or more in order to impart sufficient durable water absorbency to textile products. The upper limit of the transmittance is more preferably 100%, even more preferably 98%, and particularly preferably 95%. Meanwhile, the lower limit of the transmittance is more preferably 50%, even more preferably 60%, and particularly preferably 70%. Furthermore, for example, 40 to 100% is more preferable, and 50 to 98% is even more preferable. The light transmittance is measured by the method described in the Examples.

[0070] The pH of the water-absorbing agent is not particularly limited, but is preferably 3 to 11, more preferably 4 to 10, from the viewpoint of storage stability of the water-absorbing agent.

[0071] [Textile products and manufacturing methods for textile products] The textile product of the present invention is a textile material to which the water-absorbing agent of the present invention is attached, and has excellent water-absorbing properties with excellent washing durability. The method for producing a textile product of the present invention includes step (I) of applying a treatment liquid containing the water-absorbing agent of the present invention to a textile material. That is, the production method of the present invention includes a step of applying the water-absorbing agent to the textile material in post-processing. Post-processing refers to processing performed after the textile material has been produced. This production method can produce a textile product with excellent water absorption and washing durability.

[0072] Textile materials and textile products may be either natural or chemical fibers. Examples of natural fibers include plant fibers such as cotton, hemp, flax, palm, and rush; animal fibers such as wool, goat hair, mohair, cashmere, camel hair, and silk; and mineral fibers such as asbestos. Examples of chemical fibers include inorganic fibers such as rock fiber, metal fibers, graphite, silica, and titanates; regenerated cellulose fibers such as rayon, cupra, viscose, polynosic, and purified cellulose fibers; melt-spun cellulose fibers; protein fibers such as milk protein and soy protein; regenerated and semi-synthetic fibers such as regenerated silk and alginate fiber; and synthetic fibers such as polyamide fibers, polyester fibers, cationic dyeable polyester fibers, polyvinyl fibers, polyacrylic alcohol fibers, polyurethane fibers, acrylic fibers, polyethylene fibers, polyvinylidene fibers, and polystyrene fibers. These fibers may also be combined (by blending, interweaving, interknitting, etc.) to form composites of two or more types of fibers.

[0073] Examples of the forms of fiber materials and fiber products include woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, fabrics, threads, nonwoven fabrics, etc. Examples of uses of fiber materials include objects to which antistatic properties and washing resistance are to be imparted, such as underwear, work clothes, sportswear, bedding, covers, etc.

[0074] The method for applying the water-absorbing agent to the textile material is not particularly limited, and any known method can be used. Among these, at least one method selected from the exhaust method, pad-drying method, spraying method, and coating method is preferred, with the pad-drying method being more preferred, in that the water-absorbing agent can be reliably fixed to the textile material.

[0075] Known methods can be used for the exhaustion method, pad-drying method, spraying method, and coating method. The exhaustion method uses a dilute solution of chemicals and selectively adsorbs the chemicals onto the fibers by setting conditions such as temperature, immersion time, and number of liquid circulations. This is then typically followed by water washing, centrifugal dehydration, and drying. The pad-drying method involves immersing the fibers in a chemical solution for a short period of time and immediately squeezing them with a dehydration mangle or the like to adhere the chemicals. This is then followed by drying and, if necessary, curing. The spraying method involves placing the fibers on a conveyor moving at a constant speed and spraying a fixed amount of chemical solution onto them to adhere the chemicals. This is then followed by drying and, if necessary, curing. The coating method is usually followed by applying the chemical solution to one side with a mangle to adhere the chemicals. The excess chemicals are then scraped off with a doctor blade, dried, and, if necessary, cured. The temperature at which the water-absorbing agent of the present invention is applied to the textile material is preferably 5 to 40°C.

[0076] The manufacturing method of the present invention may include a step in which a water-absorbing agent can be added simultaneously, provided that the effects of the present invention are not impaired. Examples of steps that can be added simultaneously include adding a discoloration inhibitor, discoloration inhibitor, insect repellent, mildewproofing agent, anti-mite agent, deodorizer, antistatic agent, water and oil repellent, UV absorber, flame retardant, stain resistant agent, deep color enhancer, smoothing agent, softener, pigment, fluorescent brightener, matting agent, penetrating agent, wetting agent, emulsifier, defoamer, hydrophilic agent, antibacterial agent, deodorizer, antiviral agent, antiallergen, heat-shielding agent, hard finishing agent, synthetic resin, sewability improver, crosslinking agent, or solvent. Multiple of these steps can be performed simultaneously. Known agents can be used for each agent. [Example]

[0077] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. In the examples, "parts" and "%" refer to "parts by mass" and "% by mass" unless otherwise specified.

[0078] (1) Preparation of nonvolatile samples and measurement of nonvolatile concentration A certain amount (usually 1.0 to 2.0 g) of sample (weight: M1) was measured for the weight concentration of nonvolatile matter using an infrared moisture meter (Kett Scientific Research Institute, loss on drying method, FD230). The weight concentration of nonvolatile matter can be calculated automatically using an infrared moisture meter, and the principle of measurement is to calculate the weight concentration of nonvolatile matter using the above M1 and the weight (M2) of the sample when it has reached a constant weight after being dried using the infrared moisture meter, using the following formula: M2 is the weight of nonvolatile matter. The non-volatile content in the present invention refers to the bone-dry components when the processing agent is heat-treated at 105°C to remove the solvent and the like, and reaches a constant weight. Non-volatile content (%) = (M2 / M1) x 100

[0079] (2) Measurement of light transmittance The solution was diluted with ion-exchanged water to a nonvolatile concentration of 1% by mass, and then the light transmittance was measured at 25°C with an optical path length of 10 mm and a wavelength of 670 nm using an ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer (JASCO Corporation, V-750).

[0080] The present invention will be described in more detail below by showing examples of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. The substances used in Tables 1 to 4 are shown below. MPEG-400: methoxypolyethylene glycol methacrylate with an average degree of polymerization of ethylene glycol of 9 MPEG-1000: methoxypolyethylene glycol methacrylate with an average degree of polymerization of ethylene glycol of 23 MPEGA-1000: methoxypolyethylene glycol acrylate with an average degree of polymerization of ethylene glycol of 23 PEGM-350: Polyethylene glycol methacrylate with an average degree of polymerization of ethylene glycol of 8 PEGDM-1000: Polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate with an average degree of polymerization of ethylene glycol of 23 POE(15) lauryl ether: Lauryl ether with an average number of oxyethylene groups added of 15 moles POE(12) triisodecyl ether: Triisodecyl ether with an average of 12 moles of oxyethylene groups EO-PO-EO block copolymer (weight average molecular weight 10,000): polyethylene glycol / polypropylene glycol = 20 / 80 (weight ratio), polyethylene glycol-polypropylene glycol-polyethylene glycol type block copolymer with a molecular weight of 10,000 [Production example of polymer (P)] (Manufacturing example P-1) A four-neck flask (1000 mL capacity) equipped with a thermometer, stirrer, condenser, and nitrogen gas inlet was charged with polymerizable components, ion-exchanged water, solvent, and emulsifier (types and amounts shown in Table 1), and the temperature was raised to 80°C while blowing in nitrogen gas. Next, a polymerization initiator (type and amount shown in Table 1) was added to the four-neck flask with stirring, and the polymerizable components were added dropwise from the dropping funnel to the four-neck flask over 1 hour at 80°C. After the dropwise addition was completed, copolymerization was carried out for 2 hours. After copolymerization, the reaction solution was cooled to room temperature and diluted with ion-exchanged water so that the nonvolatile concentration was 25% by weight, thereby obtaining an aqueous dispersion of polymer (P) containing 25% by weight of polymer P-1 as polymer (P).

[0081] (Production examples P-2~P-12, Production examples p-1~p-4) Copolymerization was carried out in the same manner as in Production Example P-1 using the raw materials listed in Tables 1 and 2. For P-2, P-7, P-8, and P-1, copolymerization was carried out for 2 hours, and then neutralization was carried out by adding an acidic compound (the type and amount of which are shown in Tables 1 and 2). The reaction mixture was then cooled to room temperature and diluted with ion-exchanged water to a non-volatile concentration of 25% by weight, yielding an aqueous dispersion of a polymer containing 25% by weight of P-2 to P-12 and p-1 to p-4 as copolymer (P).

[0082] (Examples 1-1 to 1-14 and Comparative Examples 1-2 to 1-5) The components were blended so as to achieve the nonvolatile content concentrations of the raw materials shown in Tables 3 and 4, to obtain the water-absorbing agents of Examples 1-1 to 1-14 and Comparative Examples 1-2 to 1-5.

[0083] (Evaluation method) The water-absorbing agent obtained by the above method and water were mixed and stirred to prepare a treatment solution with a nonvolatile concentration of 0.6% by weight. A polyester fabric (polyester tropical) was immersed in this treatment solution and treated at a squeeze rate of 65% by weight, followed by heat treatment at 130°C for 2 minutes to obtain a treated fabric (test fabric). The water absorbency and feel of the treated fabric (test fabric) obtained were evaluated before washing and after five washes. The results are shown in Table 4. The washing method, water absorbency, and feel tests were carried out using the following methods. Furthermore, as Comparative Example 1-1, an untreated polyester fabric was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1. The evaluation results are shown in Tables 3 and 4.

[0084] [Texture] The feel of the obtained test samples was evaluated by touch. The feel was evaluated based on the following criteria and categorized into the following three levels. Good and Fair were considered to be acceptable. <Verdict> ○: Flexible. △: Equivalent to unprocessed polyester fabric (slightly rough and hard). ×: Rough and hard

[0085] [Water absorption] The test cloth obtained above was conditioned in a constant temperature and humidity chamber at 20°C and 45% RH for 2 hours, and then the water absorbency was measured according to the JIS L-1907 dropping method.

[0086] [Washing Instructions] The test cloth was washed according to JIS-L-0217 103 method. The detergent used was Attack (manufactured by Kao Corporation), and the detergent concentration in the washing liquid was 1.0 g / L. Washing was repeated five times under the above conditions.

[0087] [Evaluation of washing durability] The water absorbency of the washed items was measured in the same manner as above. If the water absorbency was within 3 seconds, the water absorbency was good, and if the above conditions were met both before and after washing, the washing durability was good and was judged as ○. Otherwise, the judgment was × and the washing durability was poor.

[0088] [Table 1]

[0089] [Table 2]

[0090] [Table 3]

[0091] [Table 4]

[0092] As can be seen from Tables 1 to 4, Examples 1-1 to 1-14 were water-absorbing finishing agents of the present invention, and therefore were able to impart water-absorbing properties with excellent washing durability to textile products. On the other hand, Comparative Examples 1-1 to 1-5 were not water-absorbent finishing agents of the present invention, and therefore could not solve the problem of the present invention.

Claims

1. A water-absorbing agent containing a polymer (P) of polymerizable components containing the following monomer (A), the following monomer (B), and optionally the following monomer (C), wherein the total proportion of the monomer (A) and the monomer (B) in the polymerizable components is 61 to 100 mass %, and the proportion of the monomer (C) in the polymerizable components is 12 mass % or less. Monomer (A): A monomer having at least one group selected from a primary amino group, a secondary amino group, a tertiary amino group, and a quaternary ammonium group Monomer (B): Monomer having a polyoxyalkylene group Monomer (C): A monomer having an alkyl group having 12 to 30 carbon atoms (excluding the monomer (A) and the monomer (B)).

2. 2. The water-absorbing agent according to claim 1, wherein the monomer (A) comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a compound represented by the following general formula (1) and a compound represented by the following general formula (2): 【Chemistry 1】 (In formula (1), R １ and R ２ R each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. ３ represents a hydrogen atom or -COOM (M is a hydrogen atom or an alkali metal atom); X represents -COO-R １５ -, -CON(R １６ )-R １７ - or -CH ２ - (R １５ and R １７ each independently represents an alkylene group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or a hydroxyalkylene group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms; R １６ represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms.) However, when X is -CH ２ -, then R ４ and R ５ are each independently a group represented by the following general formula (3), an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or a hydrogen atom, and X is —CH ２ If not -, R ４ and R ５ are each independently an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or a hydrogen atom. 【Chemistry 2】 (In formula (2), R ６ and R ７ R each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. ８ represents a hydrogen atom or -COOM (M is a hydrogen atom or an alkali metal atom); X represents -COO-R １５ -, -CON(R １６ )-R １７ - or -CH ２ - (R １５ and R １７ each independently represents an alkylene group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or a hydroxyalkylene group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms; R １６ represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms.) However, when X is -CH ２ -, then R ９ , R １０ and R １１ are each independently a group represented by the following general formula (3), an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and X is —CH ２ If not -, R ９ , R １０ and R １１ are each independently an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms. － is an organic or inorganic anion. 【Transformation 3】 (In formula (3), R １２ , R １３ and R １４ each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.

3. 2. The water-absorbing agent according to claim 1, wherein the monomer (B) comprises a compound represented by the following general formula (4): 【Chemistry 4】 (In formula (4), R １8 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. Y represents —COO—R １９ , -CON(R ２０ ) R １９ , or -CH ２ O-R １９ (R １９ Ha-(C ｚ H ２ｚ O) ｎ R ２１ where n is a number between 1 and 100, and z is a number between 2 and 4. ２１ is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

4. 2. The water-absorbing agent according to claim 1, wherein the monomer (C) comprises a compound represented by the following general formula (5): 【Transformation 5】 (In formula (5), R ２２ represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. ２３ represents an alkyl group having 12 to 30 carbon atoms.

5. 2. The water-absorbing agent according to claim 1, wherein the polymer (P) accounts for 57% by mass or more of the non-volatile content of the water-absorbing agent.

6. The water-absorbing agent according to claim 1, which contains a nonionic surfactant.

7. The water-absorbing agent according to claim 1, which contains a cationic surfactant.

8. 2. The water-absorbing agent according to claim 1, wherein the total proportion of the monomer (A) and the monomer (B) in the polymerizable component is 80 mass % or more.

9. 2. The water-absorbing agent according to claim 1, wherein the water-absorbing agent has a light transmittance of 40% or more at a wavelength of 670 nm and an optical path length of 10 mm at 25°C when the agent is in an aqueous solution with a nonvolatile content of 1% by mass.

10. A textile product to which the water-absorbing agent according to any one of claims 1 to 9 is attached.

11. A method for producing a textile product, comprising a step of treating a textile material with a treatment liquid containing the water-absorbing agent according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

Images