Process for Preparing Antimicrobial Elastic Fiber

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a process for preparing an antimicrobial elastic fiber. The process comprises: mixing a glass compound, as an antimicrobial agent, containing ZnO, SiO 2 , and an alkali metal oxide, and having an average particle size of 0.1 μm to 5 μm, with a dispersant; sand grinding or milling the mixture; and adding the ground or milled mixture to a solution of a segmented polyurethane polymer to prepare an elastic yarn. The process can provide advantageous effects that spinnability is improved and the color of yarn remains unchanged.

1 . A process for preparing an antimicrobial elastic fiber, comprising: 
 mixing a glass compound, as an antimicrobial agent, containing 50˜78 mole % of ZnO, 21˜49 mole % of SiO 2  and 1˜10 mole % of an alkali metal oxide, and having an average particle size of 0.1 μm to 5 μm, with a dispersant in a solvent;    sand grinding or milling the mixture; and    adding the ground or milled mixture to a solution of a segmented polyurethane polymer to prepare an elastic yarn.    
   
   
       2 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the glass compound further comprises 0.1˜19 mole % of at least one material selected from the group consisting of P 2 O 5 , Al 2 O 3 , TiO 2 , and ZrO 2 .  
   
   
       3 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial agent is non-porous.  
   
   
       4 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the dispersant is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of fatty acids, fatty acid salts, fatty acid esters, and aliphatic alcohols.  
   
   
       5 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the solvent is at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of dimethylacetamide, dimethylformamide, and dimethylsulfoxide.  
   
   
       6 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial agent is added in an amount of 0.2 to 5% by weight, relative to the weight of the elastic fiber.  
   
   
       7 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the dispersant and the antimicrobial agent are used in a weight ratio between 1:10 and 1:1 during the mixing and the milling or sand grinding.  
   
   
       8 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial agent has a secondary agglomerated particle size of 15 μm or less, after the mixing and the milling or sand grinding and prior to the addition to the solution of a segmented polyurethane polymer.  
   
   
       9 . An antimicrobial elastic fiber prepared by a process comprising: 
 mixing a glass compound, as an antimicrobial agent, containing 50˜78 mole % of ZnO, 21˜49 mole % of SiO 2  and 1˜10 mole % of an alkali metal oxide, and having an average particle size of 0.1 μm to 5 μm, with a dispersant in a solvent;    sand grinding or milling the mixture; and    adding the ground or milled mixture to a solution of a segmented polyurethane polymer to prepare an elastic yarn.    
   
   
       10 . The antimicrobial elastic fiber, according to  claim 9 , wherein, in the preparation process, the glass compound further comprises 0.1˜19 mole % of at least one material selected from the group consisting of P 2 O 5 , Al 2 O 3 , TiO 2 , and ZrO 2 .  
   
   
       11 . The antimicrobial elastic fiber, according to  claim 9 , wherein, in the preparation process, the antimicrobial agent is non-porous.  
   
   
       12 . The antimicrobial elastic fiber, according to  claim 9 , wherein, in the preparation process, the dispersant is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of fatty acids, fatty acid salts, fatty acid esters, and aliphatic alcohols.  
   
   
       13 . The antimicrobial elastic fiber, according to  claim 9 , wherein, in the preparation process, the solvent is at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of dimethylacetamide, dimethylformamide, and dimethylsulfoxide.  
   
   
       14 . The antimicrobial elastic fiber, according to  claim 9 , wherein, in the preparation process, the antimicrobial agent is added in an amount of 0.2 to 5% by weight, relative to the weight of the elastic fiber.  
   
   
       15 . The antimicrobial elastic fiber, according to  claim 9 , wherein, in the preparation process, the dispersant and the antimicrobial agent are used in a weight ratio between 1:10 and 1:1 during the mixing and the milling or sand grinding.  
   
   
       16 . The antimicrobial elastic fiber, according to  claim 9 , wherein, in the preparation process, the antimicrobial agent has a secondary agglomerated particle size of 15 μm or less, after the mixing and the milling or sand grinding and prior to the addition to the solution of a segmented polyurethane polymer.