Antibacterial treatment method for fiber, method for producing antibacterial fiber and antibacterial fiber

Abstract

Disclosed are a method for the antimicrobial treatment of a fiber and a process for the production of an antimicrobial fiber, each of which is characterized by immersing the fiber in an aqueous solution containing a noble metal ion or a noble metal complex and irradiating the aqueous solution with γ-ray or electron beam. In the method for the antimicrobial treatment of a fiber and the process for the production of an antimicrobial fiber, the noble metal constituting the noble metal ion or the noble metal complex is at least one noble metal selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, platinum, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium, iridium and rhenium. Also disclosed is an antimicrobial fiber produced by the process.

1 . An antibacterial treatment method for fiber in which fiber is immersed in an aqueous solution containing a noble metal ion or a noble metal complex, and the aqueous solution is irradiated with γ rays or electron rays so as to cause deposition of noble metal nanoparticles in the vicinity of fiber surface and to make the deposited noble metal nanoparticles to adhere to the surface of the fiber. 
     
     
         2 . The antibacterial treatment method for fiber according to  claim 1  in which a noble metal used for making up the noble metal ion or the noble metal complex is at least one noble metal selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, platinum, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium, iridium and rhenium. 
     
     
         3 . The antibacterial treatment method for fiber according to  claim 1  or  2  in which the concentration of the noble metal ion or the noble metal complex in the aqueous solution containing the noble metal ion or the noble metal complex is 1 μM through 1M. 
     
     
         4 . The antibacterial treatment method for fiber according to  claim 1  or  2  in which the noble metal is silver and the concentration of a silver ion or a silver complex in the aqueous solution is 0.005 through 10 mM. 
     
     
         5 . The antibacterial treatment method for fiber according to  claim 4  in which the noble metal is silver and the concentration of a silver ion or a silver complex in the aqueous solution is 0.01 through 10 mM. 
     
     
         6 . The antibacterial treatment method for fiber according to  claim 1  in which the γ rays or the electron rays are irradiated under a condition of an absorbed dose of 1 J/kg or more. 
     
     
         7 . The antibacterial treatment method for fiber according to  claim 1  in which the noble metal is silver and the irradiation with the γ rays or the electron rays is performed under a condition of an absorbed dose of 10 through 50000 J/kg. 
     
     
         8 . The antibacterial treatment method for fiber according to  claim 1  in which the aqueous solution containing the noble metal ion or the noble metal complex further comprises at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a water-soluble polymer, a surface active agent and an organic solvent. 
     
     
         9 . A method for producing antibacterial fiber comprising the antibacterial treatment method for fiber according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . A method for producing antibacterial fiber in which fiber is immersed in an aqueous solution containing a noble metal ion or a noble metal complex and the aqueous solution is irradiated with γ rays or electron rays so as to cause deposition of noble metal nanoparticles in the vicinity of fiber surface and to make the deposited noble metal nanoparticles to adhere to the surface of the fiber. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled)