JP7467289B2 - Water-related interior materials - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to interior materials for use around water.

Conventionally, interior materials for use around water are generally made of vinyl chloride resins, which are inexpensive and have excellent workability, durability, and strength. Furthermore, since the interior materials for use around water usually constitute the parts that users touch directly and the parts that are visible to users, it is preferable that they have excellent antibacterial properties and design.

For example, Patent Document 1 proposes an interior material for use around water that includes a base layer and a top film that covers the base layer, the top film containing a vinyl chloride resin, an antibacterial agent, and an ultraviolet absorbing agent. In this interior material for use around water, the top film contains an antibacterial agent, which imparts antibacterial properties to the surface, and the top film contains an ultraviolet absorbing agent, which inhibits discoloration of the surface.

Patent Document 1 also describes that various antibacterial agents can be used as the antibacterial agent. Among these, imidazole-based antibacterial agents are suitable for wet area components because of their excellent antibacterial effect and safety.

JP 2019-130802 A

Incidentally, in order to sterilize the surfaces of the above-mentioned wet area interior materials, chlorine-based disinfectants such as sodium hypochlorite are sometimes used.
However, the inventors have found that when the surface of a water-related interior material contains a vinyl chloride resin and methyl-2-benzimidazole carbamate, an imidazole antibacterial agent, the surface is significantly discolored when the chlorine-based disinfectant comes into contact with the surface. This discoloration may impair the appearance of the water-related interior material, and in particular, in the case of water-related interior materials with excellent design, the discoloration is easily visible and the design may be impaired.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide an interior material for use around water that uses an imidazole antibacterial agent while suppressing discoloration caused by chlorine-based disinfectants such as sodium hypochlorite.

The water-related interior material according to the present invention is
A surface layer containing a vinyl chloride resin;
a coating layer that covers at least a portion of the surface layer and does not contain the vinyl chloride resin and has an exposed surface;
The surface layer does not contain 0.2 parts by mass or more of methyl-2-benzimidazole carbamate, and the coating layer contains an imidazole-based antibacterial agent.

According to this configuration, the base layer containing vinyl chloride resin does not contain 0.2 parts by mass or more of methyl-2-benzimidazole carbamate, which is an imidazole antibacterial agent, and discoloration caused by a chlorine-based disinfectant such as sodium hypochlorite, which is caused by the combination of vinyl chloride resin and methyl-2-benzimidazole carbamate, is suppressed. In addition, imidazole antibacterial agents including methyl-2-benzimidazole carbamate can be used in the coating layer that does not contain vinyl chloride resin.

In addition, the water-related interior material according to the present invention preferably comprises:
The surface layer contains at least one of a triazole-based antibacterial agent, an isothiazolin-based antibacterial agent, a pyridine-based antibacterial agent, and a silver-based antibacterial agent.

With this configuration, the surface layer contains at least one of a triazole-based antibacterial agent, an isothiazolin-based antibacterial agent, a pyridine-based antibacterial agent, and a silver-based antibacterial agent, resulting in superior antibacterial properties.

In addition, the water-related interior material according to the present invention preferably comprises:
The coating layer contains an ionizing radiation curable resin.

With this configuration, the coating layer contains an ionizing radiation curable resin that has relatively good transparency, so the coating layer is less noticeable on the surface, resulting in a product with excellent design, as well as dirt resistance and durability.

In addition, the water-related interior material according to the present invention preferably comprises:
A portion of the surface layer is exposed without being covered by the coating layer.

With this configuration, a portion of the surface layer is exposed and not covered by the coating layer, making it easier for the antibacterial agent contained in the surface layer to exhibit antibacterial properties from the beginning of use.

In addition, the water-related interior material according to the present invention preferably comprises:
The surface layer has concave and convex portions that form unevenness on the surface, and the concave portions are exposed without being covered by the coating layer.

It is preferable that the interior material for use around water is configured so that water on the surface is easily dried so that bacteria and mold do not easily grow. In this regard, according to the above configuration, by forming unevenness on the surface, the recessed parts of the surface form water passages, so that water is less likely to accumulate and is easily dried on the entire surface. On the other hand, since the recessed parts form water passages, they may become places where water is relatively likely to remain and are difficult to dry. In response to this, the imidazole-based antibacterial agent contained in the coating layer that covers the protrusions is dissolved into the water remaining in the recessed parts, and the imidazole-based antibacterial agent and other antibacterial agents dissolved from the surface layer are combined in the recessed parts, so that a relatively high antibacterial property can be exhibited.
Furthermore, when the water-related interior material is laid in a place where the soles of people's feet may come into contact, such as a bathroom floor material, the coating layer covering the convex parts is likely to come into direct contact with the soles of people's feet, which may lead to the occurrence of mold, etc. In contrast, the imidazole-based antibacterial agent contained in the coating layer has relatively high antibacterial properties against fungi such as tinea fungus that may be present on the soles of people's feet, and therefore the occurrence of mold as described above can be suppressed.

As described above, the present invention can provide an interior material for use around water that uses an imidazole antibacterial agent while suppressing discoloration caused by chlorine-based disinfectants such as sodium hypochlorite.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an interior material for use around water according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a water-related interior material having a surface layer having a plurality of layers. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an interior material for use around a water area having an uneven surface. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a modified example of a wet area interior material having an uneven surface. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another modified example of a wet area interior material having an uneven surface.

Below, we will explain the interior material for use around water according to an embodiment of the present invention, with reference to Figures 1 to 5.

As shown in Figures 1 to 5, a water-related interior material 1 according to one embodiment includes a base layer 11, which is a main layer, a sheet-like surface layer 12 laminated on the base layer 11, and a coating layer 13 that covers at least a portion of the surface layer 12 and has an exposed surface 131, the surface layer 12 containing a vinyl chloride resin and an antibacterial agent, and the coating layer 13 does not contain the vinyl chloride resin and contains an imidazole antibacterial agent. It is also preferable that the surface layer 12 does not contain 0.2 parts by mass or more of methyl-2-benzimidazole carbamate (also called carbendazim, hereinafter also called MBC) as the antibacterial agent.

It is preferable that the water-related interior material 1 has flexibility to improve its workability. Having flexibility means, for example, that the water-related interior material 1 has flexibility that allows it to be wound around a cylindrical core having a diameter of 10 cm.

The thickness of the bathroom interior material 1 is usually 0.5 mm to 10 mm, preferably 1 mm to 7 mm, and more preferably 2 mm to 5 mm.

The material of the base layer 11 is not particularly limited, but is preferably made of resin. Examples of resins constituting the base layer 11 include vinyl chloride resins, polyolefin resins, vinyl acetate resins such as ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, acrylic resins such as ethylene-methacrylate resins, amide resins, and polyester resins. Among these, vinyl chloride resins are preferred, as they facilitate bonding between the base layer 11 and the surface layer 12 containing vinyl chloride resin.

The base layer 11 may be formed of either a foamed resin or a non-foamed resin, but is preferably formed of a foamed resin because it has excellent pain prevention and anti-slip properties and improves flexibility when the water-related interior material 1 is used as a bathroom floor material. The base layer 11 may have a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure. The multi-layer structure is, for example, composed of an upper foamed layer, a reinforcing layer, and a lower foamed layer, in that order from the surface side. The upper foamed layer and the lower foamed layer can be formed using the resin that constitutes the base layer 11 described above, and the vinyl chloride resin is preferably used.
The reinforcing layer is not particularly limited, but for example, nonwoven fabric, woven fabric, etc. are preferably used. The material of the fiber constituting the nonwoven fabric or woven fabric is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include synthetic resin fibers such as polyester and polyolefin; inorganic fibers such as glass and carbon; and natural fibers. In particular, since the dimensional change due to temperature is small, it is preferable to use a nonwoven fabric or woven fabric containing glass fibers as the reinforcing layer. In addition, it is more preferable to use a nonwoven fabric from the viewpoints of dimensional stability, suppression of surface transfer, and concealment of unevenness on the construction surface. In particular, glass mats are excellent in dimensional stability, suppression of surface transfer, and concealment of unevenness on the construction surface, and further, when a resin material such as a paste vinyl chloride resin is impregnated into it, the resin is integrally bonded to the periphery of the glass fibers to form a strong layer, so that they can be particularly preferably used.
The thickness of the nonwoven fabric or woven fabric constituting the reinforcing layer is not particularly limited, but is, for example, 0.1 mm to 1 mm, and the basis weight is 10 g/m ² to 100 g/m ² .

The thickness of the base layer 11 is usually 0.45 mm to 9 mm, preferably 0.95 mm to 6 mm, and more preferably 1.5 mm to 4.5 mm.

The surface layer 12 may have its entire surface 121 covered by the coating layer 13 (FIGS. 1 and 2). In this case, the water-related interior material 1 has a surface 14 formed by the surface 131 of the coating layer 13.

The surface layer 12 may also have a portion of its surface 121 covered by the coating layer 13 (Figs. 3 to 5). In this case, the surface layer 12 has an exposed surface that is not covered by the coating layer 13, and a covered surface that is covered by the coating layer 13. As a result, the bathroom interior material 1 has a surface 14 that is composed of the exposed surface of the surface layer 12 and the surface 131 of the coating layer 13.

The interior material 1 for use around water is usually laid so that the surface 14 is exposed. Therefore, the surface 14 is the part that is visible to the user and can be touched by the user. For this reason, it is important that the surface layer 12 and/or the coating layer 13 that constitute the surface 14 of the interior material 1 for use around water are configured so that discoloration is suppressed and antibacterial properties are imparted. Note that although antibacterial properties and antifungal properties are sometimes defined separately, in this specification, antibacterial properties refer to a combination of antibacterial and antifungal properties, and include properties that inhibit the growth and proliferation of bacteria as well as the growth and proliferation of mold and algae.

Specifically, the surface layer 12 contains an antibacterial agent other than methyl-2-benzimidazole carbamate (MBC) and the vinyl chloride resin. That is, it is important that the surface layer 12 containing the vinyl chloride resin does not contain MBC. Also, the coating layer 13 contains the imidazole antibacterial agent and a resin other than the vinyl chloride resin. That is, it is important that the coating layer 13 not containing the vinyl chloride resin contains the imidazole antibacterial agent, and it is preferable that the imidazole antibacterial agent contains MBC. With this configuration, discoloration of the surface 14 caused by a chlorine-based disinfectant such as sodium hypochlorite due to the combination of the vinyl chloride resin and MBC is suppressed, and the antibacterial properties of the imidazole antibacterial agent are imparted to the surface 14. In other words, in order to suppress discoloration of the surface 14, the surface layer 12 containing the vinyl chloride resin cannot contain MBC, but instead the coating layer 13 not containing the vinyl chloride resin is given antibacterial properties to the surface 14 so as to complement the antibacterial properties of the imidazole antibacterial agent.

The surface layer 12 not containing MBC means that if the MBC content is less than 0.4 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of resin contained in the surface layer 12, it is considered to be effective in suppressing the discoloration, but it is preferable that the MBC content is 0.2 parts by mass or less, and it is more preferable that the MBC content is 0 parts by mass. This reliably suppresses discoloration of the surface 14 caused by the chlorine-based disinfectant.

In addition, the surface layer 12 preferably does not contain 2-(4-thiazolyl)-benzimidazole (also called thiabendazole, hereinafter also referred to as TBZ), which is an imidazole antibacterial agent, and more specifically, it is preferable that the surface layer 12 does not contain 0.4 parts by mass or more of TBZ per 100 parts by mass of resin contained in the surface layer 12. This is because if TBZ is contained in the surface layer 12 containing the vinyl chloride resin, blooming of TBZ occurs, which may reduce the design of the bathroom interior material 1. The surface layer 12 may contain TBZ to the extent that blooming can be suppressed, and in this case, the content of TBZ is preferably less than 0.4 parts by mass, and more preferably 0.3 parts by mass or less.

Examples of the chlorine-based disinfectants include hypochlorites such as sodium hypochlorite and calcium hypochlorite and their aqueous solutions, chlorites such as sodium chlorite and their aqueous solutions, and dichloroisocyanurates and their aqueous solutions.

The surface layer 12 preferably contains one or more other organic antibacterial agents and inorganic antibacterial agents, more preferably two or more, and even more preferably three or more. More specifically, the surface layer 12 preferably contains one or more of the following: triazole antibacterial agents, isothiazolinone antibacterial agents, pyridine antibacterial agents (zinc pyrithione: ZPT), and silver antibacterial agents, more preferably two or more, and even more preferably three or more. In particular, the surface layer 12 preferably contains one or more of the following organic antibacterial agents other than the imidazole antibacterial agents: triazole antibacterial agents, isothiazolinone antibacterial agents, and pyridine antibacterial agents, more preferably two or more, and even more preferably three or more.

Examples of the organic antibacterial agents include triazole antibacterial agents, thiazoline antibacterial agents, pyridine antibacterial agents, aldehyde antibacterial agents, chlorine antibacterial agents, carboxylic acid antibacterial agents, carbamate antibacterial agents, sulfamide antibacterial agents, phenol antibacterial agents, iodine antibacterial agents, phthalimide antibacterial agents, quinoline antibacterial agents, and thiazole antibacterial agents. The surface layer 12 may contain two or more of the organic antibacterial agents.

Examples of the inorganic antibacterial agent include silver-based antibacterial agents, zinc-based antibacterial agents, and copper-based antibacterial agents. The surface layer 12 may contain two or more types of the inorganic antibacterial agents.

The surface layer 12 preferably contains the triazole-based antibacterial agent, the pyridine-based antibacterial agent (zinc pyrithione: ZPT), the isothiazolinone-based antibacterial agent (OIT, etc.), and the silver-based antibacterial agent, and more preferably contains at least the triazole-based antibacterial agent and the pyridine-based antibacterial agent. This expands the antibacterial spectrum by combining with the imidazole-based antibacterial agent contained in the coating layer 13, and the surface 14 of the water-related interior material 1 has excellent antibacterial properties.

Examples of the triazole antibacterial agents include α-butyl-α-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-ethanol (hexaconazole), α-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-α-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-ethanol (tebuconazole), α-(4-chlorophenyl)-α-(1-cyclopropylethyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-ethanol (cyproconazole), 1-[[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-n-propyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-yl]methyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole (propiconazole), and the like.

Examples of the thiazoline antibacterial agents include 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 5-chloro-2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 4-chloro-2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 2-methyl-4,5-trimethylene-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, and N-n-butyl-1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one.

Examples of the pyridine-based antibacterial agents include sodium 2-pyridinethiol-1-oxide (sodium pyrithione), zinc bis(2-pyridithio-1-oxide) (zinc pyrithione, ZPT), densil (2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-4-(methylsulfonyl)pyridine), copper bis(2-pyridithio-1-oxide) (copper pyrithione), etc.

An example of the aldehyde-based antibacterial agent is α-bromocinnamaldehyde (BCA).

Examples of chlorine-based antibacterial agents include 3,4,4'-trichlorocarbanilide (triclocarban), 4,4-dichloro-3-(3-fluoromethyl)-carbanilide (halocarban), 2,4,5,6-tetrachloroisophthalonitrile, dichloroisocyanuric acid, and trichloroisocyanuric acid.

Examples of the carboxylic acid antibacterial agents include benzoic acid, sorbic acid, caprylic acid, propionic acid, 10-undecylenic acid, and zinc undecylenate.

Examples of the carbamate antibacterial agent include sodium N-methyldithiocarbamate.

Examples of the sulfamide antibacterial agents include dichlofluanid and trifluanid.

Examples of the phenol-based antibacterial agents include 2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol (thymol), 3-methyl-4-isopropylphenol (biosol), orthophenylphenol (OPP), phenol, butyl-p-hydroxybenzoate (butylparaben), ethyl-p-hydroxybenzoate (ethylparaben), methyl-p-hydroxybenzoate (methylparaben), propyl-p-hydroxybenzoate (propylparaben), metacresol, orthocresol, paracresol, sodium orthophenylphenol, 2-benzyl-4-chlorophenol (chlorophene), and 2-methyl-3-chlorophenol (chlorocresol).

Examples of the iodine-based antibacterial agents include diiodomethyl-p-tolyl-sulfone (Amical 48 iodine), polyvinylpyrrolidone iodine, p-chlorophenyl-3-iodopropargyl formal, 3-bromo-2,3-diiodo-propenyl ethyl carbonate, and 3-iodo-2-propynyl butyl carbamate.

Examples of phthalimide antibacterial agents include (N-fluorodichloromethylthio)-phthalimide (fluorofolpet).

Quinoline antibacterial agents include 8-hydroxyquinoline and bis(quinoline-8-olate-O,N)copper (quinoline copper).

Thiazole antibacterial agents include 2-(thiacyanomethylthio)benzothiazole (TCMTB), tricyclazole, and benzothiazole.

As the silver-based antibacterial agent, for example, a complex of silver and an inorganic oxide other than silver can be used. More specifically, examples include silver-zirconium phosphate, silver-titanium oxide, silver chloride-titanium oxide, silver-calcium zinc phosphate, and silver zinc aluminum silicate.

The total amount of the antibacterial agent contained in the surface layer 12 is usually 0.1 to 4.0 parts by mass, and preferably 0.5 to 1.5 parts by mass, relative to 100 parts by mass of the resin contained in the surface layer 12. Furthermore, when the surface layer 12 contains the organic antibacterial agent and the inorganic antibacterial agent, it is preferable that the content of the organic antibacterial agent is greater than the content of the inorganic antibacterial agent, and specifically, the content of the organic antibacterial agent is preferably 0.05 to 3.0 parts by mass, and more preferably 0.5 to 1.5 parts by mass. The content of the inorganic antibacterial agent is preferably 0.05 to 1.0 parts by mass, and more preferably 0.2 to 0.5 parts by mass.

Examples of the vinyl chloride resin include vinyl chloride resin; partially cross-linked vinyl chloride; copolymers containing vinyl chloride such as vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, vinyl chloride-ethylene copolymer, vinyl chloride-propylene copolymer, vinyl chloride-styrene copolymer, vinyl chloride-isobutylene copolymer, vinyl chloride-vinylidene chloride copolymer, vinyl chloride-butadiene copolymer, vinyl chloride-isoprene copolymer, and vinyl chloride-chlorinated propylene copolymer.

The vinyl chloride resin may be produced by an emulsion polymerization method, a suspension polymerization method, a solution polymerization method, a bulk polymerization method, or the like. Since it is easy to process and handle, vinyl chloride resins produced by an emulsion polymerization method or a suspension polymerization method are preferred.

The surface layer 12 may contain resin components other than the vinyl chloride resin, but the content of the vinyl chloride resin relative to the total mass of the resin contained in the surface layer 12 is preferably 90% by mass or more, and more preferably 95% by mass or more.

The thickness of the surface layer 12 is usually 0.05 mm to 1.5 mm, and preferably 0.10 mm to 1.0 mm.

The surface layer 12 may be joined to the base layer 11 by an adhesive or by fusion. The fusion may be thermal fusion by applying heat and pressure.

The surface layer 12 may be configured as a design layer 12 to enhance the design of the surface 14 of the bathroom interior material 1. The design layer 12 may be configured as only one layer as shown in FIG. 1, or may be configured as multiple layers as shown in FIG. 2.

The design layer 12, which is composed of only one layer, is usually formed by forming a resin composition containing a pigment and the resin into a sheet and bonding the sheet to the base layer 11. In addition, in order to create a grain pattern of two or more colors, a resin composition containing crushed vinyl chloride resin (chips) of two or more colors and the resin may be formed into a sheet instead of or together with the pigment, and the sheet may be bonded to the base layer 11.

The design layer 12, which is composed of multiple layers, usually includes a pattern layer 124 arranged on the base layer 11 side and a transparent clear layer 125 arranged on the surface 14 side. The pattern layer 124 is a layer for expressing a pattern with ink or the like, and is composed of, for example, a printed film or an ink layer in which the ink itself is layered. The printed film is a resin base sheet on which an arbitrary pattern is drawn with ink. The ink layer is formed by directly placing ink on the surface of the base layer 11 to form a pattern, and this ink is in the form of a thin layer. The ink layer is formed by transferring with transfer paper or drawing with an inkjet printer. The pattern layer 124 reveals the pattern through the clear layer 125.
The clear layer 125 is made of the vinyl chloride resin. The clear layer 125 may be semi-transparent, but is preferably transparent. In the case of such a design layer 12, it is preferable that the clear layer 125 contains the antibacterial agent, and from the viewpoint of maintaining transparency, it is more preferable that the clear layer 125 contains the antibacterial agent in a liquid form.

The powdered antibacterial agent and the liquid antibacterial agent refer to antibacterial agents that are in powder or liquid form at room temperature and normal pressure (25°C, 101,325 Pa).

As described above, it is important that the coating layer 13 is substantially free of the vinyl chloride resin. When the coating layer 13 is substantially free of the vinyl chloride resin, the content of the vinyl chloride resin relative to the total mass of the resin contained in the coating layer 13 may be 10% by mass or less, and it is more preferable that the content of the vinyl chloride resin is 0% by mass. This suppresses discoloration of the surface 14 caused by the chlorine-based disinfectant.

The coating layer 13 of this embodiment contains a curable resin. More specifically, the coating layer 13 of this embodiment is formed by applying a resin composition containing the antibacterial agent and the curable resin to the surface 121 of the surface layer 12 and curing the resin composition.

It is important that the coating layer 13 contains the imidazole antibacterial agent. This allows the water-related interior material 1 to exhibit antibacterial properties due to the imidazole antibacterial agent while suppressing the discoloration of the surface 14 caused by MBC. As the imidazole antibacterial agent contained in the coating layer 13, MBC, which cannot be contained in the surface layer 12, and TBZ, which is not preferable for inclusion in the surface layer 12, are preferable. This allows the antibacterial properties of MBC and TBZ to be exhibited on the surface 14 in a manner that complements the antibacterial properties of the surface layer 12.

The coating layer 13 may also contain other antibacterial agents, and may also contain the above-mentioned antibacterial agents that may be contained in the surface layer 12. As the other antibacterial agents, the above-mentioned organic antibacterial agents are preferred.

The total amount of the antibacterial agent contained in the coating layer 13 is usually 0.1 to 3.0 parts by mass, and preferably 0.5 to 1.5 parts by mass, relative to 100 parts by mass of the resin forming the coating layer 13. The proportion of the imidazole antibacterial agent among the antibacterial agents contained in the coating layer 13 is preferably 80% by mass or more, and more preferably 90% by mass or more. Furthermore, the proportion of MBC or TBZ among the antibacterial agents contained in the coating layer 13 is preferably 80% by mass or more, and more preferably 90% by mass or more.

The curable resin may be an ionizing radiation curable resin or a thermosetting resin. The ionizing radiation curable resin refers to a resin that has an energy quantum capable of crosslinking and polymerizing monomers in a charged particle beam or electromagnetic wave, that is, a resin that is crosslinked and cured by irradiation with an electron beam or ultraviolet light. Among these, ultraviolet curable resins are preferred from the viewpoint of their relatively excellent transparency and ease of forming the coating layer 13.

The ultraviolet-curable resin is not particularly limited, but examples thereof include urethane acrylate resins, polyester acrylate resins, epoxy resins, epoxy acrylate resins, and silicone acrylate resins. Urethane acrylate resins, polyester acrylate resins, and silicone acrylate resins are preferred, and urethane acrylate resins are particularly preferred, because they have excellent adhesion to the base layer 11 containing the vinyl chloride resin, as well as excellent light resistance and flexibility.

The thickness of the coating layer 13 is usually 1 μm to 100 μm, and preferably 10 μm to 40 μm.

In an embodiment in which the coating layer 13 covers the entire surface 121 of the surface layer 12 as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the surface 131 of the coating layer 13 constitutes the entire surface 14 of the water-related interior material 1. In this case, when part of the coating layer 13 peels off due to deterioration over time during use, part of the surface 121 of the surface layer 12 is exposed, and the antibacterial properties of the antibacterial agent contained in the surface layer 12 are exerted on the surface 14. In addition, the discoloration caused by the chlorine-based disinfectant on the surface 121 of the surface layer 12 exposed by the peeling of the coating layer 13 is suppressed.

On the other hand, in the embodiment in which the coating layer 13 covers a part of the surface 121 of the surface layer 12 as shown in Figs. 3 to 5, it is preferable that the surface layer 12 has a plurality of recesses 122 and a plurality of protrusions 123 for forming an uneven surface on the surface 14. It is also preferable that the surface 121 of the surface layer 12 at the plurality of recesses 122 is exposed without being covered by the coating layer 13, and the surface 121 of the plurality of protrusions 123 is covered by the coating layer 13. The uneven surface formed by the plurality of recesses 122 and the plurality of protrusions 123 may be curved (Fig. 3). In this case, it is preferable that the surface 131 of the coating layer 13 is formed in a convex shape so as to follow the curved convex surface. It is also preferable that the uneven surface is linear. In this case, it is preferable that the surface 131 of the coating layer 13 is formed in a flat shape so as to follow the direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the linear convex surface (Fig. 4).

In this embodiment, the surface layer 12 has a plurality of recesses 122 and a plurality of protrusions 123 so as to form the uneven surface over the entire surface 14, and the surface 121 at the plurality of recesses 122 is exposed and not covered by the coating layer 13, and the surface 121 at the plurality of protrusions 123 is covered by the coating layer 13. This makes it easier for the antibacterial properties of the antibacterial agent contained in the surface layer 12 and the coating layer 13 to be exerted over the entire surface 14.

The multiple recesses 122 and multiple protrusions 123 are preferably formed by embossing the surface 121 of the outer layer 12, which makes it easier to mass-produce the bathroom interior material 1.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, the convex portion 123 is formed to have a larger area in a plan view than the concave portion 122 and to have a rounded trapezoidal shape in cross section, and a plurality of protrusions may be formed on the surface 121. In this case, it is preferable that the coating layer 13 is formed so as to cover the protrusions. The coating layer 13 formed so as to cover the plurality of protrusions is formed so that its components penetrate between the protrusions, and therefore peeling from the surface layer 12 is suppressed.

The shapes of the recess 122 and the protrusion 123 can be appropriately changed depending on the application of the water-related interior material 1. For example, when the water-related interior material 1 is a bathroom floor material, the area of one recess 122 and one protrusion 123 in a plan view is preferably 0.01 to ^1.0 mm2. The height of the protrusion 123 is preferably 0.05 to 1.0 mm. The height of the protrusion 123 means the height from the bottom point (the lowest point in the vertical direction) of the recess 122 to the apex (the highest point in the vertical direction) of the protrusion 123 when the water-related interior material 1 is installed along the horizontal direction. The height of the protrusion 123 is obtained by calculating all the heights of the protrusions 123 in relation to the adjacent recesses 122 and protrusions 123 within any 10 cm square area of the surface 14 of the water-related interior material 1, and arithmetically averaging these.

The recess 122 also functions as a waterway through which water flows. The width of the recess 122 is not particularly limited, but is set in the range of, for example, 0.5 mm to 5.0 mm, and preferably in the range of 1.0 mm to 3.0 mm, from the viewpoint of allowing water to flow smoothly.
The area ratio of the convex parts 123 in the wet interior material 1 in plan view is, for example, 60 to 99%, and preferably 70 to 95%. When the area ratio of the convex parts 123 is within this range, the anti-slip properties, drainage properties, and drying properties can be improved.
3, when the surface 121 of the surface layer 12 is formed in a curved shape, the boundary between the recess 122 and the protrusion 123 is determined as follows: That is, when an imaginary plane is drawn that halves the height of the protrusion 123 and is parallel to the horizontal direction, the area below the imaginary plane in the vertical direction is defined as the recess 122 and the area above the imaginary plane in the vertical direction is defined as the protrusion 123, and the area of each is measured, and the area ratio of the protrusion 123 is measured.

As shown in Figs. 3 to 5, when the coating layer 13 is formed only on the surface of the convex portion 123, the surface of the concave portion 122 is exposed and not covered with the coating layer 13. In this case, the occupancy rate of the coating layer 13 is 60 to 99%, preferably 70 to 95%. The occupancy rate of the coating layer 13 refers to the ratio of the area occupied by the coating layer 13 per unit area when the surface 14 of the water-related interior material 1 is viewed from the vertical direction. For example, the total area of the coating layer 13 present in any 10 cm square area of the surface 14 of the water-related interior material 1 is measured, and the occupancy rate of the coating layer 13 (%) = total area of the coating layer 13 (cm ² ) / 100 (cm ² ) × 100 can be obtained. Specifically, the occupancy rate can be obtained by using a known image processing device, determining a threshold value between the coating layer 13 and the surface layer 12, binarizing, and measuring the total area of the coating layer 13 from any 10 cm square area of the surface 14 of the water-related interior material 1.
In addition, when the planar shapes of the concave portions 122 and the convex portions 123 are relatively large and these portions have a shape that does not have a curve, such as a rectangular or triangular shape, in planar view, the area of the coating layer 13 may be measured visually and substituted into the above formula to determine the occupancy area ratio.

The surface layer 12 and the coating layer 13 may contain other additives. Examples of such additives include light stabilizers and antioxidants to suppress deterioration of the resin, pigments for coloring, plasticizers to impart flexibility, inorganic fillers for physical reinforcement and matting, dispersants to uniformly disperse each component, deodorants, and ultraviolet absorbers. In particular, alumina, silica, and titanium oxide are preferably used as inorganic fillers for the coating layer 13.

As described above, the wet area interior material 1 of this embodiment is inhibited from discoloring the surface 14 due to the chlorine-based disinfectant and has antibacterial properties, so it can be suitably used in bathrooms, toilets, washrooms, etc. More specifically, the wet area interior material 1 is preferably used for flooring, wall materials, ceiling materials, or doors for bathrooms, toilets, washrooms, etc., or parts thereof such as toilets and sinks, and among these, it is particularly preferable to use it for bathroom flooring, wall materials, and ceiling materials.

The wet area interior material of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The wet area interior material of the present invention is not limited by the above action and effect. The wet area interior material of the present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the water-related interior material 1 having the base layer 11 and the surface layer 12 is shown, but the water-related interior material 1 is not limited to this and may not have the base layer 11. More specifically, the water-related interior material 1 may be a sheet material consisting of the surface layer 12 and the coating layer 13 so that it can be easily replaced during renovations and the like. In this case, the sheet material preferably has an adhesive layer on the back surface of the surface layer 12 (the surface opposite the surface 14) to improve workability.

Next, the present invention will be explained in more detail by showing examples.

The raw materials were mixed according to the composition shown in Table 1 below, and the mixture was formed into a sheet having a thickness of 0.4 mm using a calendar molding machine with a roll temperature set at 150° C. The sheet body as the surface layer was produced. The surface layer produced had a dark beige color overall.
In addition, in Example 1 and Comparative Examples 2 and 4, a coating layer was formed on the surface of a flat sheet body on which no unevenness was formed by embossing or the like, in which a plurality of squares were arranged in a lattice pattern in a plan view. The squares had a side length of about 30 mm, and the width between adjacent squares vertically and horizontally was about 5 mm. The coating layer was formed by applying an ultraviolet-curable coating liquid or an ultraviolet-curable coating liquid containing an antibacterial agent to the surface of the surface layer using a gravure roller, and irradiating the surface with ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet-curable coating liquid was an ultraviolet-curable resin containing urethane acrylate and an acrylate monomer. In this way, a colorless and transparent coating layer having a thickness of 20 μm was formed on the surface of the surface layer.

[Evaluation 1: Discoloration test]
Each sheet was laminated on the coated layer side of absorbent cotton with a thickness of 2 cm on each sheet produced above, 1 mL of sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution was dropped onto the absorbent cotton, and each sheet was covered with a watch glass and left for one day. Then, each sheet was washed with water and visually confirmed for discoloration of the surface. Separately, the degree of discoloration was measured according to JIS L0804 "gray scale for discoloration and fading".
(Evaluation criteria)
○: No discoloration is observed.
Δ: Slight discoloration (grayscale grade 3.5 or higher) is observed.
×: Discoloration is clearly observed.

[Evaluation 2: Mold resistance test]
The tests were carried out in accordance with JIS Z 2911 Test Method A for Plastic Products and JIS Z 2911 Test Method B for Plastic Products.
(Evaluation criteria)
○: No mold growth is visible to the naked eye.
△: Mold growth is visible to the naked eye.
×: Mycelium grows vigorously and covers the entire sample.

[Test 3: Antibacterial Bloom]
Bloom (powdering) caused by the antibacterial agent on the surface of each sheet was visually observed.
◯: No blooming was observed.
×: Bloom is clearly observed.

From the test results shown in Table 1, when the surface layer containing vinyl chloride resin contained 0.4 parts by mass or more of MBC, discoloration due to sodium hypochlorite was observed on the surface. On the other hand, when the content of MBC in the surface layer was 0.10 parts by mass or less, it was found that discoloration of the surface was suppressed. On the other hand, when the surface layer containing vinyl chloride resin contained tebuconazole, which is a triazole antibacterial agent, discoloration due to sodium hypochlorite was not observed on the surface.
Furthermore, when TBZ was added to a surface layer containing a vinyl chloride resin, discoloration as observed with MBC was not observed, but blooming was observed.

From the results of the Examples and Comparative Examples, it was found that discoloration caused by an aqueous sodium hypochlorite solution can be suppressed by not including MBC in the surface layer.
In addition, from the results of the Reference Examples, it was found that even when the surface layer contains MBC, discoloration caused by a sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution can be suppressed as long as the MBC is 0.10 parts by mass or less, and it is particularly preferable that the MBC is 0.05 parts by mass or less. Therefore, it is presumed that even when the coating layer of Example 1 is formed on the surface of the surface layer of Reference Examples 1 to 3, discoloration caused by a sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution is suppressed, and an interior material for use around water that is also excellent in mold resistance can be obtained.

1: Interior materials for use around water,
11: Base material layer,
12: surface layer, 121: surface, 122: recess, 123: protrusion,
124: pattern layer, 125: clear layer,
13: Coating layer, 131: Surface,
14: Surface

Claims (4)

A surface layer containing a vinyl chloride resin;
a coating layer that covers at least a portion of the surface layer and does not contain the vinyl chloride resin and has an exposed surface;
the surface layer does not contain 0.2 parts by mass or more of methyl-2-benzimidazole carbamate and contains at least one of a triazole-based antibacterial agent, an isothiazolin-based antibacterial agent, a pyridine-based antibacterial agent, and a silver-based antibacterial agent,
The coating layer comprises an imidazole-based antibacterial agent. The water-related interior material according to claim 1 , wherein the coating layer contains an ionizing radiation curable resin. 3. The water-related interior material according to claim 1, wherein a part of the surface layer is exposed without being covered by the coating layer. 4. The interior material for a water area according to claim 1, wherein the surface layer has concave and convex portions that form unevenness on the surface, and the concave portions are exposed without being covered by the coating layer.