ANTIFOULING FIBER AND FIBER PRODUCT CONTAINING SAID FIBER

摘要

PURPOSE:To provide a fiber exhibiting an excellent durable antifouling characteristic when used in water, by immersing the fiber in the solution of a copper compound to coordinatively bond the copper to a polymer constituting the fiber so that the content of the copper and the elution rate of the copper into an artificial sea water become within specific ranges, respectively. CONSTITUTION:A fibrous material comprising a polymer having either reactive groups selected from OH, NHCO and COO groups is immersed in an aqueous solution containing cupric ions, cupric hydroxide ions or copper-ammonia complex ions or a fibrous material comprising a polymer having CN groups is immersed in an aqueous solution of cuprous ions, thereby forming the coordination bonds of the copper with the polymer to provide a copper-containing fiber having a copper content of 0.5-40% and an elution rate of the copper into an artificial sea water in an amount of 0.02-2.0%/30 days. The fiber has a characteristic that the adhesion and growth of algae and shellfish are prevented over a long period of time when use in the sea water.