METHOD FOR OBTAINING SELF-CLEANING AND SELF-SANITIZING SURFACES OF FINISHED LEATHER

Abstract

A method for obtaining self-cleaning and self-sanitizing surfaces of finished leather, comprising the steps of deposition of two coating layers containing respective active mixtures on the finished leather surface, in which a first active mixture comprises a film-forming compound based on polymers and filler, a flow additive compound, a cross-linking compound, an anti-oxidant compound and an aqueous dispersion, and a second active mixture comprises a water-based auxiliary flow additive compound, a silicone emulsion, a solvent aliphatic prepolymer, a photo-catalyst compound, a water repellent agent, a biocide action powder agent and solvent agents and/or wetting agents and/or dispersing agents and/or anti-foam agents.

Claims

1. Method for obtaining self-cleaning and self-sanitizing surfaces of finished leather, characterized in that said method comprises a first step of depositing a first coating layer of a first active mixture and a second step, subsequent to said first step, of depositing a second coating layer of a second active mixture, above said first layer, on the surface of said finished leather, wherein said first active mixture comprises a film-forming compound formed by polymer and filler, a flow additive, a cross-linking compound, an anti-oxidant compound and an aqueous dispersion, while said second active mixture comprises an auxiliary water-based flow additive compound, a silicone emulsion, a solvent aliphatic pre-polymer, a photo-catalyst compound, a water repellent agent, a powder formulation with a biocide action and solvent agents and/or wetting agents and/or dispersant agents and/or anti-foaming agents.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said first coating layer is applied by spraying at a pressure greater than the atmospheric pressure and, thereafter, is subjected to drying at a given temperature and for a specified time.

3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said second coating layer is applied by means of two phases of spraying at a pressure greater than the atmospheric pressure and by means of a drying phase, which is carried out between said spraying phases and which is performed at a given temperature and for a specified time.

4. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that, with reference to said first active mixture, said film-forming compound includes poly-acrylates and organic and inorganic fillers, said flow compound includes additive surfactants and volatile substances, said cross-linker compound includes blocked di-isocyanate and said anti-oxidant compound includes a sterically hindered phenol derivative and said aqueous dispersion includes derivatives of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine and 2-hydroxyphenyl-s-triazine (HPT).

5. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that, with reference to said second active mixture, said auxiliary water-based flow additive compound includes a polyether-siloxane copolymer containing fumed silica, said silicone emulsion includes silicon, said solvent aliphatic pre-polymer includes poli-esametil-endil-socianato, said photo-catalyst compound includes titanium dioxide, said water-repellent agent includes a silicone resin, said powder formulation with a biocide action includes glass ceramic powder doped with inorganic ions, such as silver ions or copper ions, supported on zeolites and said solvent agents and/or said wetting agents and/or said dispersant agents and/or said anti-foaming agents include de-ionized water, aqueous dispersion of polyurethane, aliphatic polyurethane and/or inorganic matting agents, siloxane resins with modified polyurethane and/or vinyl resins and/or acrylic resins.

6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that said second active mixture includes a dispersing agent based on an aqueous solution of a modified polymer containing groups with high affinity to inorganic pigments.

7. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that said resins are diluted in water, kept under magnetic stirring for a specified time and then deposited on the surface of the leather by means of a spray gun and with a pressure which is substantially greater than the atmospheric pressure.

8. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that said active mixtures are prepared by mixing the powders of inorganic ions with said dispersing agents and/or said water-repellent agents for a given time to obtain a homogeneous suspension, by adding said resins, said matting agents, said anti-foaming agents and said de-ionized water, by providing a mechanical stirring of the solution for a given time and also by subjecting said solution to a filtration step to remove any agglomerates.

Description

[0021] The invention will be described in the following with particular reference to some illustrative embodiments.

[0022] The properties of self-cleaning of the finished leather surface are conferred by employing titanium dioxide as a photo-catalytic compound, which is capable of attacking the organic contaminant agents.

[0023] The mechanism of action is based on the moisture contained in the air and on a fraction of the solar light (from 300 to 400 nm) to produce reactive oxygen species that react with organic molecules of the contaminant agents by means of peroxidation mechanisms; it follows the oxidative removal of said contaminant agents.

[0024] The features of the titanium dioxide to form hydroxyl radicals makes it also effective as an antibacterial; in fact, the radical species that arise in the presence of light react with the peptidoglycan, which constitutes the bacterial cellular wall, and cause the alteration of the chemical structure. The process goes further by altering the cellular homeostasis and by causing the death of the bacteria.

[0025] The advantage of this process resides in the inability of the micro-organism to develop resistance mechanisms; however, the phenomenon occurs only when the titanium dioxide, which is partially incorporated in the coating, is irradiated with light.

[0026] To overcome the inefficiency of the photo-catalysis in the absence of illumination it is possible to use co-formulants which also provide for using inorganic ions such as silver or copper ions supported on zeolites.

[0027] The mechanism of action of the above species is different than the mechanism previously described.

[0028] As the inorganic ions are directly responsible for the bactericidal effect, they are able to dope the enzyme complexes involved in cellualar respiration, that is to say the enzymes making the DNA duplication and therefore the bacterial reproduction.

[0029] Also in this case the phenomenon of resistance development does not occur since the ions act as “parasitic species” against the ions involved in cellular metabolism.

[0030] This type of formulation has the advantage of inducing a certain sanitization of environments, where there is a lesser spreading of potentially pathogenic bacteria, and this synergy causes, for example, a reduction of management and maintenance costs of the environments having a high flow of people.

[0031] On the basis of what is stated, the treatment developed on the leather is able to attack the contaminants present on the surface (for example, wine stains, oil, coffee, smoke, etc.) and simultaneously inhibit the growth of potentially pathogenic micro-organisms or of agents which are also harmful for the article (for example, mustiness that can compromise the quality of the article).

[0032] The treatment does not alter the aesthetic characteristics (color, brightness degree, etc.) and/or the surface features of the article and moreover the treated skins shows performances which are not lower than the performances of the original ones, especially as regards the surface characteristics, such as, for example, hardness, resistance to scratching, resistance to predefined bending and fatigue cycles and/or resistance to chemical products.

[0033] The treatment of the present invention uses siloxane, vinylic and acrylic resins modified with polyurethane and the most appropriate formulation has been used by adding an alkyl-silane type water repellent protective agent added with photo-catalystic titanium dioxide.

[0034] Moreover, nanoparticles containing silver ions as biocide agents were also added to the mixtures.

[0035] To improve the dispersion of the nanoparticles, a dispersing agent based on an aqueous solution of a modified polymer containing groups having high-affinity with inorganic pigments was also joined to the mixture.

[0036] Finally, a siloxane-polyether copolymer containing fumed silica and acting as anti-foaming agent was also a added; the degree of gloss was optimized by adding an organic matting agent.

[0037] Finally, the mixture was diluted with de-ionized water to obtain the desired concentration of the formulation.

[0038] The treatment is preferably performed in two steps, which provide for placing a first and a second coating of the above mentioned active mixtures on the surface of the finished leather, as described in the following.

[0039] In relation to the deposition of the first coating, the mixture which is applied to the leather is made from the formulation of the following table:

TABLE-US-00001 Description/ Active Concen- Product Supplier Function substances tration PLUS ILVE Filmogenic Polyacrylates, 91.32% 7081 compound based organic and on polymers and inorganic fillers fillers Leveling GSC Flow additive; Surfactants and 0.46% agent K3 improves the volatile flowing of the substances mixture Cross- ILVE Cross-linking Blocked di- 2.28% linking agent; improves isocyanate (CAS agent U the mechanical 7417-99-4) properties of the polymeric coating Tinuvin Ciba Aqueous Derivatives of 2.28% 123 DW dispersion; 2,2,6,6-tetra- improves the metyl- resistance to the piperidine UV-rays and to the oxidation Tinuvin Ciba Aqueous 2- 3.20% 400 DW dispersion; UV-B hydroxylphenyl rays absorber s-triazine (HPT) Irganox Basf Antioxidant Sterically 0.46% 245 DW hindered carbolic derived

[0040] The mixture of the above table (first coating) is applied by spraying it with the following operative conditions:

TABLE-US-00002 Specific amount Air pressure Drying temperature Drying time 2.0 g/ft.sup.2 1.4 atm 110° C. 60 sec

[0041] A second coating having photo-active features (photo-catalyst coating) is applied to the leather with the mixture's formulation of the following table:

TABLE-US-00003 Description/ Active Concen- Product Supplier Function agents tration Water — Solvent/dispersing Water 26.87% agent Aquaderm Lanxess Water based Polyether- 1.58% Fluido H auxiliary siloxane flow additive copolymer Bindex9220 GSC Silicone emulsion for Silicone 1.18% touch improvement Aquaderm Lanxess Silicone emulsion for Silicone 1.18% additive touch improvement agent GF Astacin Basf Polyurethane aqueous Polyurethane 47.28% Novomatt dispersion matting GG Astacin Basf Polyurethane aqueous Aliphatic 11.82% Matting LV dispersion matting polyurethane TF and inorganic opacifiers Hardener Chime Solvent aliphatic Poly- 6.30% 14 prepolymer for hexamethylene improving mechanical diisocyanate properties Aerodisp W Evonik Photo-catalyst Titanium 1.58% 2730 X dioxide Tego Phobe Evonik Hydrophobic agent Silicone 0.59% 1650 (alias resin VP-B 165) Tego Evonik Defoamer (anti- Polyether- 0.49% Foamex 810 foam agent) siloxane copolymer with fumed silica Sanitized Sani- Biocide agent; micro Ceramic glass 0.59% BC A 21-41 tized powder with average doped with size of the particles silver ions equal to 2 micron Tego Evonik Wetting and Modified 0.54% Dispers dispersing agent copolymer 752 W containing groups having high affinity with inorganic pigments

[0042] The photo-catalyst mixture of the previous table (second coating) is applied with two subsequent steps of spraying with an intermediate drying, by using the following operating parameters:

TABLE-US-00004 Drying N. Specific amount Air pressure temperature Drying time 1 0.8 g/ft.sup.2 1.2 atm 100° C. 60 sec 2 0.7 g/ft.sup.2 1.2 atm 100° C. 60 sec

[0043] Practically, the resins were diluted in water while keeping the system under magnetic stirring for 30 minutes and, at the end, the mixtures were deposited on the surface of the leather by means of a spray gun with a nozzle diameter of 1.2 mm and with an outlet pressure of about 4 bar.

[0044] The mixtures having the functionalized nanoparticles and the stabilized titanium dioxide were prepared by mixing the silver nanopowders, under mechanical stirring, with the dispersant and the water repellent for 30 minutes to obtain a homogeneous suspension and by adding, at the end, the resin, the matting agent, the anti-foam agent and the water.

[0045] The mixture was then allowed to stir for 15 minutes and, at the end of mixing, was filtered to remove any agglomerates and then applied by spraying it.

[0046] After said spraying phase a controlled drying phase (at 20° C., with humidity of 40%) can be provided, so as to reduce the times of out-dust of the article.

[0047] The evaluation of the photo-catalytic activity of the coating was then assessed by colorimetric measurements and with five different types of stains: [0048] methylene blue; [0049] red wine; [0050] coffee; [0051] EMPA 104 standard fouling fabric; [0052] EMPA 128 standard fouling fabric.

[0053] The treatment efficacy was assessed by comparing the behavior of samples subjected to treatment with untreated comparable samples and the application of the contaminant agents was carried out by using a standard cotton cloth (according to the ISO 105-F09 rules, having dimensions of 70×70 mm) which is placed in contact with the finished surface of the leather sample.

[0054] A defined quantity of contaminant agent (2 ml for liquids and 3 g for solids, according to the EN 15973 rule) was applied to the cloth and uniformly distributed on the whole surface and the sample thus prepared was left in the dark for 4 hours at a temperature of 23° C. and a relative humidity of 50%; then the cloth was removed and the sample maintained for another 24 hours at the same conditions.

[0055] Excess of the contaminant agent was then removed with a damp cloth and the sample was exposed to light irradiation with a water cooled xenon light (the light exposure conditions used for the test are described in section 6.2 of the ISO standard rule 105-B02:1994).

[0056] For the purposes of benchmarking the specimen was half covered using the blind part of the metallic hold-samples element, so as to separate the degradation of the contaminant agent due to irradiation light from the degradation which is thermally induced; the photo-degradation of the individual specimen was then calculated by considering the variation (ΔE) in the magnitude of the vector colorimetric E between the exposed area and the covered area.

[0057] The effectiveness of the photo-catalytic activity is the difference δ between said recorded ΔE of the treated sample, ΔE.sub.t, compared to the photo-catalytic activity of the untreated sample ΔE.sub.nt, namely:

δ=ΔE.sub.t−ΔE.sub.nt.

[0058] Based on what has been said above, δ is a positive number, the value of which is quantitatively correlated to the photo-catalytic action and the trend of δ over time also allows to verify the dynamics of the degradation of the surface contaminant agents, taking into account the fact that the exposure duration is defined depending on the type of the contaminant agent which is used (the methylene blue, for example, is able to highlight the photo-catalytic effect already after an exposure of a few tens of minutes because of its poor light fastness, while the other contaminant agents require longer times).

[0059] The following table shows some values of δ obtained from the measurement with the standard D65 illuminant for the considered contaminant agents (between treated and untreated samples after contamination and exposure to light):

TABLE-US-00005 Contaminant agent ΔE.sub.t ΔE.sub.nt δ = ΔE.sub.t − ΔE.sub.nt Methylene blue after 90 min 33.92 16.96 16.96 Red wine after 24 hours 8.45 5.16 3.29 Coffee after 48 hours 8.58 6.18 2.40 EMPA 104 after 48 hours 3.45 0.63 2.82 EMPA 128 after 48 hours 8.08 5.32 2.76

[0060] Finally, in all the above cases the degradative effect induced by the photo-catalysis is confirmed by colorimetric measurements.

[0061] The biocidal activity of the coatings applied on the leather surfaces was evaluated according to the JIS Z 2801:2010 rule; the bacterial strain employed in the test is Escherichia coli ATCC 25922.

[0062] After sterilizing by UV irradiation a leather square of 20×40 mm coated with the above described functionalized formulation, said formulation has been inoculated onto a plate according to the standard rules.

[0063] The film containing one of the bacterial strains and deposited on the coated surface of the skin was analyzed at the beginning and 24 hours after said step of inoculation, taking care to block any traces of biocidal principles.

[0064] The dilutions of three independent inoculations have allowed us to evaluate the effectiveness of the leather article on which the functionalized coating was placed.

[0065] The killing of bacteria was evaluated by following equations:

[00001]$\begin{array}{cc}\frac{L_{\mathrm{ma}.Math..Math.x}-L_{m.Math..Math.i.Math..Math.n}}{L_{\mathrm{mean}}}& \left(1\right)\\ R=\left(U_t-U_0\right)-\left(A_t-U_0\right)=U_t-A_t& \left(2\right)\end{array}$

where:
L.sub.max: maximum logarithmic number of viable bacteria,
L.sub.min: minimum logarithmic number of viable bacteria,
L.sub.mean: average of logarithmic numbers of viable bacteria of three samples,
R=antibacterial activity (Log Reduction),
U.sub.0=average of logarithmic numbers of viable bacteria immediately after inoculation onto untreated samples,
U.sub.t=average of logarithmic numbers of viable bacteria after inoculation onto untreated samples after 24 hours,
A.sub.t=average of logarithmic numbers of viable bacteria after inoculation onto bacterial samples after 24 hours.

[0066] The detail of the microbiological test is shown in the following table:

TABLE-US-00006 Description Value Culture bacterial charge 3.2 × 10.sup.5/ml Inoculated culture volume 0.4 ml Initial bacterial charge concentration/cm.sup.2 1.1 × 10.sup.4 ufc/cm.sup.2 Inoculated bacterial charge at T.sub.0/cm.sup.2 12375 ufc/cm.sup.2 (L = 4.09) (first test) − L.sub.max Inoculated bacterial charge at T.sub.0/cm.sup.2 11687.5 ufc/cm.sup.2 (L = 4.07) (second test) Inoculated bacterial charge at T.sub.0/cm.sup.2 9125 ufc/cm.sup.2 (L = 3.96) (third test) − L.sub.min Average inoculated bacterial charge at 11062.5 ufc/cm.sup.2 (L = 4.04) T.sub.0/cm.sup.2 − L.sub.mean (U.sub.0) 1° test: Lmax − Lmin/Lmedia <= 0.2 0.03 (verified condition) 2° test: bacterial charge/cm.sup.2 > 6.2 1.1 × 10.sup.4 ufc/cm.sup.2 (ver. cond.) 10.sup.3 −< 2.5 10.sup.4 3° test: bacterial charge after 24 hours 7.5 × 10.sup.6 ufc/cm.sup.2 (L = 6.88) onto an untreated sample > 6.2 × (verified condition) 10.sup.2/cm.sup.2 (U.sub.t) Bacterial charge after 24 hours onto a Absent (L < 0.63) treated sample/cm.sup.2 (A.sub.t) Value R (U.sub.t − A.sub.t) 6.25

[0067] Because the test is passed if the Log Reduction is equal to or greater than 2, in this case it can be said that the treated surface shows a high biocidal activity.

[0068] The photo-catalytic activity due to the treatment is also obtained against the volatile substances of the air flowing around the surface of the leather. In particular, there is a reduction of the substances, organic or inorganic, susceptible to oxidation, which are converted into innocuous species (carbon dioxide, water, sulfate, nitrate, etc.).

[0069] The effect is experimentally measurable by using a standardized mixture of nitrogen oxides (NO+NO.sub.2=NO.sub.x) in the air, the concentration of which is monitored with a chemiluminescence technique, by means of a suitable analyzer.

[0070] The samples having an area of 10×2 cm.sup.2 were placed inside a quartz tubular reactor, inside of which were introduced 3 liters of standard gaseous mixture in which the initial concentration of nitrogen oxides corresponds to 600 ppb.

[0071] For activating the photo-catalysis process it is employed a light source with a power of 300 W and power density of about 15 W/m.sup.2, placed at 25 cm from the surface of the test samples; the measurement of the concentration of NO.sub.2 was overlooked as said substance can be adsorbed on the support even in the dark, while, on the contrary, the variation of the concentration of NO was measured, because it is substantially insensitive to the phenomena of adsorption of the support in the dark.

[0072] The trends of breakdown of the nitrogen oxides by photo-catalysis of the titanium dioxide are shown in detail in the enclosed FIG. 1 (in different scenarios which have been previously examined), which is a Cartesian graph of the percentage of removed nitrogen oxide (NO) as a function of the exposure time (T), measured in minutes.

[0073] The tests, replicated 4 times, were performed on three types of substrate: [0074] untreated sample of leather (curve A); [0075] sample of leather coated with the same binder part used for making the photo-catalytic coating, but without titanium dioxide (curve B); [0076] sample of leather coated with the photo-catalyst mixture (curve C).

[0077] The trends of breakdown of the nitrogen oxides show a remarkable rate of degradation of said oxides in case the sample has the photo-catalytic coating (curve C) and, as regards the reference formulation devoid of the photo-catalytic principle (curve B) and the sample as such (curve A), we are able to note a mild reduction of the concentration of the nitrogen oxides, as well as expected according to what is known from the scientific literature.

[0078] From the above description the technical features of the method for obtaining self-cleaning and self-sanitizing surfaces of finished leather are very clear, as well as the related advantages.

[0079] It should be noted, finally, that although the present invention has been described for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to the preferred embodiments, other variations and/or modifications may be made by the man skilled in the art without departing from the relevant scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.