Fungicide composition for natural fibers and natural fiber components

Abstract

A method for producing a natural fiber part may comprise applying an aqueous solution of an inorganic aluminum salt to the natural fiber part and drying the natural fiber part applied with the aqueous solution. The aqueous solution may contain the aluminum salt in a concentration of 2 to 40% by weight. The aluminum salt may include an alum compound. At least one of an inorganic thickening agent or an inorganic stabilizing agent may be added to the aqueous solution.

Claims

1. A method for producing a natural fiber part, the method consisting essentially of: applying an aqueous solution of an inorganic aluminum salt to the natural fiber part, the aqueous solution consisting essentially of the aluminum salt in a concentration of 2 to 40% by weight; and drying the natural fiber part applied with the aqueous solution in a temperature range of 30 C. to 90 C., wherein the aluminum salt is an alum compound of the formula M.sup.IM.sup.III(SO.sub.4).sub.2.12H.sub.2O and/or a mixture thereof, and wherein at least one inorganic thickening agent, at least one inorganic stabilizing agent, or a mixture thereof is added to the aqueous solution.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: compressing, after the aqueous solution is applied, the natural fiber part to form a natural fiber shaped part.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein drying the natural fiber part is performed prior to compressing the natural fiber part.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the aluminum salt is configured to reduce mold growth.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the aqueous solution is an aqueous potassium aluminum sulfate dodecahydrate solution in a concentration of 2 to 40% by weight.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE

(1) FIG. 1 shows an overview of viable count.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(2) Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in more detail hereafter based on several examples.

(3) The examples hereafter in Table 1 show different passenger car door interior trims, which all have a polymer/natural fiber structure.

(4) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Analyzed natural fiber-containing components Material Description 1-R Door trim containing no fungicide; Material PP-KE-PES (45-40-15); Inoculation: back 2-V Component packaged directly after production (no microbial contamination from the air); Inoculation: front 3-V Door trim containing thiabendazole; Inoculation: front 4-R, 4-V Climate layer containing thiabendazole; Inoculation: back and front 5-V Door trim containing 5% alum; Inoculation: front

(5) The analysis includes inoculated components containing no fungicide, components containing thiabendazole, and components treated with a 5% alum solution (KAl(SO.sub.4).sub.2.12H.sub.2O, potassium aluminum sulfate dodecahydrate).

(6) The components inoculated with test microorganisms were partially sterilized over-night prior to inoculation at 100 C. The inoculation with the respective test microorganisms was carried out on the front and/or back. The components were exposed to the test microorganisms over 14 days.

(7) The respective test piece is suspended and coated with test microorganisms in different dilutions. The following fungus types were analyzed: Asp. terreus Byss. nivea Asp. Fumigatus Asp. Niger

(8) The culture media were incubated over at least 3 days at 30 C. The final evaluation and calculation of the colony-forming units (CFU) per test piece were carried out by way of microscopic-optical evaluation. The assessment scale is shown in Table 2.

(9) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Assessment scale CFU/test piece Non-inoculated test pieces Inoculated test pieces <10.sup.3/pc. fungicidally effective fungicidally effective 10.sup.3-10.sup.5/pc. Suspected microbial instability 10.sup.5/pc. microbially unstable fungistatically effective 10.sup.5-10.sup.6/pc. Suspected microbial instability >10.sup.6/pc. microbially unstable

(10) Table 3 hereafter shows the results of a visual rating after 14 days at 100% relative humidity and 30 C.:

(11) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Results of a visual rating after 14 days at 100% relative humidity and 30 C. Non- Asp. Byss. Asp. Test pieces inoculated terreus nivea fumigatus Asp. niger 1-R ++ ++ + + +++ 2-V + ++ +++ + +++ 3-V unr. unr. + + + 4-R unr. + + unr. + 4-V unr. + + unr. ++ 5-V unr. unr. +++ unr. unr. unr.: unremarkable, no microbial surface growth visible +: if minute traces of microbialgrowth are visible ++: if microbial growth on <5% of the inoculated surface is visible +++: if microbial growth on >5% of the inoculated surface is visible

(12) Untreated test components developed dense mycelium with test microorganisms on the culture medium with easily usable nutrients. FIG. 1 shows an overview of viable count.

(13) Materials were exposed for 14 days at 100% r.h. and 30 C.

(14) Materials 1-R and 2-V containing no fungicide develop extremely pronounced mold growth.

(15) Materials 3-V, 4-R and 4-V containing thiabendazole had considerably reduced contents of viable counts. The dosage is still low and can be increased. Some fungus types exhibited clearly inhibited growth. Asp. fumigatus was inhibited only insignificantly. The active agent is known to have wide ranges in effectiveness with respect to different fungus types. In sufficient concentration, the described aluminum salts exhibit a fungistatic effect.

(16) Material 5-V containing alum was colonized only by Byss. nivea; the growth of the other three test microorganisms was impeded or largely inactivated.