Water-soluble male molded hook-and-loop fastener and method for producing same

A water-soluble male-type molded hook-and-loop fastener, comprising:

• a substrate, and
• a plurality of male-type engaging elements protruding from a surface of the substrate,
• wherein the water-soluble male-type molded hook-and-loop fastener satisfies the following (1) to (3):
• (1) the plurality of male-type engaging elements are arranged in rows, and each of the male-type engaging elements has a shape in which the male-type engaging element rises from the substrate surface, curves in mid-course, in a row direction so that a tip portion thereof is oriented toward the substrate surface, or each of the male-type engaging elements has a shape in which the male-type engaging element rises from the substrate surface, branches in mid-course forward and backward in the row direction so as to curve in the row direction so that each branched tip portion is oriented toward the substrate surface,
• (2) the substrate and the male-type engaging elements both contain a mixture of a polyvinyl alcohol, a polyhydric alcohol- or ethylene oxide-based polymer, and a layered inorganic particle, the polyhydric alcohol- or ethylene oxide-based polymer being mixed in a proportion in the range of 5 to 30 parts by mass and the layered inorganic particle being mixed in a proportion in the range of 3 to 20 parts by mass, based on 100 parts by mass of the polyvinyl alcohol, and
• (3) the polyvinyl alcohol has a degree of polymerization of 300 to 700 and a degree of saponification of 60 to 80% by mole.