JP6889962B1 - How to modify animal hair - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a modifying method for obtaining animal hair having anti-pilling property by a simple treatment. The present invention contains a reduction treatment step in which animal hair is treated with a reduction treatment solution containing a reducing agent under neutral or weakly alkaline conditions, and the reduced animal hair contains a water-soluble protein and transglutaminase. Provided is a method for modifying animal hair, which comprises an enzyme treatment step of treating with an enzyme treatment solution. [Selection diagram] None

Description

The present invention relates to a method for modifying animal hair, particularly a modification method for preventing so-called pilling of animal hair and animal hair obtained by the modification treatment.

Products obtained from animal hair such as wool have a drawback of the generation of pills called pilling. To prevent pilling (also called "pilling prevention"), a powerful chemical is used to weaken the strength of wool, and by removing the pills, the amount of pills adhering to the work piece is reduced, as if pills were generated. We may take measures as if we did not. However, the weakening of wool deprives the wool itself of its thickness, which affects the texture of the wool itself. On the other hand, there is a measure to suppress the generation of pills by coating wool with a resin chemical, but the resin coating loses the feel peculiar to wool.

Treatments to prevent animal hair pilling have existed in the past. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-213574 (Cited Document 1) discloses that animal hair fibers are treated with an aqueous enzyme solution to crosslink the cuticle portion. The cuticle is a scaly substance that exists on the outside of animal hair fibers, and this is known to be the cause of pilling. Patent Document 1 proposes to treat animal hair fibers with an enzyme (including transglutaminase) to prevent pilling. In this process, sufficient pilling prevention performance is not always obtained.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-51555 (Patent Document 2) describes a technique for treating animal hair with a proteolytic enzyme and transglutaminase. Further, WO2009 / 0666785 (Patent Document 3) describes a technique for adhering a partially hydrolyzate of wheat protein to a fiber and then allowing transglutaminase to act on the fiber. Sufficient pilling prevention performance has not been obtained by the methods of Patent Documents 2 and 3.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3-213574 Special Table 2002-51555 WO2009 / 0666785

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a modifying method capable of obtaining animal hair having anti-pilling property by a simple treatment.

That is, the present invention provides the following aspects:
[1]
A reduction treatment step in which animal hair is treated with a reduction treatment solution containing a reducing agent under neutral or weakly alkaline conditions, and an enzyme treatment step in which the reduced animal hair is treated with an enzyme treatment solution containing a protein and transglutaminase.
A method for modifying animal hair, including.
[2]
The modification method of [1], wherein the neutral or weak alkalinity is pH 7 to pH 9.
[3]
The modifying method according to [1] or [2], wherein the reducing agent is a physiologically acceptable reducing agent.
[4]
The modification method according to [3], wherein the physiologically acceptable reducing agent is sulfite, sulfite, oxalate, formate, gallic acid or a mixture thereof.
[5]
The modification method according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the protein is a water-soluble protein.
[6]
The modification method according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein the animal hair is goat hair or wool.
[7]
The reforming method according to any one of [1] to [6], wherein the reduction treatment step is carried out at a temperature of 70 to 95 ° C. for 10 to 120 minutes.
[8]
The modification method according to any one of [1] to [7], wherein the enzyme treatment step is carried out at a temperature of 30 to 60 ° C. for 30 to 180 minutes.
[9]
Animal hair obtained by the treatment method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
[10]
[9] A processed product obtained from the animal hair described above.

The present invention is a technique for modifying animal hair, and is a treatment technique for providing animal hair having high anti-pilling properties suitable in terms of safety and treatment cost. The anti-pilling effect obtained by the present invention makes it possible to provide a wool fiber processed product having excellent washing resistance, and for applications and products that were difficult with conventional wool and other animal hair fiber processed products. On the other hand, it can be widely used.

The method for modifying animal hair of the present invention includes a reduction treatment step in which the animal hair is treated with a reduction treatment solution containing a reducing agent under neutral or weakly alkaline conditions, and the reduced animal hair is treated with a water-soluble protein and transglutaminase. It includes an enzyme treatment step of treating with an enzyme treatment solution containing. Although the modification method of the present invention is mainly aimed at modifying animal hair, the treatment of the present invention may be applied to a blended fiber containing artificial fiber such as polyester fiber and animal hair. However, the effect of the treatment of the present invention cannot be expected for artificial fibers.

[Beast hair]
As the animal hair modified by the modification method of the present invention, it is preferable to use animal fiber containing natural keratin as a raw material. Examples of animal hair include wool, goat hair, rabbit hair, alpaca hair and the like. Further, the fiber morphology may include hair, thread, knitted fabric, woven fabric and the like.

[Reduction process]
In the present invention, animal hair is treated with a reducing treatment liquid containing a reducing agent under neutral or weakly alkaline conditions. Neutral or weakly alkaline means pH 7 to 9, but is not necessarily particular about this. Therefore, the treatment may be carried out from a slightly acidic region (specifically, a region between pH 6 to 7) to an alkaline region exceeding pH 9, but the treatment is mainly carried out in the region of pH 7 to 9. The pH is preferably adjusted with a buffer.

The reducing agent is not particularly limited as long as it is a compound that acts on a substance and reduces the substance and is physiologically acceptable, but in consideration of environmental problems, sulfites, bisulfites, and oxalic acids are used. It is preferable to use edible agents such as salts, formates and oxalates. The term "physiologically acceptable" means that the drug is physiologically low-toxic or non-toxic.

The reduction treatment liquid is an aqueous solution containing the above reducing agent, and the blending amount of the reducing agent is 5% owf with respect to the fiber (owf is an abbreviation for on the weight of fiber and represents the weight with respect to the fiber weight) to 25. % Owf is preferably 10% owf to 20% owf, more preferably 12 to 18% owf. If it is less than 5% owf, the reduction treatment becomes insufficient, and the final high pilling property becomes insufficient. If it is more than 25% owf, there is no problem, but the anti-pilling does not increase with the increase in the blending amount, and the reducing agent is wasted.

The reaction time of the reduction treatment step is not particularly limited as long as the reducing agent can act on the fibers, but is 10 to 120 minutes, more preferably 15 to 90 minutes, and more preferably 30 to 60 minutes. is there. If it is less than 10 minutes, the reduction is insufficient, and if it exceeds 120 minutes, the amount of reduction does not increase. The reaction temperature is not particularly limited as long as the reducing agent can act on the fibers, but is preferably 70 ° C. or higher. The upper limit is 95 ° C. or lower. If it is lower than 70 ° C, the reducing ability is insufficient, and if it is higher than 95 ° C, the fiber may be damaged. After the fibers are immersed in the treatment liquid, any method of shaking, spraying, or stirring may be used, but a method of increasing the contact between the fibers and the treatment liquid is preferable.

[Enzyme treatment process]
The animal hair obtained in the above reduction treatment step is then subjected to an enzyme treatment step. In the enzyme treatment step, the reduced animal hair is treated with an enzyme treatment solution (aqueous solution) containing a water-soluble protein and transglutaminase.

The water-soluble protein according to the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is a water-soluble protein derived from animals and plants, but it is preferable to use a water-soluble protein derived from animals. Water-soluble proteins are water-soluble proteins obtained from animals and plants, and are obtained directly from animals and plants or through specific treatments. Specifically, gelatin, soybean protein, milk protein, and peptides. And so on. In the present invention, animal-derived gelatin is preferable. The water-soluble protein is preferably blended in an amount of 3% owf to 25% owf, preferably 5% to 15% owf, and more preferably 5% owf to 10% owf mass% with respect to the fiber. If it is less than 3% owf, there is a drawback that the anti-pilling property is lowered and the texture is lowered due to insufficient protein binding amount by transglutaminase, and there is no problem even if it exceeds 25% owf, but the anti-pilling effect due to excessive addition is exhibited. No improvement is expected and the added protein is wasted.

Transglutaminase is used as an enzyme in the enzyme treatment solution of the present invention. Transglutaminase is an enzyme that acts on the amino acid residues of glutamic acid and lysine on the protein to crosslink the protein, and it does not matter if it has activity, and its origin is that of mammalian origin. Various basic substances such as those derived from fish and those derived from microorganisms are known, but any of them may be used. The transglutaminase is 0.1 U / g-fiber (activity value of transglutaminase with respect to 1 g of processed fiber) to 100 U / g-fiber, preferably 1 U / g-fiber to 50 U / g-fiber, more preferably. It is preferable to mix in an amount of 5 U / g-fiber to 25 U / g-fiber. If it is less than 0.1 U / g-fiber, there is a drawback that the anti-pilling effect and the texture are deteriorated due to insufficient protein binding amount, and there is no problem even if it exceeds 100 U / g-fiber, but it is excessive. The anti-pilling effect cannot be expected to be improved by the addition, and the added transglutaminase is wasted.

Examples of the enzyme treatment step of the present invention include a method of immersing the animal hair obtained in the reduction treatment step in an enzyme treatment solution containing a water-soluble protein and transglutaminase. The reaction time of the enzyme treatment step is not particularly limited as long as the transglutaminase can act on the animal hair, but is preferably 30 minutes or more, and more preferably 60 minutes or more. The upper limit of the processing time is also 180 minutes or less, preferably 90 minutes or less. If it is less than 30 minutes, the enzyme treatment is insufficient, and if it exceeds 180 minutes, the performance does not increase as the time capacity increases. The reaction temperature is also not particularly limited as long as the transglutaminase can maintain its activity, but is preferably 30 to 60 ° C, more preferably 40 to 50 ° C. If the reaction temperature is less than 30 ° C., the enzyme treatment becomes insufficient, and conversely, the enzyme treatment at a temperature higher than 60 ° C. is not realistic.

The animal hair subjected to the treatment according to the present invention is animal hair having the following characteristics. The point to be emphasized as a characteristic of the animal hair according to the present invention is that it is excellent in anti-pilling property, and it can be widely used for applications and products which were difficult with the animal hair according to the prior art.

The animal hair of the present invention is obtained by subjecting animal hair to a reduction treatment under neutral to weakly alkaline pH conditions, and further allowing transglutaminase to act in the presence of a water-soluble protein. Examples of the form of the processed animal hair include coats, sweaters, pants, jackets, mufflers, rugs, gloves, hats, and the like, but the form is not particularly limited.

In the present specification, "pilling property" means that fibers are entangled with each other and pills are generated on the surface, which is found on knitted fabrics and woven fabrics. The pilling property can be determined according to the pilling test method of JIS L 1076 woven fabric and knitted fabric, and is expressed as a pilling series.

The reducing agent used in the above treatment step uses a drug approved as a food and / or a food additive, and it is possible to provide a technique useful not only in sustainability but also in safety.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to examples, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[Example 1] Goat wool modification treatment and anti-pilling test The effect on the pilling effect was examined when the pH condition was neutralized by the goat wool modification treatment.

A reduction treatment solution having a bath ratio of 1:30 with respect to the weight of 100% goat wool knitted fabric was used. The reduction treatment solution was prepared by dissolving 12% owf of sodium sulfite and 2 g / L of pH7 sodium phosphate buffer as a reducing agent. The knitted fabric was shaken for 60 minutes using a horizontal shake shaker to perform a reduction treatment.

After the reduction treatment, washing with water and dehydration were carried out, and a treatment solution in which the bath ratio was 1:30 was used as in the reduction treatment to allow transglutaminase to act in the presence of protein (hereinafter referred to as transglutaminase treatment). The transglutaminase treatment solution was prepared by dissolving 10% owf of gelatin APH-100 (gelatin derived from pig skin, manufactured by Nitta Gelatin Co., Ltd.) and transglutaminase 15 U / g-fiber. The goat wool was shaken at 50 ° C. for 60 minutes using a side shake shaker. After the transglutaminase treatment, a knitted fabric was washed with water, dehydrated and dried to obtain a knitted fabric. The obtained knitted fabric was evaluated for anti-pilling property and texture.

Anti-pilling test Evaluation was made using an ICI type tester according to the JIS L 1076 A method. The test results are shown in Table 1.

Texture evaluation In the present specification, "texture" is a subjective evaluation that expresses the feel of touching fibers, woven fabrics, and knitted fabrics with the sensuality of human beings. The texture evaluation performed in the examples was carried out by relative evaluation with the unprocessed fabric. Sensory evaluations were performed on softness, warmth, swelling, and sliminess, and the results were all good.

[Example 2] When the pH condition was set to neutral in the treatment of wool, the effect on the pilling effect on the produced treated wool was examined.

A knitted fabric made of 100% wool was subjected to a modification treatment in the same manner as in Example 1 to obtain a knitted fabric, which was evaluated for anti-pilling property and texture in the same manner as in Example 1. The results are shown in Table 1 for anti-pilling properties.

Texture evaluation Sensory evaluation was performed on softness, warmth, swelling, and sliminess, and the results were all good.

[Example 3] Modification treatment of goat wool and evaluation of anti-pilling property When the pH condition of Example 1 is made weakly alkaline, the effect of goat hair on the pilling effect on the produced goat wool treated product. It was investigated.

For a knitted fabric of 100% goat wool, the condition in the reduction treatment of Example 1 was set to pH 8, and the knitted fabric was modified by the same treatment to obtain a knitted fabric, which had anti-pilling properties and texture as in Example 1. Evaluation was performed. The results are shown in Table 1 for anti-pilling properties.

Texture evaluation Sensory evaluation was performed on softness, warmth, swelling, and sliminess, and the results were all good.

[Comparative Example 1] Evaluation of pilling test of goat wool knitted fabric treated under weakly acidic conditions Example 1 except that the condition in the reduction treatment of Example 1 is pH 5 for 100% goat wool knitted fabric. The modification treatment was carried out in the same manner as in the above to obtain a knitted fabric, which was evaluated for anti-pilling property in the same manner as in Example 1. By performing the reduction treatment under weakly acidic pH conditions, the pilling series became 2.5 grade.

[Comparative Example 2] Evaluation of pilling test of goat wool knitted fabric treated with degrading enzyme and transglutaminase of Patent Document 2 A degrading enzyme-treated solution having a bath ratio of 1:30 with respect to the weight of 100% goat wool knitted fabric. Using. The degrading enzyme treatment solution was prepared by dissolving bioprase APL-30 (manufactured by Nagase ChemteX Corporation) as a degrading enzyme in 0.59% owf and pH 8 sodium phosphate buffer 2 g / L. Cashmere was shaken at 44 ° C. for 40 minutes using a horizontal shake shaker to perform decomposing enzyme treatment.

After the degrading enzyme treatment, the mixture was heated at 80 ° C. for 10 minutes to inactivate the enzyme, washed with water, and dehydrated. Next, transglutaminase treatment was performed in the same manner as in Example 1 with a transglutaminase-treated solution to which no water-soluble protein was added, followed by washing with water, dehydration, and drying. In this treatment, the pilling series became 1.5, and the anti-pilling property was not improved.

[Comparative Example 3] Evaluation of pilling test of transglutaminase-treated goat wool knitted fabric of Patent Document 3 A 100% goat wool knitted fabric is processed only by transglutaminase treatment using gelatin of Example 1 as wheat protein. It was. In this treatment, the pilling series became 1.5, and the anti-pilling property was not improved.

Claims (6)

A reduction treatment step in which animal hair is treated with a reduction treatment solution containing a reducing agent under the conditions of pH 7 to pH 9, and an enzyme treatment step in which the reduced animal hair is treated with an enzyme treatment solution containing a protein and transglutaminase.
A method for modifying animal hair, including. Wherein the reducing agent is a sulfite, bisulfite, oxalate, formate salt, a gallate or a mixture thereof, modification method of claim 1, wherein. The modification method according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the protein is a water-soluble protein. The modification method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the animal hair is goat hair or wool. The reforming method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the reduction treatment step is carried out at a temperature of 70 to 95 ° C. for 10 to 120 minutes. The modification method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the enzyme treatment step is carried out at a temperature of 30 to 60 ° C. for 30 to 180 minutes.