Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a fiber processing agent and fiber processed with
the fiber processing agent.
Background Art
[0002] There have been various products using fiber such as blouse, dress shirts, pants,
skirts, backing clothes, covering materials for furniture and seats of vehicles and
the like in the market.
[0003] The fiber as a material for producing the products is required to have various characteristics
for satisfying needs in each field of application. The required characteristics include,
for instance, moisture retention, water-absorbing property, moisture-absorbing property,
antistatic property.
[0004] For instance, blouse is worn casually, and a wearer often gets sweaty while wearing
the blouse. Therefore, the moisture-absorbing property is required to the blouse.
There are various types of fibers capable of satisfying the requirement for moisture-absorbing
property. The fibers as described above include, but not limited to: synthetic fiber
such as nylon, polyester, acryl and polyurethane; natural fibers such as cotton, linen,
wool; and compound fibers prepared with the synthetic and natural fibers.
[0005] Sometimes the fibers are subjected to processing with a specific fiber processing
agent for improving the properties described above, or for adding any other specific
property other than those described above.
[0006] For instance, the eggshell membrane has, in addition to the capability of improving
the properties described above, the wound-treating property of promoting cure of a
wound when applied to a surface of wounded skin, and there has been known the use
of the eggshell membrane as a sheet material prepared by mixing powder of eggshell
membrane in a fiber material and forming the mixture into a thin sheet so that the
sheet material can easily be applied to a surface of wounded skin.
[0007] In order to improve the wound-treating property of the sheet material made of a fiber
material having the wound-treating property as described above, there has been proposed
a method of preparing an aqueous solution with the eggshell dissolved therein and
immersing woven cloth or unwoven cloth in this aqueous solution and then drying the
cloth to produce a sheet material (Refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication
No. HEI 7-246234).
[0008] So long as the sheet material prepared by the method is used only once as a disposable
material, the characteristics such as the wound-treating property is provided, and
thus there occurs no problem.
[0009] With the technology disclosed in the reference described above, however, as woven
cloth or unwoven cloth is immersed in an aqueous solution containing only eggshell
membrane and then the cloth is dried, adhesion of the eggshell membrane to the sheet
material is weak. Therefore, for instance, when the sheet material is washed repeatedly
or used for a long period of time, the eggshell membrane is removed with the durability
lowered, and such properties as moisture retention property, water-absorbing property,
moisture-absorbing property, antistatic property, and wound-treating property can
not disadvantageously be retained for a long time.
Disclosure of the Invention
[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a fiber processing agent having
excellent durability and capable of continuously providing moisture retention property,
water-absorbing property, moisture-absorbing property, antistatic property and wound-treating
property, as well as fibers processed with this fiber processing agent.
[0011] The fiber processing agent according to the present invention is used for processing
a surface of fiber, and contains soluble eggshell membrane and a reactive organic
compound having a reactive group.
[0012] In the present invention, the soluble eggshell membrane indicates an eggshell membrane
of a bird's egg (represented by a hen's egg) which is chemically- processed with an
agent such as an acid, an alkali, an oxidizing agent, or a reducing agent into the
water-soluble state.
[0013] In addition to the hen's egg, eggs of goose, quail, ostrich, and the like may be
used as materials for the eggshell membrane according to the present invention.
[0014] Representative reducing agents which may be used in the chemical processing according
to the preset invention include thioglycolic acid, thiopropionic acid, and 2-melcaptoethanole.
[0015] For preparing the soluble eggshell membrane used for production of a fiber processing
agent, at first, an aqueous solution of the soluble eggshell membrane is prepared,
and then any method may be used for preparing the fiber processing agent. In one of
the representative preparation methods, 10 to 32 weight portions of the aqueous solution
of thioglycolic acid (14.3 mol with the concentration of 100% in the liquid phase)
or thiopropionic acid (11.3 mol with the concentration of 100% in the liquid phase),
or a mixture thereof with the concentration of 1 mol/litter or more is added to one
weight portion of the eggshell membrane.
[0016] Then the mixture solution is heated to a temperature in the range from 50 to 70 °C,
and is kept under the temperature for five to several tens hours until the eggshell
membrane is completely dissolved. Then the reducing agent used in the reaction is
removed to obtain an aqueous solution.
[0017] More specifically, acetone is added to the solution above to precipitate the eggshell
membrane having been processed into the soluble state and dissolved therein, the solution
(reducing agent) is removed, and then the precipitate is washed with acetone once
or twice, and then water is added to the precipitate to obtain an aqueous solution.
[0018] Alternatively, the reducing agent solution with the eggshell membrane dissolved therein
is processed into the acidic state with hydrochloric acid for preventing oxidization,
and then the solution is dialyzed through water to remove the reducing agent.
[0019] When 2-melcaptoethanole is used as a reducing agent, the pH is adjusted to the alkaline
side in the range from about 9 to 10 for strengthening the reducing capability, and
is heated for five to several tens hours at a temperature in the range from 50 to
70 °C. In this case, as it is difficult to completely dissolve the eggshell membrane,
the processing is terminated within a prespecified period of time, and then impurities
are removed by centrifugation, and the remaining solution is dialyzed through water,
or the dissolved eggshell membrane is precipitated with acetone, and the precipitated
eggshell membrane is dissolved, for instance, in water to obtain an aqueous solution
of soluble eggshell membrane.
[0020] Further, with the soluble eggshell membrane is prepared by dissolving the eggshell
membrane with alkali, an aqueous solution of 1 to N (specified value) sodium hydroxide
or that further containing alcohol (with the alcohol density of 50 to 70%) is added
to one weight portion of eggshell membrane, the mixture solution is heated for 3 to
6 hours at a temperature in the range from 40 to 60°C, and then is dialyzed through
water for neutralization.
[0021] In the fiber processing agent according to the present invention, the reactive organic
agent preferably contains one or more selected from the group consisting of (component
1) a hydrophilic compound having a polymerizable vinyl group in the molecule, (component
2) a monomer containing any of a hydroxyl group, a carboxylic group, an amino group,
a sulfonic group, and a phosphate group, (component 3) a hydrophilic compound having
an epoxy group, and (component 4) a compound having an aziridine group.
[0022] Specifically, the (component 1) above is any of polyethylene glycol diacrylate, polyethylene
glycol dimethacrylate, bisphenol A polyethylene glycol diacrylate, bisphenol A polyethylene
glycol dimethacrylate, bisphenol S polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and the like.
[0023] Specifically, the (component 2) is any of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic
acid, itaconic acid, acrylamide, metahcrylamide, vinyl sulfonic acid, hydroxylpropyl
methacrylate, and the like.
[0024] Specifically, the (component 3) is polyethylene glycoldiglycidyl ether or the like.
[0025] Specifically, the (component 4) is, for instance, a compound having the following
formula:

[0026] According to the present invention, the aqueous solution of soluble eggshell membrane
described above and the reactive organic compound are mixed with each other to prepare
the fiber processing agent.
[0027] In addition to the soluble eggshell membrane and the reactive organic compound, such
materials as fibroin, sericin, and chitosan may be blended therein. When the material
or materials are blended therein, the moisture-absorbing property is improved.
[0028] With the present invention as described above, because a reactive organic compound
having a reactive group is contained therein, even when the fiber processed with the
agent is used for a long period of time, the eggshell membrane is never removed. Therefore,
the various properties of the eggshell membrane are maintained, so that a fiber processing
agent with excellent durability and also continuously providing the moisture retention
property, water-absorbing property, moisture-absorbing property, antistatic property,
and wound-treating property can be obtained.
[0029] In the fiber processing agent according to the present invention, preferably the
soluble eggshell membrane is contained in the range from 0.1 to 10% by weight relative
to the total weight of the fiber processing agent and the reactive organic compound
in the range from 1 to 20% by weight. More preferably, the soluble eggshell membrane
is contained in the range from 0.2 to 5% by weight and the reactive organic compound
in the range from 2 to 10% by weight.
[0030] When the concentration of the soluble eggshell membrane is less than 0.1 % by weight
and that of the reactive organic compound is less than 1% by weight, effects of the
moisture retention property and the like are insufficient. When the concentration
of the soluble eggshell membrane is more than 10% by weight and that of the reactive
organic compound is more than 20% by weight, the fiber processed with the agent may
become stiff.
[0031] The fiber processing agent according to the present invention may have also the composition
as described below.
[0032] The fiber processing agent according to the present invention is used for processing
a surface of fiber, and contains a soluble eggshell membrane and an organic compound
having the adhesiveness.
[0033] The soluble eggshell membrane is described as that contained in the fiber processing
agent according to the present invention above, so that description thereof is omitted
herefrom.
[0034] In the fiber processing agent according to the present invention, a reactive organic
compound having a reactive group may be used as the organic compound having the adhesiveness
described above.
[0035] With the present invention as described above, even when fiber having been subjected
to the processing with the agent according to the present invention is used for a
long period of time, it is possible to prevent the eggshell membrane from being removed.
[0036] The fiber processing agent according to the present invention preferably contains
one or more selected from the group consisting of (component 1) a hydrophilic compound
having a polymerizable vinyl group in the molecule, (component 2) a monomer containing
any of a hydroxyl group, a carboxylic group, an amino group, a sulfonic group, and
a phosphate group, (component 3) a hydrophilic compound having an epoxy group, (component
4) a compound having an aziridine group, and (component 5) a compound having an isocyanate
group or a precursor thereof.
[0037] Examples of the (component 1) to (component 4) contained in the reactive organic
compound are the same as the (component 1) to (component 4) described as those contained
in the fiber processing agent according to the present invention above, so that descriptions
thereof are omitted herefrom.
[0038] Examples of the (component 5) containing an isocyanate group are, for instance, hexamethylene
diisocyanate and 1,3,5-trisocyanate-n-pentane expressed by the chemical formulas (1)
and (ii) respectively:
OCN-(CH
2)
6-NCO (i)

[0039] Examples of the (component 5) containing a precursor of an isocyanate group are,
for instance, a precursor of hexamethylene diisocyanate and a precursor of 1,3,5-triisocyanate-n-pentane.
Of these compounds, the precursor of hexamethylene diisocyanate are, for instance,
1, 6-di(methylcarbamoyl)-n-hexane and 1,6,-di(phenylcarbamoyl)-n-hexane expressed
by the chemical formulas (iii) and (iv) respectively. The precursor of 1,3,5-trisocyanate-n-pentane
is, for instance, the compound expressed by the chemical formula (v) below:

[0040] In the fiber processing agent according to the present invention, as the organic
compound having the adhesiveness as described above, any of lipophilic compounds such
as wax or silicone and/or high molecular compounds such as ether, acryl, urethane,
and those having an amide or ester group and the like may be used.
[0041] The organic compounds having the adhesiveness are those not reactive but having an
appropriate degree of lipophilicity or hydrophilicity and adhere to a surface of fiber,
and are used as a softening agent, a smoothing agent, an antistatic agent and the
like. More specifically, the lipophilic compounds are, for instance, wax, silicone,
neutral fat, mineral oil, and animal wax. The high molecule compounds are, for instance,
polyethylene glycol (di)alkylate, polyvalent alcohol ester, polyalkyl amide, polyacrylate.
[0042] With the invention as described above, the lipophilic compounds and/or high molecular
compounds adhere to a surface of fiber, and elution of the eggshell membrane protein
contained in the fiber to outside of the fiber can be prevented. Because of the characteristics,
removal of the eggshell membrane can be prevented even when the fiber having been
subjected to processing with the agent is used for a long period of time.
[0043] The fiber according to the present invention is characterized that the fiber is subjected
to the fiber processing agent according to the present invention.
[0044] The fibers, which can be processed with the fiber processing agent according to the
present invention, are, for instance, synthetic fibers such as nylon, polyester, acryl,
and polyurethane; natural fibers such as cotton, linen, and wool; and compound fibers
thereof.
[0045] Any method may be employed for processing with the fiber processing agent, and for
instance, such methods as the immersing method, and padding method may be employed.
The immersing method includes, for instance, the room-temperature static method, and
heating and agitating method.
[0046] The padding method includes, for instance, the pad dry method, and pad steam method.
Any methods listed above may be employed in a case of the reactive organic compound.
In a case of a not-reactive compound, it is preferable to employ the pad dry method.
[0047] With the present invention as described above, as fibers are subjected to processing
with the fiber processing agent, the fibers have excellent durability and can continuously
show the moisture retention property, water-absorbing property, moisture-absorbing
property, antistatic property, and wound-treating property.
Best mode for Carrying out the Invention
[0048] The present invention is described more specifically with reference to examples and
comparative examples.
[Example 1]
[0049] To prepare the fiber processing agent, at first an aqueous solution of the soluble
eggshell membranes was prepared. Hen's eggs each with a shell was broken to remove
the egg mixture, and the obtained eggshells each with an eggshell membrane were put
in clear water to manually remove the eggshell, and then the eggshell membrane were
immersed for one hour in a 1% hydrochloric acid aqueous solution to dissolve fine
eggshell pieces deposited on the eggshell membranes, and then the eggshell membranes
were washed with water and naturally dried to obtain the eggshell membranes.
[0050] Then 1.5 litters of 5.0 mol/litter thioglycolic acid aqueous solution was added in
50 grams of the eggshell membranes obtained as described above. The thioglycolic acid
aqueous solution containing the eggshell membranes was heated for 12 hours at a temperature
of 60 °C to dissolve the eggshell membranes.
[0051] The aqueous solution with eggshell membranes dissolved therein was dialyzed through
water acidified with hydrochloric acid to remove thioglycolic acid, thus the aqueous
solution of the soluble eggshell membranes being obtained.
[0052] The aqueous solution of the soluble eggshell membrane and a reactive organic compound
were blended with each other to prepare the fiber processing agent. Concentration
for components in the fiber processing agent are as shown below:
Solid phase of the soluble eggshell membrane |
5.0% by weight |
Water |
89.5% by weight |
Reactive organic compound (expressed by the following chemical formula (2)) |
5.0% by weight |
Reactive organic compound (expressed by the following chemical formula (3)) |
0.5% by weight |

[0053] The fiber processing agent prepared as described above was impregnated in the taffeta
cloth containing 100% polyester (with the apparent specific gravity of 120 g/m
2), and the cloth was wrung with a mangle to the agent content of 70%. Then the cloth
was heated with steam for 10 minutes at a temperature of 105 °C, and then washed with
hot water (for 10 minutes at a temperature of 40 °C), dried and thermally set.
[Example 2]
[0054] The taffeta cloth obtained according to the same procedure as that in Example 1 was
washed with an automatic washing machine 10 times, and in each washing cycle the cloth
was washed once and rinsed twice for 15 minutes.
[Example 3]
[0055] The aqueous solution of soluble eggshell membrane was blended with the Light Silicone
PS-1000 (produced by KOEISHA CHEMCIAL Co. Ltd.) which is an organic compound with
the adhesiveness to prepare the fiber processing agent according to a second aspect
of the present invention. The aqueous solution of soluble eggshell membrane used for
preparing the fiber processing agent was prepared according to the same procedure
as that described in Example 1.
Solid phase of the soluble eggshell membrane |
10.0% by weight |
Light Silicone PS-1000 |
10.0% by weight |
Water |
80.0% by weight |
[0056] Then the fiber processing agent prepared as described above was impregnated in the
taffeta cloth containing 100% polyester (with the apparent specific gravity of 120
g/m
2), and the cloth was wrung with a mangle to the agent content of 70%. Then the cloth
was dried within a hot air drier for 5 minutes at a temperature of 150 °C, and then
washed with an automatic washing machine in the same way as that employed in Example
2, namely 10 times and in each washing cycle the cloth was washed once and rinsed
twice for 15 minutes.
[Comparative Example 1]
[0057] The same taffeta cloth containing only polyester as that employed in Example 1 was
used, but the cloth was not subjected to the processing with the fiber processing
agent, not to the other operations as described above.
[Comparative Example 2]
[0058] The fiber processing agent employed in this comparative example was different from
that employed in Example 1 only in the point that the fiber processing agent contained
only the soluble eggshell membrane. Concentrations of the components of the fiber
processing agent are as shown below:
Solid phase of the soluble eggshell membrane |
5% by weight |
Water |
95% by weight |
[0059] The cloth was washed 10 times like in Example 2.
[Comparative Example 3]
[0060] The taffeta cloth was prepared with the fiber processing agent prepared by blending
the components as shown below and according to the same procedure as that described
in Example 3.
Solid phase of the soluble eggshell membrane |
10.0% by weight |
Water |
90.0% by weight |
[0061] Then the obtained taffeta cloth was washed 10 times line like in Example 3.
[Reference Example 1]
[0062] The taffeta cloth was prepared with the fiber processing agent prepared by blending
the components as shown below and according to the same procedure as that described
in Reference Example 3.
Light Silicone PS-100 |
10.0% by weight |
Water |
90.0% by weight |
[0063] Then the obtained taffeta cloth was washed 10 times line like in Example 3.
[Assessment Method 1]
[0064] For the taffeta cloths according to the first aspect of the present invention in
Examples 1, 2 and in Comparative Examples 1, 2, the moisture-absorbing property, a
water-absorbing rate, and friction-charged electrostatic potential were measured.
Further for the taffeta cloths according to the second aspect of the present invention
in Example 3, Comparative Example 3, and Reference Example 1, the water-absorbing
rate and friction-charged electrostatic potential were measured. Measurement of the
moisture-absorbing property was performed by placing a sample of the processed taffeta
cloth for 12 hours in the atmospheric air with the relative humidity of 30% at a temperature
of 23 °C for moisture control and measuring a change in the weight under the atmospheric
air with the relative humidity of 80% at the temperature of 30 °C. The water-absorbing
rate was measured by the JIS L 1096-A method. Further the friction-charged electrostatic
potential was measured by the JIS L 1094-B method. A result of the assessment is shown
in Table 1.
(Table 1)
|
Moisture Absorbing property |
Water Absorbing rate |
Friction-charged electrostatic potential [V] |
Example 1 |
2.1 |
1 sec. or below |
200 |
Example 2 |
2.0 |
1 sec. or below |
400 |
Com. Example 1 |
0.1 |
No absorption in 5 minutes or more |
4800 |
Com. Example 2 |
0.2 |
No absorption in 5 minutes or more |
4500 |
Example 3 |
- |
1 to 5 sec |
1400 |
Com. Example 3 |
- |
No absorption in 5 minutes or more |
4200 |
Ref. Example 1 |
- |
2 to 5 minutes |
2800 |
[0065] From the result of the Assessment Method 1 above, it is understood that the moisture-absorbing
property and water-absorbing rate in Example 1 are higher as compared to those in
Comparative Example 1 and the friction-charged electrostatic potential in Example
1 is smaller as compared to that in Comparative Example, which indicates that Example
1 is superior to Comparative Example 1 in all aspects. From this result, it is understood
that the fiber processed with the fiber processing agent according to the present
invention (containing a reactive organic compound) was improved in the water-absorbing
property, moisture-absorbing property, and antistatic property.
[0066] Further Example 2 shows the higher moisture-absorbing property and water-absorbing
rate and smaller friction-charged electrostatic potential as compared to Comparative
Example 2, which suggests that Example 2 is superior to Comparative Example 2 in all
aspects. Therefore it is understood that the fiber processed with the fiber processing
agent according to the present invention (containing a reactive organic compound)
does not lose the effects provided by the fiber processing agent even after washed
repeatedly and has excellent durability.
[0067] In Comparative Example 2, the moisture-absorbing property is 20%, the water-absorbing
rate is not more than one second, and the friction-charged electrostatic potential
is 500 V in the initial state before washing. Comparison of the initial state to the
state after washing suggests that the fiber processing agent containing only the soluble
eggshell membrane like that in the conventional technology does not improve the durability.
[0068] Comparing Example 3 to Comparative Example 3, it is understood that Example 3 shows
the higher water-absorbing rate and smaller friction-charged electrostatic potential
as compared to Comparative Example 3, and that Example 3 is superior to Comparative
Example 3 in all aspects. Also comparison of Example 3 to Reference Example 1 suggests
the same conclusion. For the reasons as described above, it is understood that the
fiber processed with the fiber processing agent according to the present invention
(containing an organic compound having the adhesiveness) is improved in the water-absorbing
property and the antistatic property.
[Assessment Method 2]
[0069] After a commercially available adhesive tape is adhered on and pealed off from a
human skin and then rough surface is intentionally produced with an acetone/ether
mixture solution, the taffeta cloths prepared in Examples and Comparative Examples
were adhered and fixed on an upper arm for a specified number of days and for 6 hours
each day, and conductance of the upper arm with the cloths wound around was measured.
A result of the assessment is as shown in Table 2.
(Table 2)
|
|
Day 0 |
Day 1 |
Day 3 |
Day 7 |
Day 14 |
Day 21 |
Conductance[µS] |
Exam. 1 |
1.8 |
2.3 |
2.5 |
7.5 |
40.0 |
43.0 |
C. E. 1 |
2.0 |
2.1 |
2.0 |
3.0 |
15.0 |
20.0 |
[0070] From a result of assessment according to the Assessment Method 2, it is understood
that the conductance in Example 1 is larger as compared to that in Comparative Example
1. A larger value of this conductance indicates improved conductivity of human skin,
which indicates that the roughed skin is being cured and the moisture retention of
the skin is being improved.
[0071] For the reasons as described above, when the fiber processed with the fiber processing
agent according to the present invention (containing a reactive organic compound)
is used, a human skin having rough surface portions is cured, which indicates that
the wound-treating property and moisture retention are improved. Even when used for
a long period of time like in experiments according to this Assessment Method 2, the
effects of wound-treating property and moisture retention are recognized, and therefore
it is understood that the excellent properties are maintained from a long period of
time.
Industrial Availability
[0072] The present invention provides a fiber processing agent capable of improving the
various properties such as moisture retention, water-absorbing property, moisture-absorbing
property, and antistatic property, and also provides fibers and fiber products improved
in the properties as described above.
1. A fiber processing agent used for processing a surface of a fiber, comprising:
a soluble eggshell membrane; and a reactive organic compound having a reactive group.
2. The fiber processing agent according to claim 1,
wherein the reactive organic compound contains one or more of (component 1) a hydrophilic
compound having a polymerizable vinyl group in the molecule, (component 2) a monomer
containing any of a hydroxyl group, a carboxylic group, an amino group, a sulfonic
group, and a phosphate group, (component 3) a hydrophilic compound having an epoxy
group, and (component 4) a compound having an aziridine group.
3. The fiber processing agent according to claim 1 or claim 2,
wherein a content of the soluble eggshell membrane relative to the total weight
of the fiber processing agent is in the range from 0.1 to 10% by weight; and
a content of the reactive organic compound is in the range from 1 to 20% by weight.
4. A fiber processed with the fiber processing agent according to any of claims 1 to
3.
5. A fiber processing agent used for processing a surface of a fiber comprising:
a soluble eggshell membrane; and an organic compound having adhesiveness.
6. The fiber processing agent according to claim 5,
wherein the organic compound having adhesiveness is a reactive organic compound
having a reactive group.
7. A fiber processing agent according to claim 6,
wherein the reactive organic component contains at least one of (component 1) a
hydrophilic compound having a polymerizable vinyl group in the molecule, (component
2) a monomer containing any of a hydroxyl group, a carboxylic group, an amino group,
a sulfonic group, and a phosphate group, (component 3) a hydrophilic compound having
an epoxy group, (component 4) a compound having an aziridine group, and (component
5) a compound containing an isocyanate group or a precursor thereof.
8. The fiber processing agent according to claim 5,
wherein the organic compound having adhesiveness is a lipophilic compound such
as wax and silicone and/or high molecular compound containing a group such as ether,
acryl, urethane, amide, and ester.
9. A fiber processed with the fiber processing agent according to any of claims 5 to
8.