MODIFICATION OF KERATIN FIBER

摘要

PURPOSE: To produce a modified fiber essentially free from residual metal by a process capable of removing exclusively keratinous substance having rough feeling while suppressing the damage to non-keratinous protein. CONSTITUTION: A mechanical force is applied to a keratin fiber represented by wool in an aqueous solution of a transition metal salt. The tissue under the keratin layer in the scale (cuticle cell) is disintegrated by this treatment to localize the transition metal at the disintegrated part in high concentration. Oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide and a persulfate are decomposed by the catalytic action of the metal and the keratin layer consisting of the scale on the keratin fiber is peeled off by the pressure of the generated oxygen gas. High shrink-proofing effect can be attained without using conventional chlorine-based compound as the oxidizing agent.