EPOXIDATION TREATMENT OF ANIMAL FIBER MATERIAL

摘要

PURPOSE: To provide an animal fiber material with shrink resistance without impairing essential characteristics of the fiber by subjecting the animal fiber material to a wetting-deswelling treatment with a saturated aqueous solution containing a neutral salt, then adding a reducing agent to the solution, carrying out a reduction treatment and performing cross-linking and polymerization by a treating solution containing an epoxy compound. CONSTITUTION: An animal fiber material is subjected to a wetting-deswelling treatment with a saturated aqueous solution containing preferably sodium chloride at 30-50 deg.C and then a reducing agent (e.g. acidic sodium sulfite) is added to the solution. The animal fiber material is reduced with the solution at 30-50 deg.C and 1-5% wt/v of an epoxy compound (preferable example glycerol glycidyl ether) and an acidic sulfite as a catalyst are added to the solution to give a treating solution. The animal fiber is treated with the treating solution to perform a cross-linking treatment between scales. An elevation of scales in water controlled to prevent felt formation of the fiber. Neither damage of water repellence of skin being essential characteristics of the fiber nor reduction in mechanical strength of the fiber are brought about by the treatment.