METHOD OF MODIFYING ANIMAL FIBER

Abstract: A method of enabling modification and processing of animal fibers at high efficiency, in which animal fibers are immersed in a water bath containing inert inorganic powder and subjected to ultrasonic treatment so that impurities and scales sticking to the surface of the fiber are removed with hand and physical properties inherent in the fibers stably kept unchanged. This method is feasible without the use of particular chemicals and is, therefore, free of environmental pollution hazards and easy to handle.

Description: Technical Field The invention relates to a method for improving an animal fibre with ultrasonic treatment. Background of the Invention Animal fibres such as wool have been widely used, as they are high in elasticity and thermal insulation, since early times. However, such fibres, as a result of having scales on the surface, have various disadvantages such as poor dye penetration, milling caused by interwinding of scales and bad feeling to the skin. For improving the milling property, namely shrink-resistant finish, it has been known to remove partly the scales with a chemical treatment. However, chemical treatment cannot remove the scales completely and has a disadvantage in that it causes the feeling of the fibre to deteriorate. Animal fibre (hair) such as wool is different in quality and the extent of adhesion of impurities according to the site even in a sheet of fleece. Hence, animal fibres should be classified into three or four grades to be used properly in an efficient way. After such classification, the animal fibre is scoured and then subjected to practical application processes such as carding. In general, it has been necessary to apply chemical treatments in scouring to remove impurities (e.g. grease, sweat and dirt) adhered on the animal fibre. For example, a complex scouring process is effected using chlorinated solvents and detergents. Such a scouring process has problems not only in operation but also in waste disposal and damage of the fibre. Recently, environmental pollution problems have come to be taken seriously. The development of a method for carrying out the scouring of animal hair or a method for improving the milling property with no use of chemicals causing environmental pollution has been in strong demand all over the world. The invention aims to provide a method for physically and efficiently improving scouring and improving the milling property of animal fibres without use of chemicals causing environmental pollution. FR-A-2 450 294 discloses an etching process whereby synthetic fibres are immersed in an etching liquid containing an inorganic powder while exposed to ultrasound. Disclosure of the Invention In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method of improving an animal fibre, characterized in that the fibre is immersed in an aqueous bath containing an inactive inorganic powder, in which the weight ratio of the inorganic powder to water is at least 5/100, and treated by ultrasonic (ultrasound). In such a method according to the invention, the inorganic powder contained in the water bath is vibrated finely by ultrasound and impurities adhered on the fibre and scales can be removed by the vibration. Accordingly, the feeling and properties of the fibre itself can be maintained. Further, the extent of removing the scales can be set at an optional level by the duration of the treating period. The inorganic powder used in the invention may be any such powder which is in inactive and stable form. For example, sintered products of iron, manganese and the like, various ceramics, and minerals such as feldspar and the like may be used. It is preferred to use powders of far-infrared-radiating ceramics (e.g., zirconia type, alumina type and titania type ceramics), zirconium carbonate and the like. Further, so as not to damage the fibre, it is preferred that the powder particles are made spherical with no angular edges as far as possible by being, for example, crushed in a ball mill. The inorganic powder is preferred to have a diameter smaller than that of the fibre so as not to damage the fibre. Particularly, powder particles having a diameter of substantially not larger than 5 microns is preferably used. The ratio of the inorganic powder to water is preferred to be 5 ∼ 80: 100 by weight, particularly 10 ∼ 50 : 100 by weight. When the used amount of the inorganic powder is too much, the inorganic powder is significantly precipitated and the treatment cannot be efficiently carried out. Further, the fibre surface may be damaged. On the other hand, when the ratio is too low, the treating speed is lowered. The method of ultrasonic treatment according to the invention may for example comprise placing the fibre in a bath containing the inorganic powder in water and applying the ultrasound wave to the fibre from upper and lower sides or upper, lower, right and left sides. The frequency is preferably not lower than 18 kilohertz, more preferably about 26 to 38 kilohertz. The upper and lower frequencies may be either same or different. In the method according to the invention, the extent of removal of the scales of the fibre surface can be set at an optional level by selecting the frequency of ultrasound and the treating period. Further, in the method of the invention, the fibre can be treated in the state of yarns, felts and woven or knotted fabrics as well as-raw fibres optionally to remove scales on the fibre surface to improve the dyeing property and shrink-resistance of the fibre. Consequently the range of possible uses of animal fibres becomes very broad. Furthermore, by carrying out the method of the invention and then immersing the product in a treating composition prepared by dispersing fine far-infrared-radiating ceramic powder in an aqueous medium containing ethyl alcohol and treating it by ultrasound wave, the fine ceramic powder can be adsorbed efficiently in the animal fibre product to improve the corrosion resistance of the animal fibre product. In this case, as the scales are already removed, the fine far-infrared-radiating ceramic powder can be absorbed very efficiently. Further, when the method of the invention is applied directly to sheared animal fibres, impurities adhered on the fibres can be removed efficiently within a period of ten to several tens of minutes. As no organic solvent nor detergent are used in the treating bath, there is little problem in waste treatment. Additionally, because grease floats on the water bath surface to form a single layer after the treatment, grease (lanolin) can be easily recovered. The inorganic powder used in the treating bath also precipitates and can be recovered for reuse. Accordingly, in the method a scouring process can be carried out economically and high efficiently. In this case, scales on the fibre surface can be removed depending upon the treating time as described above. Accordingly, in the scouring process, it is possible to optionally remove the scales on the fibre surface to improve the dyeing property and the like. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments Example 1 30 parts by weight of far-infrared ray-radiating ceramics powder, which mainly contained SiO₂. Al₂O₃ and MgO and at least 50% of which was fine powder having a diameter of not larger than 5 µm, was mixed with 100 parts by weight of water to prepare a treating bath. In the treating bath, a raw wool (scoured) was placed in a sheet-like form 1 cm thick and 10 cm square and two ultrasonic generating plates were arranged respectively at a distance of 5 cm above and under the raw wool sheet and ultrasound (ultrasonic wave) was applied at a frequency of 26 kilohertz. The protrusions of the scales on the raw wool surface were removed by a treatment for about 10 minutes and only round bases of the scales remained on the fibre surface. Further continuously treating the fibre for 10 minutes, the fibre surface became smooth with no trace of scales. The section of the fibre observed by microphotograph was also totally uniform and no corrosion was observed in the fibre interior. The product thus prepared was good in feeling and excellent in dyeing property, and allowed uniform dyeing easily. The shrink resistance was also highly improved. Example 2 40 parts by weight of zirconium carbonate powder was mixed with 100 parts by weight of water to form a treating bath. In the treating bath, a felt 15 cm square was placed and two ultrasonic wave generating plates were arranged respectively at a distance of 5 cam above and under the felt and ultrasound (ultrasonic wave) was applied at a frequency of 38 kilohertz from upper side and a frequency of 26 kilohertz from lower side for 20 minutes. The product was completely free from scales and no significant unevenness was observed on the fibre surface even by a microphotograph of 2000 magnifications. Example 3 A bundle of a woollen yarn which was dyed light grey was treated in the same manner as in Example 1. Resultantly, there was obtained a product, which was bulky and very superior in feeling, without discolouration and with the dyed colour stably maintained. Scales on the fibre surface were substantially removed so that irregularity could not be markedly observed on the fibre surface even by a microphotograph of 2000 magnifications and the shrink resistance was very improved. Example 4 A woollen fabric was treated in the same manner as in Example 1 to obtain a product very improved in both of feeling and shrink resistance and useful as a comfortable underwear. Example 5 A mitten made of a woollen yarn, which had been used for a long time to be changed to a felt-like hard one, was treated in the same manner as in Example 1. Resultantly, the felt-like feeling was removed to change the mitten to that having a very soft feeling. Example 6 20 parts by weight of a fine ceramics powder which mainly contained SiO₂, Al₂O₃ and MgO and at least 50% of which has a diameter of not larger than 5 µm, was mixed with 100 parts by weight of water to prepare a treating bath. Wool fibres (hair) sheared from sheep were immersed in the treating bath and two ultrasonic generators were arranged up and down in the manner as putting the fibres between them at a distance of 5 cm, and ultrasound (ultrasonic wave) was applied at a frequency of 26 kilohertz from both of them. Dry grass, grease, dirt and the like adhered on the wool fibres were completely removed by a treatment for about 20 minutes and the protrusions of scales on the surface of the wool fibres were removed at the same time and the wool fibres were finished to white cotton form of good feeling. Lanolin could be recovered from the treating bath at the same time. Example 7 The product prepared in Example 1 was immersed in a treating composition comprising 100 parts by weight of far-infrared-radiating ceramic powder, 100 parts by weight of water and 40 parts by weight of ethyl alcohol, and ultrasound (ultrasonic wave) of 18 kilohertz was applied for 3 minutes while stirring the treating composition. The resultant product had an improved dyeing property and was excellent in corrosion-resistance and shrink-resistance. The fine ceramic powder used was the same as that used in Example 1. Although wool fibres are used as the animal fibres in the above Examples, the same manner can be applied to any other animal fibres such as camel fibre, cashmere, rabbit fibre and the like. Industrial Applicability of the Invention According to the invention the scales on the surface of an animal fibre such as wool can be removed with no substantial deterioration of feeling and properties of the fibre to highly improve dyeing property and shrink-resistance of the animal fibre. As the fibre surface becomes smooth, it gives good feeling when touched to the skin to allow its application as a light underwear in direct contact with the skin. Further, the method of the invention can be carried out with no use of specific chemicals and only with use of water and an inactive inorganic powder. Therefore, there is no problem of environmental pollution and a specific time is not required to carry out the waste disposal. Animal fibres can be very economically and efficiently treated. Further, animal fibres in the form of yarns, fabrics, sewed products and the like can be easily treated.

Claims: A method of improving an animal fibre, characterized in that the fibre is immersed in an aqueous bath containing an inactive inorganic powder, in which the weight ratio of the inorganic powder to water is at least 5/100, and treated by ultrasound. A method as defined in Claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of the inorganic powder to water in the aqueous bath is 5 ∼ 80 : 100. A method as defined in Claim 1 or 2, wherein an ultrasonic wave generator is equipped so as to generate ultrasound of not lower than 18 kilohertz both under and above the animal fibre in the aqueous bath. A method as defined in any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the inorganic powder is selected from sintered products of iron and manganese, ceramics and minerals. A method as defined in Claim 4, wherein the inorganic powder is selected from far-infrared-radiating ceramics and zirconium carbonate. A method as defined in any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein at least 50% of the inorganic powder has a diameter of not larger than 5 µm. A method as defined in any preceding claim, wherein the animal fibre is constituted by sheared animal fibres and impurities adhered on the animal fibres are removed. A method as defined in any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the animal fibre is treated as raw fibre, yarn, felt, woven fabric or knitted fabric. A method as defined in any of Claims 1 to 8, wherein scales on the surface of the animal fibre are removed. A method as defined in any of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the animal fibre, after being treated by ultrasound in said aqueous bath, is further treated by ultrasound in an aqueous bath containing ethyl alcohol to improve the corrosion resistance of the animal fibre.

Inventors: KATO HIROYA, KATO, HIROYA
Applicants: KATO RESEARCH INST INC, KATO RESEARCH INSTITUTE INC.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: D06M10
IPC codes: D06M10