Insulating material using waste hair and its manufacturing method

Abstract

The method for manufacturing an insulating material using waste hair according to the present invention may include the step of collecting waste hair, the step of washing the collected waste hair and drying it at room temperature, and the step of heat treating the dried waste hair.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an insulating material utilizing waste hair that can improve thermal insulation performance by destroying the cuticle of waste hair and expanding the internal medulla, and a method for manufacturing the same. Background Technology

[0002] Due to their structural characteristics, goose feathers trap a large amount of air, providing an insulating effect. Down refers to the soft, fine feathers found on a bird's neck, chest, and armpits. These down feathers consist of far more fine hairs than the main feathers covering the body. These fine hairs trap more air, effectively retaining body heat.

[0003] In addition, the surface chemical composition of the down is highly hydrophobic, maintaining heat retention even in humid environments. The entire surface consists of non-melting organic material, accounting for 10% of the total down weight, providing protection and waterproofing functions through the down's excellent water repellency.

[0004] Ducks and geese raised for meat and egg production typically begin having their down feathers plucked at 10 weeks of age. The feathers and down needed to make a single padded jacket require plucking the breast feathers from 15 to 25 geese. According to the animal rights organization PETA, geese are plucked alive at six-week intervals starting from 10 weeks of age.

[0005] Human hair is found in urban waste streams in almost every city and town around the world. In rural areas or sparsely populated regions, hair is discarded into nature and slowly decomposes over the years, eventually allowing components such as carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur to return to their respective natural cycles.

[0006] In urban areas or densely populated regions, solid waste often accumulates in large quantities in the flow, blocking drainage systems and causing multifaceted problems. Due to its slow decomposition, it remains in landfills / waste flows for a long time, occupying a significant amount of space. Over time, leachate from these landfills increases nitrogen concentrations in water bodies, leading to eutrophication.

[0007] Furthermore, burning human hair or waste piles containing hair is a practice observed in various parts of the world that generates foul-smelling and toxic gases such as ammonia, carbonyl sulfides, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, phenol, nitriles, pyrrole, and pyridine. Leaving hair exposed generates hair dust, causing discomfort to those nearby, and inhaling large quantities can lead to various respiratory problems. Oil, sweat, and other organic matter attached to hair decompose over time, becoming a source of foul odors and a breeding ground for pathogens.

[0008] In Korea, hair is treated as special waste, and disposal methods vary by local government, with it primarily being disposed of by landfill. Although hair decomposes in soil, it does so very slowly, taking one to two years to completely break down. This is because hair has poor porosity and does not absorb water well. As a result, it takes a longer time to decompose than other glassy materials such as leaves or grass.

[0009] There are approximately 115,000 hair salons nationwide, and the number is steadily increasing. Each salon discharges 20 liters of hair daily, and roughly 2,300,000 liters of hair are discharged nationwide every day.

[0010] Therefore, research on insulation materials utilizing waste hair is necessary to solve the aforementioned problems. Prior art literature

[0011] 1. Korean Registered Patent No. 10-1441278 2. Korean Published Patent No. 10-1373660 The problem to be solved

[0012] The objective of the present invention is to provide an insulating material utilizing waste hair, in which the hair cuticle is destroyed and the internal hair medulla is expanded to improve thermal insulation performance, and a method for manufacturing the same. means of solving the problem

[0013] A method for manufacturing an insulating material using waste hair according to one embodiment of the present invention may include the steps of collecting waste hair, washing the collected waste hair and drying it at room temperature, and performing heat treatment on the dried waste hair.

[0014] In addition, the heat treatment step according to one embodiment of the present invention can be performed at 130°C to 150°C.

[0015] In addition, after the heat treatment step according to one embodiment of the present invention, a step of reducing the heat-treated waste hair by spraying a reducing agent may be further included.

[0016] In addition, the reducing agent according to one embodiment of the present invention may include at least one selected from thioglycolic acid, thiolactic acid, cysteine, cysteamine, and salts thereof.

[0017] An insulating material according to one embodiment of the present invention is manufactured by the method for manufacturing an insulating material according to the present invention and may have a thermal conductivity of 0.2 W / mk or less.

[0018] The padding according to one embodiment of the present invention may include the insulating material according to the present invention as a filler. Effects of the invention

[0019] The insulating material utilizing waste hair and the method for manufacturing the same according to the present invention can improve thermal insulation performance by destroying the cuticle of waste hair and expanding the internal medulla.

[0020] The insulating material utilizing waste hair and the method for manufacturing the same according to the present invention can have effects such as waste reduction, resource conservation, and production cost reduction by utilizing discarded waste hair. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0021] Figure 1 is an image comparing the structure of goose feathers and hair. Figure 2 is an image showing the structure of hair. Figure 3 is an image of hair before and after heat treatment and reduction treatment according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a graph showing the temperature change of ordinary cotton confirmed using a thermal imaging camera. Figure 5 is a graph showing the temperature change of animal hair and heat-treated animal hair confirmed using a thermal imaging camera. FIG. 6 is a graph showing the temperature change of waste hair and heat-treated waste hair confirmed using a thermal imaging camera according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0022] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the concept of the present invention is not limited to the presented embodiments. Those skilled in the art who understand the concept of the present invention may easily propose other inventions that are inferior or other embodiments included within the scope of the concept of the present invention by adding, changing, or deleting other components within the same scope of the concept, and such are also to be considered to be included within the scope of the concept of the present invention.

[0023] Additionally, components with the same function within the scope of the same concept appearing in the drawings of each embodiment are described using the same reference numeral.

[0024] A method for manufacturing an insulating material using waste hair according to the present invention may include the steps of collecting waste hair, washing the collected waste hair and drying it at room temperature, and performing heat treatment on the dried waste hair.

[0025] Keratin extracted from natural resources such as hair, feathers, fingernails, claws, beaks, and horns exhibits low thermal conductivity, making it ideal for insulation. Its effectiveness is naturally proven in sources like bird feathers and polar bear fur. Porous keratin matrices efficiently trap air and reduce heat transfer. Keratin can be used in various insulation applications. Keratin waste is an eco-friendly material for building insulation and packaging.

[0026] Figure 1 is an image comparing the structures of goose down and hair. An eco-friendly insulation material was produced by referring to the fiber structure and air layer formation principle of goose down, which is widely used as a conventional padding filling material.

[0027] Figure 2 is an image showing the structure of hair. 90% of the protein component of hair is keratin. Hair consists of three layers from the center: the medulla, the cortex, and the cuticle. The medulla consists of empty spaces that can contain a lot of air, and the outermost part consists of the cuticle, which is arranged in a scale-like shape.

[0028] Therefore, heat treatment can destroy the cuticle to increase the surface area and expand the internal medulla to contain a large amount of air, thereby inducing an insulating effect.

[0029] FIG. 3 is an image of hair before and after heat treatment and reduction treatment according to an embodiment of the present invention. The heat treatment step can be performed at 130°C to 150°C. When hair is heat-treated in the range of 130°C to 150°C, the thermal insulation properties of the hair are improved.

[0030] In particular, the heat treatment step can be performed for 5 to 60 seconds. When heat treatment is performed at 130°C to 150°C for 5 to 60 seconds, bubbles may begin to form in the cortex and medulla, causing the hair to expand and deform, which may induce an insulating effect.

[0031] Additionally, after the heat treatment step, the method may further include a step of reducing the heat-treated waste hair by spraying a reducing agent onto it, and the reducing agent may include at least one selected from thioglycolic acid, thiolactic acid, cysteine, cysteamine, and salts thereof.

[0032] The above reduction treatment step can change the shape of the hair by breaking the cystine bonds of the hair. Through the reduction process, keratin fibers can be swollen and softened.

[0033] As described above, heat treatment and reduction treatment can damage the hair cuticle to form a large amount of air pockets in the medulla, which is the empty space inside the hair. By expanding the pores and damaging the cuticle portion of the hair, the hair can become more entangled with each other, thereby increasing the insulation effect.

[0034] In addition, the reduction treatment step may further include a step of applying pressure to the waste hair sprayed with the reducing agent using a zigzag-shaped pressure plate. By applying zigzag pressure to the waste hair, whose surface area has been expanded through heat treatment, the overall volume of the waste hair can be increased and the entanglement between the hairs can be increased.

[0035] Additionally, the reduction treatment step may further include the step of introducing waste hair sprayed with the reducing agent into a chamber and depressurizing the interior. The waste hair, whose surface area has been expanded through heat treatment, expands the internal medulla portion through depressurization inside the chamber, and the expanded internal medulla is maintained to a certain extent even outside the chamber to additionally form an air layer in the waste hair.

[0036] The insulating material according to the present invention is manufactured by the method for manufacturing insulating material according to the present invention and may have a thermal conductivity of 0.2 W / mk or less.

[0037] The padding according to the present invention may include the insulation material as a filler. The padding may be prepared by filling the insulation material according to the present invention into the filling space inside a sewn double cover, and the padding may be applied to padded products such as clothing, sleeping bags, bedding, and curtains.

[0038] The antifreeze insulation material according to the present invention may contain the padding. The antifreeze insulation material may be formed as a double-layered tube comprising an outer layer made of foamed resin and an inner layer made of padding filled with the insulation material.

[0039] As described above, the thermal insulation material utilizing waste hair and the method for manufacturing the same according to the present invention can improve thermal insulation performance by destroying the cuticle of waste hair and expanding the internal medulla, and by developing a new filler material utilizing discarded hair, it can achieve effects such as waste reduction, resource conservation, and production cost reduction.

[0040] The following describes manufacturing examples and experimental examples of the present invention. However, it is specified that these manufacturing examples and experimental examples are intended to explain the composition and effects of the present invention more specifically, and that the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0041] <Heat treatment temperature and time test>

[0042] Collected waste hair was washed and dried at room temperature to prepare it. The dried hair was heated for about 9 seconds under different temperature conditions and cooled at room temperature. A surface cover and a back cover measuring 10 cm × 10 cm were sewn together, and 4.06 g of the hair was filled into each of the filling spaces to prepare them.

[0043] The insulation effect was measured for one hour after placing each insulation material on an arm at room temperature. Table 1 below shows the results of measuring the insulation effect by checking the temperature change (Δt) according to the heating temperature using a thermal imaging camera.

[0044] Heating temperature 100℃ 120℃ 140℃ 160℃ 180℃ Δt 2.0℃ 1.5℃ 1.1℃ 1.6℃ 2.1℃

[0045] After heating at each temperature and measuring, it was confirmed that the temperature change (Δt) of the hair heated at 140℃ was the smallest at 1.1℃.

[0046] When hair is heat-treated in the range of 130°C to 150°C, the hair expands and deforms, improving thermal insulation properties; however, in the range below 130°C, it does not have sufficient expansion and deformation effects, and in the range above 150°C, the thermal insulation effect is reduced due to excessive damage to the hair cuticle, such as melting or breaking.

[0047] The dried hair was heated at 140°C for different heating times and cooled at room temperature, then a surface cover and a back cover measuring 10 cm × 10 cm were sewn together, and 4.06 g of the hair was filled into each filling space to prepare them.

[0048] The insulation effect was measured for one hour after placing each insulation material on an arm at room temperature. Table 2 below shows the results of measuring the insulation effect by checking the temperature change (Δt) according to the heating time using a thermal imaging camera.

[0049] Heating time 2 seconds 5 seconds 10 seconds 60 seconds 90 seconds Δt 2.2℃ 1.2℃ 1.1℃ 1.2℃ 1.5℃

[0050] As a result of measuring after heating at each temperature, it was confirmed that the temperature change (Δt) of the heated hair was smallest at 1.1℃ to 1.2℃ for 5 to 60 seconds.

[0051] When heat treatment is performed at 130°C to 150°C for 5 to 60 seconds, bubbles begin to form in the cortex and medulla, causing the hair to expand and deform, thereby inducing an insulating effect. However, if the treatment is less than 5 seconds, the heat treatment effect on the hair cannot be obtained, and if the treatment exceeds 60 seconds, the insulating effect is reduced due to excessive damage to the hair cuticle, such as melting or breaking.

[0052] Insulation Material Manufacturing

[0053] Animal hair (Bichon) and collected waste hair were washed and dried at room temperature. The dried animal hair and hair were heated at 140°C for about 9 seconds and cooled at room temperature.

[0054] Insulating materials were prepared using ordinary cotton, animal hair manufactured by the above manufacturing method, heat-treated animal hair, hair, and heat-treated hair. A surface cover and a back cover measuring 10 cm × 10 cm were sewn together, and 4.06 g of the above insulating material was filled into the filling space of each.

[0055] <Verification of Insulation Properties>

[0056] FIG. 4 is a graph showing the temperature change of ordinary cotton confirmed using a thermal imaging camera, FIG. 5 is a graph showing the temperature change of animal hair and heat-treated animal hair confirmed using a thermal imaging camera, and FIG. 6 is a graph showing the temperature change of hair and heat-treated hair confirmed using a thermal imaging camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] Table 3 below shows the results of verifying temperature changes according to the insulating material using a thermal imaging camera. After placing each insulating material on an arm at room temperature, the insulation effect was measured at 60-second intervals for 10 minutes. It was confirmed that heated hair, which had the smallest temperature change (Δt), had the best insulation effect.

[0058] Time(s) 0 60 120 180 240 300 360 420 480 540 600 Regular cotton 28.02 27.60 27.75 27.71 27.92 28.1 28.24 28.25 28.49 28.41 28.54 animal fur 27.40 27.71 27.75 27.85 27.83 27.81 27.95 27.84 27.93 28.0 28.04 heated animal hair 27.61 27.72 27.59 27.49 27.56 27.92 28.01 28.29 28.24 28.31 28.47 hair 27.20 27.62 27.67 27.73 28.05 28.15 28.18 28.05 27.79 27.72 28.04 Heated hair 27.40 27.30 27.40 27.47 27.31 27.45 27.55 27.50 27.65 27.69 27.88

[0059] The temperature change (Δt) of ordinary cotton was confirmed to be 0.94℃, and in the case of animal hair, the temperature change (Δt) before heating was 0.64℃ and the temperature change (Δt) after heating was 0.97℃, so the thermal insulation performance after heating decreased to a level similar to that of ordinary cotton.

[0060] In the case of hair, the temperature change (Δt) before heating was 0.98℃ and the temperature change (Δt) after heating was 0.58℃, confirming that the thermal insulation performance before heating was similar to that of ordinary cotton and was superior to that of animal hair after heating. In addition, the thermal conductivity of the heated hair was found to be 0.19 W / mk.

[0061] As described above, the thermal insulation material utilizing waste hair and the method for manufacturing the same according to the present invention can improve thermal insulation performance by destroying the cuticle of waste hair and expanding the internal medulla through heat treatment and reduction treatment.

Claims

Claim 1 A method for manufacturing an insulating material utilizing waste hair, comprising: a step of collecting waste hair; a step of washing the collected waste hair and drying it at room temperature; and a heat treatment step of heat-treating the dried waste hair at 130°C to 150°C for 5 to 60 seconds to damage the cuticle of the waste hair and expand and deform the medulla to form an air layer inside the hair. Claim 2 delete Claim 3 A method for manufacturing an insulating material utilizing waste hair, comprising, in claim 1, a step of further reducing the heat-treated waste hair by spraying a reducing agent onto it after the heat treatment step. Claim 4 A method for manufacturing an insulating material utilizing waste hair, wherein the reducing agent comprises at least one selected from thioglycolic acid, thiolactic acid, cysteine, cysteamine, and salts thereof. Claim 5 An insulating material manufactured by the method of manufacturing an insulating material according to any one of paragraphs 1, 3, and 4, having a thermal conductivity of 0.2 W / mk or less. Claim 6 Padding containing the insulation material of Paragraph 5 as a filler.

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