Fiber-treating agent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Regenerated collagen fibers used in hair ornament products face issues with high water absorption leading to mechanical strength deterioration, low heat resistance, and lack of heat shape memory ability, limiting their popularity compared to synthetic fibers.
Innovation Solution
A fiber-treating agent comprising a compound with a methylol group bonded to two nitrogen atoms and a phenolic compound with specific electron donating groups, applied to naturally derived fibers to enhance water resistance, heat resistance, and impart heat shape memory ability, while improving stretchability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If regenerated collagen fibers are used for hair ornament products, then natural texture and appearance are achieved, but mechanical strength significantly decreases when water absorption is high
Solution Approach 1:
A crosslinking agent is introduced as an intermediary substance that forms crosslinks between collagen molecules. This mediator creates a three-dimensional network structure that reinforces the fiber, maintaining mechanical strength while preserving the natural appearance and texture of the regenerated collagen fibers.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite structure by combining regenerated collagen fibers with crosslinked networks. The crosslinked collagen complex forms a reinforced composite material that integrates the natural properties of collagen with the structural strength of the crosslinked network, solving the contradiction between natural appearance and mechanical strength.
2Reliability
If regenerated collagen fibers absorb water, then hydrophilicity is maintained, but mechanical strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Crosslinking is performed preliminarily during the fiber formation process, before the fibers are subjected to wet conditions. This preliminary crosslinking creates a pre-reinforced structure that prevents water from disrupting the molecular arrangement, allowing the fibers to maintain both hydrophilicity and mechanical strength when exposed to water during subsequent use.
3Temperature
If high temperature is applied to regenerated collagen fibers, then heat styling is achieved, but shrinkage or crimping occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The crosslinked network acts as a structural intermediary that stabilizes the collagen fiber architecture during thermal processing. This crosslinked framework serves as a thermal buffer, allowing the fibers to withstand high temperatures required for heat styling without undergoing unwanted shrinkage or crimping, thereby maintaining shape stability.
4Shape
If regenerated collagen fibers are heat set, then temporary shape is achieved, but shape memory is lost through subsequent washing
Solution Approach 1:
Crosslinking is performed preliminarily to establish a stable three-dimensional network structure that can permanently retain the heat-set shape. This pre-formed crosslinked framework acts as a memory scaffold, allowing the fibers to maintain the desired shape even after subsequent washing, thereby achieving permanent shape memory capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The treatment significantly improves the water resistance, heat resistance, and stretchability of naturally derived fibers, allowing them to maintain shape sustainability and durability, comparable to human hair, and provides heat shape memory ability.
Implementation Method 1
a method is known in which a compound having a methylol group is applied
Implementation Method 2
to modify regenerated collagen fibers to impart water resistance and heat resistance, an attempt has been made to apply a reactive substance to amino groups of a collagen molecule
Implementation Method 3
immersing fibers in the fiber-treating agent
Data Source
AI summary
A fiber-treating agent, where the fiber-treating agent is a one part fiber-treating agent including a single composition or a multiple-part fiber-treating agent including a plurality of compositions. The fiber-treating agent contains the following components (A) to (C) in a total composition thereof, and where, for the one-part fiber-treating agent, a part or all of the components (A) and (B) is optionally a condensate formed from the components: (A): a compound having a structure wherein a methylol group is bonded to each of two nitrogen atoms in the compound, (B): a phenolic compound having an electron donating group on at least one of meta-positions and a hydrogen atom on at least one of ortho-positions and a para-position, wherein the electron donating group on the meta-position optionally forms, together with adjacent carbon atoms, a benzene ring optionally substituted with a hydroxy group, and (C): water.