JP7770010B2 - Functional ingredient imparting agent for fibers - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to functional ingredient imparting agents for fibers, such as new functional spray imparting agents (spray-type fiber improving agents) that can impart functional ingredients that exert their functions on the skin or body when they come into contact with the skin, such as hydrolyzed sericin refined from silk (cocoons, silk threads) and sericin and fibroin from sericin powder, to fibers (fibers of textile products that come into contact with the skin) with a weak force, allowing the sericin to gradually detach and come into contact with the skin that comes into contact with the fiber, thereby not only improving the feel of the fiber but also providing functions such as moisturizing and deodorizing effects on the skin that comes into contact with the fiber.

Silk has long been used as a luxury material in the clothing industry due to its beauty, pleasant texture, and excellent breathability and moisture permeability. However, in recent years, because the main components of silk, sericin and fibroin, are proteins made up of several types of amino acids, it has been increasingly used as a functional ingredient, for example, by adding it to fibers to take advantage of its functions and properties, and in cosmetics, food, and other non-clothing applications.

For example, sericin is known for its moisturizing properties and deodorizing properties due to its antioxidant properties. To impart these functions to textiles, research and development is underway to develop functional textile products in which fibers are subjected to cationic surface treatment and then a protein layer made of sericin is formed on the surface. (Patent Document 1)

However, it is not easy to perform this type of surface treatment on textile products and then form a sericin protein layer on them, which leads to problems such as high costs and prices, as well as limited product variations, making it difficult to expand the customer base.

On the other hand, when sericin is applied to textile products in factories as mentioned above, it is applied to the fibers with strong bonding power (strong adsorption or strong bonding power), so the sericin can withstand multiple washes and is not easily removed. However, while this means that sericin can improve the functionality of the fibers themselves, no direct functional effect on the skin wearing the fibers can be expected.

On the other hand, if sericin were to be attached to fibers with a weak bond, it would easily come off during washing, resulting in a one-off functional fiber product, which would be even less cost-effective and would further reduce commercial value, making it less practical and less likely to become widespread. For this reason, the idea of gradually releasing and contacting functional ingredients with the skin so that they can exert their effects directly on the skin and body never even occurred to anyone.

JP 2012-26054 A

The present invention solves these problems by focusing on spray-on agents and the like. Rather than firmly applying sericin to textile products at a factory, functional ingredients such as sericin and fibroin can be easily applied by simply spraying. Furthermore, cationic polymers such as cationic chitosan derivatives and the functional ingredient (e.g., sericin) in solution are electrostatically adsorbed or electrostatically adhered (connected by weak ionic bonds, so to speak) to fibers, which then electrostatically adsorb or electrostatically adhere (attached by weak ionic bonds, so to speak) to the fibers, thereby imparting the functional ingredient to the fibers with a weak bonding force. Because the bond (adsorption) between the functional ingredient and the fibers is weak, the agent is durable enough to withstand several washes (functionality retention), yet the functional ingredient is released appropriately and can come into contact with the skin, thereby providing functions such as moisturizing and deodorizing effects on the skin and body. The objective of this invention is to provide an innovative, highly practical, cost-effective functional ingredient imparting agent for fibers that allows the functional ingredient's functions to be exerted on the skin and body via the fibers simply by repeatedly applying the agent in an appropriate amount, for example by spraying an appropriate amount.

The gist of the present invention will be explained with reference to the attached drawings.

The composition includes a functional component that exerts a function on the skin or body when it comes into contact with the skin, and a cationic polymer to which the functional component electrostatically adsorbs or adheres,
A functional component imparting agent for fibers is configured to be sprayed onto fibers that come into contact with the skin as a spray imparting agent together with moisture, so that the cationic polymer electrostatically adsorbs or adheres to the fibers, thereby imparting the functional component to the fibers via the cationic polymer, and when the fibers come into contact with the skin, the functional component is released from the fibers and comes into contact with the skin, thereby exerting the function,
The functional ingredient is hydrolyzed sericin, which gives the fibers flexibility and a pleasant feel, and when it comes off and comes into contact with the skin, it exerts its function and provides a moisturizing effect to the skin,
the cationic polymer is a cationic chitosan derivative that imparts a softening effect to the fiber ,
The hydrolyzed sericin, which is the functional component that is negatively charged or has negative polarity, is applied to the fiber, the surface of which is negatively charged or has negative polarity, via the cationic chitosan derivative, which is the cationic polymer that is positively charged or has positive polarity due to moisture,
The functional ingredient imparting agent for fibers is characterized in that the hydrolyzed sericin, which is the functional ingredient, is imparted to the fibers via the cationic chitosan derivative, which is the cationic polymer, by electrostatic adsorption or electrostatic adhesion due to ionic bonds that realize weak bonds, and when the fibers come into contact with the skin, the hydrolyzed sericin, which is the functional ingredient, detaches from the fibers and comes into contact with the skin, thereby exerting its function on the skin .

The present invention also relates to the functional component imparting agent for fibers described in claim 1, characterized in that it is configured as a product that is sprayed with a sprayer and applied to the fibers.

The present invention also relates to the functional component imparting agent for fibers described in claim 1, characterized in that the functional component, hydrolyzed sericin, is contained in an amount of 1 to 30%.

The functional component imparting agent for fibers described in claim 1 further comprises a cationic oil component for enhancing the softening effect of the fibers.

The functional component imparting agent for fibers described in claim 1 further comprises a moisturizing component.

The functional component imparting agent for fibers described in claim 1 also contains an antibacterial component.

The present invention also relates to the functional component imparting agent for fibers described in claim 1, characterized in that the functional component contains, in addition to the hydrolyzed sericin, fibroin, which exhibits the skin repair function.

The present invention, as configured above, can easily impart the functional ingredient hydrolyzed sericin to fibers that come into contact with the skin by spraying it together with water as a spray imparting agent. Furthermore, the cationic chitosan derivative, a cationic polymer, and the functional ingredient (hydrolyzed sericin) in solution electrostatically adsorb or adhere (connected by weak ionic bonds, so to speak) to the fibers, which then electrostatically adsorb or adhere (attached by weak ionic bonds, so to speak) to the fibers, thereby imparting the functional ingredient to the fibers with a weak bonding force. Because the bond (adsorption) between the functional ingredient and the fibers is weak, providing durability (functionality retention) sufficient to withstand several washes, the functional ingredient is also able to release appropriately and come into contact with the skin, thereby providing functions such as moisturizing and deodorizing effects on the skin and body. Simply by repeatedly applying the functional ingredient by spraying an appropriate amount, for example, the functionality of the functional ingredient can be imparted to the skin and body via the fibers, making this an extremely practical, revolutionary functional ingredient imparting agent for fibers that is also cost-effective.

The optimal embodiment of the present invention will be briefly explained, showing its operation.

The composition contains functional ingredients that exert their functions on the skin or body when they come into contact with the skin, specifically hydrolyzed sericin refined from silk (cocoons, silk threads), and a cationic polymer (specifically, a cationic chitosan derivative that bonds with the hydrolyzed sericin through this weak force) to which the sericin electrostatically adsorbs or adheres (i.e., adheres through weak ionic bonds) , and the spray application agent is sprayed onto fibers that come into contact with the skin together with water.

For example, when an appropriate amount is sprayed, the cationic chitosan derivative bound to the hydrolyzed sericin electrostatically adsorbs or adheres to the fibers (i.e., adheres via weak ionic bonds), and the hydrolyzed sericin is weakly bonded to the fibers via the cationic chitosan derivative, which is a cationic polymer.

This functional component ( hydrolyzed sericin) is bound to the cationic polymer (cationic chitosan derivative) with such weak force, and this cationic polymer (cationic chitosan derivative) is also bound to the fiber with such weak force. Therefore, when the fiber to which this functional component (hydrolyzed sericin) is attached comes into contact with the skin, the functional component (hydrolyzed sericin) gradually detaches from the fiber and comes into contact with the skin.

In other words, the negatively charged or negatively polarized functional component (hydrolyzed sericin) can be weakly bonded to the fiber, whose surface is negatively charged or negatively polarized, via the positively charged or positively polarized cationic polymer (cationic chitosan derivative).

Furthermore, as mentioned above, this functional ingredient, hydrolyzed sericin, only weakly binds to the fiber and the cationic polymer, the cationic chitosan derivative (it is attached by weak force, or in other words, weak ionic bonds), so it will fall off after a few washes. However, as the fiber comes into contact with the skin during this time, the functional ingredient (hydrolyzed sericin) gradually releases from the fiber, allowing the functional ingredient (hydrolyzed sericin) to gradually come into direct contact with the skin.

As a result, functions such as moisturizing and deodorizing can be exerted on the skin that comes into contact with the fibers, and these benefits can be imparted to the skin.

Therefore, by simply applying it to fibers repeatedly and in an appropriate manner, it is possible to not only improve flexibility and feel, but also to impart desired functions to the skin via the fibers, thereby realizing revolutionary new functional spray-on agents and other functional ingredient imparting agents for fibers that are extremely cost-effective.

This section describes a specific example of Example 1 of the present invention.

This embodiment is configured to include a functional ingredient that exerts its function on the skin or body when it comes into contact with the skin, and a cationic polymer to which this functional ingredient electrostatically adsorbs or adheres.

Specifically, hydrolyzed sericin refined from silk (cocoons, silk threads) or hydrolyzed sericin made from sericin powder can be applied to fibers (fibers of textile products that come into contact with the skin) with a weak force, allowing this functional ingredient, hydrolyzed sericin, to gradually detach and come into contact with the skin that comes into contact with the fiber. This not only improves the feel of the fiber, but also allows the fiber to exert functions such as moisturizing and deodorizing effects (sericin functions) on the skin that comes into contact with the fiber, making it a functional ingredient imparting agent for fibers that can be configured as a new functional spray imparting agent.

In other words, in this embodiment, the spray imparting agent is sprayed onto the fibers to form a product that is applied to the fibers. When applied to the fibers, the cationic polymer (cationic chitosan derivative) electrostatically adsorbs or adheres to the fibers, thereby imparting the functional component (hydrolyzed sericin) to the fibers via the cationic polymer (cationic chitosan derivative). As the fibers come into contact with the skin, the functional component (hydrolyzed sericin) gradually releases from the fibers, and this released functional component (hydrolyzed sericin) gradually comes into direct contact with the skin, thereby exerting its function.

Specifically, as mentioned above, the functional ingredient in this example is hydrolyzed sericin, which gives the fibers flexibility and a pleasant feel, and when it comes off and comes into contact with the skin, it exerts its functions (sericin functions) such as moisturizing and deodorizing, thereby providing beneficial effects to the skin (such as moisturizing and deodorizing effects).

In other words, this embodiment is configured to include hydrolyzed sericin as the functional component and a cationic polymer (cationic chitosan derivative) to which the sericin electrostatically adsorbs or adheres.

In this embodiment, the spray is applied to the fibers by spraying it as a spray imparting agent. This causes the cationic polymer (cationic chitosan derivative) to electrostatically adsorb or adhere to the fibers, thereby imparting the functional ingredient, hydrolyzed sericin, to the fibers via the cationic polymer (cationic chitosan derivative). As the fibers come into contact with the skin, the hydrolyzed sericin gradually detaches from the fibers and comes into contact with the skin, thereby exerting its function.

Specifically, the functional component, hydrolyzed sericin, which is negatively charged or has negative polarity, is applied to the fibers, the surface of which is negatively charged or has negative polarity, via the cationic polymer (cationic chitosan derivative), which is positively charged or has positive polarity due to moisture.

Furthermore, the hydrolyzed sericin, which is the functional ingredient of this embodiment, is configured to be attached to the fibers via the cationic polymer through weak electrostatic adsorption or electrostatic adhesion, such that it detaches from the fibers upon contact with the skin and after several home launderings.

Specifically, the hydrolyzed sericin is applied to textile products that come into contact with or are worn directly on the skin, such as underwear, socks, and towels, by diluting the product with water at a ratio of approximately 1 part product of the present invention to 1000 parts water and then applying it to the fibers. For example, when an appropriate amount of the product of this embodiment is sprayed onto such textile products, the negatively charged or negatively polarized hydrolyzed sericin is applied to the fibers, whose surfaces are negatively charged or negatively polarized, via the positively charged or positively polarized cationic polymer (cationic chitosan derivative).

In other words, the cationic polymer (cationic chitosan derivative) that forms a complex and bonds with the hydrolyzed sericin is electrostatically adsorbed or electrostatically attached to the fiber (i.e., attached by weak ionic bonds), and the hydrolyzed sericin is weakly bonded to the fiber via the cationic polymer (cationic chitosan derivative).

As a result, the hydrolyzed sericin binds weakly to the cationic polymer (cationic chitosan derivative), and the cationic polymer (cationic chitosan derivative) also binds weakly to the fiber. Therefore, when the fiber to which the hydrolyzed sericin is applied comes into contact with the skin, the sericin gradually releases from the fiber and is gradually imprinted onto the skin.

In this example, the application of hydrolyzed sericin and cationic polymer ( cationic chitosan derivative) to the fiber surface reduces surface friction, imparting flexibility and providing a softening effect, but to enhance this softening effect, a cationic oil component is further added. A cationic surfactant may also be added, as in common fabric softeners.

In addition, in this embodiment, as mentioned above, the hydrolyzed sericin is applied to the fibers via the cationic polymer (cationic chitosan derivative) with such a weak bonding force that the hydrolyzed sericin gradually releases when the fibers come into contact with the skin, and the sericin is gradually imprinted into the skin, or with such a weak bonding force (by electrostatic adsorption or electrostatic adhesion) that the sericin is almost completely released from the fibers after, for example, several washings.

Specifically, because the sericin adheres via a weak bonding force, it will fall off after a few washes, but as the textile product is worn (through contact between the fiber and the skin), the hydrolyzed sericin gradually releases from the fiber and gradually comes into contact with the skin. This allows the product to exert new functions, such as providing the skin with sericin functions that keep the skin moisturized, such as a moisturizing effect that keeps the skin hydrated, an antioxidant effect that inhibits the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, prevents sweat odor, and suppresses miliaria, keeping the skin clean.

Therefore, for example, by simply spraying it with a sprayer, not only can the flexibility of the fibers be increased (improving the feel on the skin), but this sericin function (new function) can also be repeatedly imparted to the skin via the fibers.

Furthermore, this embodiment achieves this groundbreaking effect, namely, it can be applied to fibers using a simple method, and by intentionally applying it to fibers with a moderately weak bonding force, it is possible to allow sericin to be released moderately (gradually) and sustainably exert its functions on the skin, thereby realizing a groundbreaking new functional fabric softener that can provide the skin with the benefits of sericin's functions, such as moisturizing effects and anti-odor effects due to its antioxidant properties (sericin can be applied with weak bonds).

In this example, we discovered the cationic polymer (cationic chitosan derivative) that can realize this type of softener. Specifically, through further experiments, we discovered a cationic polymer that achieves this effect, a coating system with excellent moisturizing and softening effects, and a cationic chitosan derivative that is excellent at forming a complex with hydrolyzed sericin and attaching sericin to fibers with the weak bonding force mentioned above. As mentioned above, we then used a double blend of this chitosan derivative and hydrolyzed sericin.

In other words, it is made possible by combining hydrolyzed sericin, a natural moisturizing material, with a cationic chitosan derivative, which not only gives clothing a moist, soft, silk-like texture (reducing friction on the skin and leaving it smooth to the touch), but also gradually imprints the sericin onto the skin as it is worn, providing the moisturizing and deodorizing effects of its functions. If sericin were simply added, it would quickly come off after just one wash, but the combination of the sericin and the cationic chitosan derivative allows the sericin to come off the fibers in moderation, allowing it to be imprinted little by little onto the skin as it is worn, resulting in a new functional ingredient imparting agent that can continuously provide moisturizing, antibacterial, and deodorizing effects to the skin.

More specifically, this embodiment contains 1-30% liquid hydrolyzed sericin (this may be dissolved in dried sericin powder) extracted by placing cocoons in water and heating them at high temperature and pressure in a pressure cooker, and 0.1-5.0% cationic chitosan derivative (for example, chitosan isostearamide hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride). The composition also contains the aforementioned cationic oils and cationic surfactants to increase flexibility, tea catechins to enhance antibacterial properties, glycerin and glycol to increase moisturizing properties, and fibroin (hydrolyzed fibroin), a functional ingredient that, like sericin, is refined from cocoons and silk threads and is gradually imprinted on the skin to provide skin repair effects.

Furthermore, as mentioned above, by improving the ingredients and water content, for example by diluting it 10 times with alcohol, spraying it as a mist with a sprayer, and then drying it, a product can be created in which the functional ingredients are weakly bonded to the fibers. In the case of silk products, for example, they are not only expensive but also difficult to handle, such as washing, but by simply spraying it with a sprayer in this way, even synthetic textile products can easily be given the feel, texture, and functionality of silk on the skin.

Note that the present invention is not limited to this example, and the specific configuration of each component can be designed as appropriate.

Claims (7)

The composition includes a functional component that exerts a function on the skin or body when it comes into contact with the skin, and a cationic polymer to which the functional component electrostatically adsorbs or adheres,
A functional component imparting agent for fibers is configured to be sprayed onto fibers that come into contact with the skin as a spray imparting agent together with moisture, so that the cationic polymer electrostatically adsorbs or adheres to the fibers, thereby imparting the functional component to the fibers via the cationic polymer, and when the fibers come into contact with the skin, the functional component is released from the fibers and comes into contact with the skin, thereby exerting the function,
The functional ingredient is hydrolyzed sericin, which gives the fibers flexibility and a pleasant feel, and when it comes off and comes into contact with the skin, it exerts its function and provides a moisturizing effect to the skin,
the cationic polymer is a cationic chitosan derivative that imparts a softening effect to the fiber ,
The hydrolyzed sericin, which is the functional component that is negatively charged or has negative polarity, is applied to the fiber, the surface of which is negatively charged or has negative polarity, via the cationic chitosan derivative, which is the cationic polymer that is positively charged or has positive polarity due to moisture,
The functional ingredient imparting agent for fibers is characterized in that the functional ingredient, hydrolyzed sericin, is imparted to the fiber via the cationic polymer, cationic chitosan derivative , by electrostatic adsorption or electrostatic adhesion due to ionic bonds that realize weak bonds , and when the fiber comes into contact with the skin, the functional ingredient, hydrolyzed sericin, detaches from the fiber and comes into contact with the skin, thereby exerting its function on the skin . The functional component imparting agent for fibers according to claim 1, characterized in that it is configured as a product that is sprayed onto the fibers using a sprayer. The functional component imparting agent for fibers according to claim 1, characterized in that the functional component, hydrolyzed sericin, is contained in an amount of 1 to 30%. The functional component imparting agent for fibers according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains a cationic oil component to enhance the softening effect of the fibers. The functional ingredient imparting agent for fibers according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains a moisturizing ingredient. The functional component imparting agent for fibers according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains an antibacterial component. 2. The functional component imparting agent for fibers according to claim 1, characterized in that the functional component contains, in addition to the hydrolyzed sericin, fibroin, which exhibits the function of repairing skin.