| abstract |
Disclosed is a method for imparting shrink resistance and pilling resistance to animal hair fibers involving a first process (31, 32) for primary oxidizing cystine bonds (-S-S-bonds) in the epidermal cells of animal hair fibers to a lower oxidation state, a second process (33) for oxidizing the primary oxidized -S-S-bonds by means of ozone to at least one higher oxidation state selected from di-, tri-, and tetra-oxidation states, and a third process (34) for reducing and breaking the aforementioned higher oxidation state -S-S-bonds; wherein, in the aforementioned second process (33), the ozone is finely dispersed in an aqueous solution having an anionic surfactant that is provided with a C 8-24 alkyl group present, and the aforementioned animal hair fibers are contacted with the aforementioned ozone. As a result, a method is provided for efficiently producing animal hair fibers with superior shrink resistance in which felting does not easily occur even if the animal hair fibers are washed with water during shrink-proofing of the animal hair fibers using ozone. |