Method for modifying animal hair

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a modification method capable of affording animal hair having an anti-pilling property through simple treatment. The present invention provides a method for modifying animal hair, including a reduction treatment step of treating animal hair with a reduction treatment liquid containing a reducing agent under a neutral or weakly alkaline condition, and an enzyme treatment step of treating the animal hair subjected to the reduction treatment with an enzyme treatment liquid containing a water-soluble protein and a transglutaminase.

1 . A method for modifying animal hair, comprising:
 a reduction treatment step of treating animal hair with a reduction treatment liquid containing a reducing agent under a neutral or weakly alkaline condition; and   an enzyme treatment step of treating the animal hair subjected to the reduction treatment with an enzyme treatment liquid containing a protein and a transglutaminase.   
     
     
         2 . The modification method according to  claim 1 , wherein the neutral or weakly alkaline is pH 7 to pH 9. 
     
     
         3 . The modification method according to  claim 1 , wherein the reducing agent is a physiologically acceptable reducing agent. 
     
     
         4 . The modification method according to  claim 3 , wherein the physiologically acceptable reducing agent is a sulfite salt, a bisulfite salt, an oxalate salt, a formate salt, a gallate salt, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The modification method according to  claim 1 , wherein the protein is a water-soluble protein. 
     
     
         6 . The modification method according to  claim 1 , wherein the animal hair is goat hair or wool. 
     
     
         7 . The modification method according to  claim 1 , wherein the reduction treatment step is performed at a temperature of 70 to 95° C. for 10 to 120 minutes. 
     
     
         8 . The modification method according to  claim 1 , wherein the enzyme treatment step is performed at a temperature of 30 to 60° C. for 30 to 180 minutes. 
     
     
         9 . Animal hair obtained by the treatment method according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . A processed product obtained from the animal hair according to  claim 9 .