Fiber treatment agent composition

Abstract

A fiber treatment agent composition comprising an amphipathic lipid having hydroxyl group(s) and amide group(s) in the molecule thereof, the lipid being solid particles having an average particle size of 1 to 100 μm. The fiber treated with the fiber treatment agent composition of the invention provides excellent feeling to the resultant textile and pleasant feel to the skin. When a consumer wears the fiber product produced from the thus-treated fiber, remarkable effects are attained, including pleasant feel to the skin with which the fiber product is brought into contact, skin protective effect, effect of enabling the people having sensitive skin to wear at ease, moisturizing effect, and effect of improving skin disease such as rough skin.

1 . A fiber treatment agent composition comprising an amphipathic lipid having hydroxyl group(s) and amide group(s) in the molecule thereof, said lipid being solid particles having an average particle size of 1 to 100 μm.  
     
     
         2 . The fiber treatment agent composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the amphipathic lipid is obtained through heating a mixture of the amphipathic lipid, a surfactant, and/or an aqueous medium to a temperature not less than the melting point of the amphipathic lipid, and a subsequent crystallization step.  
     
     
         3 . The fiber treatment agent composition as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the amphipathic lipid is represented by the following formula (1):  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R 1  and R 2  are the same or different and each independently represents a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated C 7 -C 39  hydrocarbon group which may be substituted by one or more hydroxyl groups; and R 3  and R 4  are the same or different and each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a phosphate salt residue, a sulfate salt residue, or a saccharide residue; provided that one or more hydroxyl groups are contained in one molecule of the derivative.  
     
     
         4 . The fiber treatment agent composition as claimed in any one of claims  1  through  3 , wherein the amphipathic lipid is contained in an amount of 0.005 to 40% by weight of the fiber treatment agent composition.  
     
     
         5 . The fiber treatment agent composition as claimed in any one of claims  1  through  4 , further comprising one or more species selected from the groups consisting of surfactants and aqueous medium.  
     
     
         6 . A treated fiber obtained through bringing a fiber treatment agent composition as recited in any one of claims  1  through  5  into contact with fiber so as to cause the amphipathic lipid to be present continuously or discontinuously on the surface of the fiber.  
     
     
         7 . A fiber to which an amphipathic lipid has been affixed, the amphipathic lipid having hydroxyl group(s) and amide group(s) in the molecule thereof and being solid particles having an average particle size of 1 to 100 μm.  
     
     
         8 . A method of treating fiber, comprising bringing the fiber treatment agent composition as recited in any one of claims  1  through  5  into contact with fiber.  
     
     
         9 . The method of treating fiber according to  claim 8 , wherein the fiber is treated through dipping in the fiber treatment agent composition.  
     
     
         10 . The method of treating fiber according to  claim 8 , wherein the fiber is treated through spraying of the fiber treatment agent composition to the fiber.  
     
     
         11 . The method of treating fiber according to any one of claims  8  through  10 , wherein, when the fiber is brought into contact with the fiber treatment agent composition, at least one species selected from the following group is co-used: binders, softening agents, hardening agents, sewing facilitating agents, flame retardants, antistatic agents, soil repellents, antimicrobial/deodorizing agents, raising agents, slip-preventing agents, moisturizing agents, water repellants, water absorbers, fluorescent dyes, anti-shrinking agents, and fixing agents.  
     
     
         12 . Use, in a fiber treatment agent composition, of an amphipathic lipid having hydroxyl group(s) and amide group(s) in the molecule of the lipid and being solid particles having an average particle size of 1 to 100 μm.