Compositions and methods for treating keratinous material

Abstract

Chemical compositions and techniques for treating wool (and other animal hair-based) fabrics, and in particular for unshrinking wool fabrics and garments.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for increasing the size of a shrunken material comprising keratinous material, the method comprising:
 dissolving disulfide bonds in the shrunken material;   elongating the shrunken material; and   promoting reformation of disulfide bonds in the shrunken material.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein dissolving disulfide bonds in the shrunken material comprises treating the shrunken material with an aqueous solution comprising a reducing agent. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein elongating the shrunken material comprises physically stressing the material. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein promoting reformation of disulfide bonds in the shrunken material comprises treating the shrunken material with a solvent to remove the reducing agent. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising drying the shrunken material without physically stressing the material during drying, drying occurring after treating the shrunken material with a solvent to remove the reducing agent. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the aqueous solution further comprises at least one of: a basic compound such as sodium bicarbonate, a binder to reduce odor, and a nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of ethoxylated alcohols, fatty acid esters, and alkylpolyglucoside families. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the reducing agent comprises a sulfite-based compound. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the reducing agent comprises one of potassium metabisulfite at a concentration from 0.15% to 0.45% weight per volume (w/v) and sodium metabisulfite at a concentration from 0.15% to 0.45% w/v. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of: sodium metabisulfite, sodium sulfite, potassium sulfite, ammonium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, ammonium bisulfite, potassium metabisulfite, ammonium thioglycolate, tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine hydrochloride, 2-mercaptoethanol, and dithiothreitol. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the solvent comprises water at a temperature from about 0° C. to about 10° C. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising preparing the aqueous solution, wherein preparing comprises providing a concentrated solution having the reducing agent and diluting the concentrated solution with an effective amount of water. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein physically stressing the material comprises stretching the shrunken material to a length to or beyond a desired size for a time period from about 10 seconds to about 60 seconds. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein treating the shrunken material in the aqueous solution occurs for a time period from about 10 minutes to about 60 minutes. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the shrunken material comprises a garment having woolen fibers. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein dissolving disulfide bonds in the shrunken material comprises dissolving disulfide bonds formed in keratinous protein molecules, the keratinous protein molecules having a curled orientation and a substantially rough texture, wherein elongating the shrunken material comprises reorienting protein molecules into a straightened orientation, and wherein promoting reformation of disulfide bonds comprises promoting reformation of disulfide bonds in keratinous protein molecules having the straightened orientation to maintain the straightened orientation and produce a substantially scaled texture. 
     
     
         16 . A kit for increasing the size of a shrunken garment comprising wool fibers, the kit comprising:
 a concentrated solution comprising a reducing agent capable of cleaving disulfide bonds in the wool fibers; and   instructions for use.   
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions for use comprise instructions to:
 place into a washing machine the shrunken garment;   introduce to the washing machine the concentrated solution;   operate the washing machine on a gentle or delicate cycle that may include a soak cycle;   remove the shrunken garment from the washing machine;   physically stretch the shrunken garment to a length to or beyond a desired size; and   allow the shrunken garment to dry.   
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions for use comprise instructions to:
 place into a bin the shrunken garment;   introduce to the bin the concentrated solution;   introduce to the bin water to form an aqueous solution with the concentrated solution;   soak the shrunken garment in the aqueous solution;   rinse the shrunken garment;   physically stretch the shrunken garment to a length to or beyond a desired size; and   allow the shrunken garment to dry.   
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 16 , wherein the concentrated solution further comprises at least one of a basic compound such as sodium bicarbonate for odor control, a surfactant, and a binder. 
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 16 , wherein the reducing agent is a sulfite-based reducing agent. 
     
     
         21 . The kit of  claim 16 , wherein the reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of: sodium metabisulfite, sodium sulfite, potassium sulfite, ammonium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, ammonium bisulfite, potassium metabisulfite, ammonium thioglycolate, tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine hydrochloride, 2-mercaptoethanol, and dithiothreitol. 
     
     
         22 . A method for unshrinking a garment comprising wool fiber, the method comprising:
 introducing the garment to an aqueous solution comprising a reducing agent;   rinsing the garment to remove residual reducing agent from the garment;   physically stretching the garment; and   allowing the material to dry without further physical stress.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein rinsing the garment to remove residual reducing agent occurs prior to physically stretching the garment. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the reducing agent is a sulfite-based reducing agent. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of: sodium metabisulfite, sodium sulfite, potassium sulfite, ammonium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, ammonium bisulfite, potassium metabisulfite, ammonium thioglycolate, tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine hydrochloride, 2-mercaptoethanol, and dithiothreitol.