The present invention provides a highly functional polyethylene fiber exhibiting reduction of change in their physical properties in a wide range of temperatures for processing for products and in a wide range of temperatures for usage as products, thereby enabling improvement of dimensional stability. In addition, the present invention provides a highly functional polyethylene fiber exhibiting a high degree of dye exhaustion to be obtained in a simple dyeing operation, and excellent color fastness. The highly functional polyethylene fiber of the present invention is characterized in that an intrinsic viscosity [η] is higher than or equal to 0.8 dL/g, and not higher than 4.9 dL/g, ethylene is substantially contained as a repeating unit thereof, and a maximum thermal shrinkage stress is less than or equal to 0.4 cN/dtex in TMA (thermo-mechanical analysis), and a thermal shrinking percentage at 100° C. is less than or equal to 2.5%.

The present invention provides a highly functional polyethylene fiber exhibiting reduction of change in their physical properties in a wide range of temperatures for processing for products and in a wide range of temperatures for usage as products, thereby enabling improvement of dimensional stability. In addition, the present invention provides a highly functional polyethylene fiber exhibiting a high degree of dye exhaustion to be obtained in a simple dyeing operation, and excellent color fastness. The highly functional polyethylene fiber of the present invention is characterized in that an intrinsic viscosity [η] is higher than or equal to 0.8 dL/g, and not higher than 4.9 dL/g, ethylene is substantially contained as a repeating unit thereof, and a maximum thermal shrinkage stress is less than or equal to 0.4 cN/dtex in TMA (thermo-mechanical analysis), and a thermal shrinking percentage at 100° C. is less than or equal to 2.5%.

Use of a sizing agent having a heat weight loss B-1 of 65% or more as determined by a specific measurement method, or a sizing agent containing a surfactant and a compound represented by formula (1):

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Processes for chemical functionalization of materials is described. The processed generally include chemical reaction between a thiol group of a first compound or material and an alkane group or alkyne group of a second compound or material. Also disclosed are functionalized materials and compounds suitable for functionalizing a material.

Processes for chemical functionalization of materials is described. The processed generally include chemical reaction between a thiol group of a first compound or material and an alkane group or alkyne group of a second compound or material. Also disclosed are functionalized materials and compounds suitable for functionalizing a material.

The present disclosure relates to, inter alia, a green technology for crosslinking protein molecules for various uses, where the protein molecules can be contained in protein fibers such as, but not limited to, human hair, animal fibers, and mixtures thereof. In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a crosslinking agent comprising an oxidized sugar having at least two aldehyde groups. In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of crosslinking protein fibers. This method involves providing the aforementioned crosslinking agent and infiltrating a plurality of non-crosslinked protein fibers with the crosslinking agent under conditions effective to cause protein molecules contained in the non-crosslinked protein fibers to become crosslinked, thereby yielding a population of crosslinked protein fibers.

The present disclosure relates to, inter alia, a green technology for crosslinking protein molecules for various uses, where the protein molecules can be contained in protein fibers such as, but not limited to, human hair, animal fibers, and mixtures thereof. In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a crosslinking agent comprising an oxidized sugar having at least two aldehyde groups. In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of crosslinking protein fibers. This method involves providing the aforementioned crosslinking agent and infiltrating a plurality of non-crosslinked protein fibers with the crosslinking agent under conditions effective to cause protein molecules contained in the non-crosslinked protein fibers to become crosslinked, thereby yielding a population of crosslinked protein fibers.

Provided is a surface treatment agent which does not use fluorine-containing monomers, particularly fluoroalkyl group-containing monomers. The surface treatment agent is a water-based emulsion which includes: a copolymer (1) which includes a first polymer formed from first monomers, and a second polymer formed from second monomers, wherein the second polymer is polymerized in the presence of the first polymer, the first monomers include a long-chain acrylate ester monomer (a) represented by the formula CH.sub.2═CA.sup.11—C(═O)—O-A.sup.12 (in the formula, A.sup.11 represents hydrogen, a monovalent organic group, or a halogen, and A.sup.12 represents a C.sub.18-30 straight-chain or branched hydrocarbon group), the first monomers do not include a halogenated olefin monomer (b), and the second monomers include the halogenated olefin monomer (b); a surfactant (2) including a nonionic surfactant; and a liquid medium (3) including water.

Provided is a surface treatment agent which does not use fluorine-containing monomers, particularly fluoroalkyl group-containing monomers. The surface treatment agent is a water-based emulsion which includes: a copolymer (1) which includes a first polymer formed from first monomers, and a second polymer formed from second monomers, wherein the second polymer is polymerized in the presence of the first polymer, the first monomers include a long-chain acrylate ester monomer (a) represented by the formula CH.sub.2═CA.sup.11—C(═O)—O-A.sup.12 (in the formula, A.sup.11 represents hydrogen, a monovalent organic group, or a halogen, and A.sup.12 represents a C.sub.18-30 straight-chain or branched hydrocarbon group), the first monomers do not include a halogenated olefin monomer (b), and the second monomers include the halogenated olefin monomer (b); a surfactant (2) including a nonionic surfactant; and a liquid medium (3) including water.

Cellulosic fibrous materials are described which are impregnated with a bioflavonoid composition, the bioflavonoid content of the composition comprising at least naringin and neohesperidin. The use of such impregnated materials is also described, for example as paper or bamboo towels and cardboard, as well as the process for impregnating the materials.