The present invention relates to fabric softeners and washing detergents comprising water soluble 1,3:1,4-β-D-glucans (β-glucans) for treating and softening textiles and fabrics derived from cellulose and/or protein-based fibers, and a method for treating and softening such textiles and fabrics.

A method of making an antimicrobial textile comprising TiO.sub.2 nanoparticles is described. The TiO.sub.2 nanoparticles are immobilized by first treating a textile with a base, and then contacting with TiO.sub.2 nanoparticles in a solution of an alcohol and acid. The textile may be subsequently irradiated with UV light prior to use. The antimicrobial textile shows high effectiveness against the growth and proliferation of microorganisms transmitted within indoor environments.

A method of making an antimicrobial textile comprising TiO.sub.2 nanoparticles is described. The TiO.sub.2 nanoparticles are immobilized by first treating a textile with a base, and then contacting with TiO.sub.2 nanoparticles in a solution of an alcohol and acid. The textile may be subsequently irradiated with UV light prior to use. The antimicrobial textile shows high effectiveness against the growth and proliferation of microorganisms transmitted within indoor environments.

A piezoresistive sensor featuring a fabric of woven or nonwoven fibers coated with carbon nanotubes can be integrated with footwear or clothing to serve as a pressure sensor that can monitor and/or analyze human activity during the course of the activities of daily living of the wearer.

A human hair fiber treatment agent comprised of one or more compositions for treating human hair fibers having free ends at both ends, wherein the human hair fiber treatment agent comprises the following components (A) to (C) in the formulation thereof: (A): at least one formaldehyde derivative selected from the group consisting of formaldehyde, and the like; (B): phenol compound(s) having electron-donating group(s) on at least one of the meta positions and having hydrogen atom(s) on at least one of the ortho positions and the para position, with the proviso that the electron-donating group at the meta position optionally forms, together with a carbon atom attached thereto, a benzene ring optionally substituted with hydroxy group(s); and (C): water.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for efficiently manufacturing a protein crimped staple from protein filaments at a low cost. A manufacturing method for a protein crimped staple according to the present invention includes: a) preparing an artificial fibroin filament containing a modified fibroin; b) cutting the artificial fibroin filament to obtain an artificial fibroin staple; and c) performing crimping by bringing the artificial fibroin filament into contact with an aqueous medium to crimp the artificial fibroin filament before the cutting or bringing the artificial fibroin staple into contact with an aqueous medium to crimp the artificial fibroin staple after the cutting.

Described is method for the sanitizing treatment of a textile product comprising a step of providing a textile product, a step of washing said textile product and a subsequent sanitizing treatment step, said sanitizing treatment step comprising the application on said textile product of a mixture based on methylisothiazolinone (MIT) and methylchloroisothiazolinone (CIT) and water.

Silk coated and/or infused performance materials, apparel, and methods of preparing the same are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, silk performance apparel includes textiles, fabrics, consumer products, and other materials that are coated with aqueous solutions of pure silk fibroin-based protein fragments having low, medium, and/or high molecular weight in various ratios.

A hair-protective composition includes collagen, a polyurethane binder, sericin and water. The collagen is contained in an amount of 10 wt % to 30 wt % based on a total weight of the hair-protective composition. A method of preparing the hair-protective composition includes melting collagen in water, dissolving sericin in the melted collagen and performing filtration and performing addition with a polyurethane binder and performing stirring. The hair-protective composition including collagen can be effectively used in techniques for protecting and softening the hair in the field of synthetic hair wigs and human hair wigs.

Protein fiber having crimp property such that the protein fiber crimps in response to a stimulus is immersed in a solution of protein having a different composition from the protein. The protein having a different composition is infiltrated into the protein fiber and the protein fiber is made crimped.