MXPA99012040A - Alkaline ether amine conveyor lubricant - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is a lubricant concentrate and a lubricant use-solution as well as methods of use. The lubricant concentrate and lubricant use-solution each includes one or more ether amine compounds, and a surfactant. Each of the ether amine compounds has a formula selected from the group consisting of R1-O-R2-NH2, R1-O-R2-NH-R3-NH2, and mixtures thereof, wherein R1 is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated C6-C18 alkyl, R2 is a linear or branched C1-C8 alkylene, and R3 is a linear or branched C1-C8 alkylene group. The compositions of the invention also include a surfactant to solubilize the amine compound, and optionally, a source of alkalinity and an antrimicrobial agent, among other adjuvants.

Description

ETHER-AMINE ALKALINE CONVEYOR LUBRICANT The invention relates generally to ether-amine based lubricants and methods for using same. More specifically, the invention relates to ether-amine based lubricants having an alkaline pH and which have improved lubricants in the presence of acid soils. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Beverages and other comestibles are often processed and packaged on mechanized conveyor systems which are lubricated to reduce friction between the package and the surfaces containing the conveyor charge. In the past, lubricants commonly used on load bearing surfaces of these conveyor systems usually contained fatty acid soaps as an active lubricating ingredient. In addition, at least in a bottling operation, it is highly desirable that a lubricant be effective in lubricating the rails in which the different types of containers are transported, ie, cans, glass and PET articles. Fatty acid lubricants are effective along with any of these types of containers. Therefore, these lubricants are "universal" lubricants in their application for various beverage containers. These fatty acid lubricants are supplied with excellent lubricant. However, fatty lubricants are also known to form insoluble precipitates in the presence of calcium or magnesium cations commonly found in hard water. Water softeners and chemical chelating agents such as EDTA should be used with fatty acid-based lubricants to prevent the formation of such precipitates. Failures to implement such measures generally result in the formation of a precipitate which can plug the sprinkler nozzles used to apply the lubricant to the conveyor. Antimicrobial agents are particularly useful for conveyor systems which can transport food substances. Spillage of beverages and other foodstuffs on the conveyor often results in the growth of bacteria, yeast and mold and can form mud or soil which, in turn, impedes the performance of the conveyor and can also affect the purity and appearance of the conveyor. product. Antimicrobial agents are particularly useful for reducing sludge formation in conveyor systems which can transport food substances. The lubricants based on fatty acids have been formulated with effective antimicrobial agents, however, the tendency to react with hard water ions comprises the overall performance of the lubricant. Alternatives for fatty acid lubricants have also been developed, but these compositions also have certain drawbacks.

For example, the patent of E.U.A. No. 4,839,067 discloses a process for maintaining the chain type conveyor belts by treating the conveyor belt with an antimicrobial lubricant composition containing a lubricant ratio of a neutralized C? 2-? s primary fatty amine. However, as shown in Jansen, primary fatty amines tend to form a precipitate in the presence of anions such as SO4"2, PO4" 3 and CO3"2, commonly found as impurities in water. sprayer nozzles and the floor of the surfaces of the transport system in much the same way as fatty acid soaps in the presence of water hardeners US Patent Schmidt et al. No. 5,182,035 describes ether aliphatic diamines neutralized with acetic acid which is used in lubricant compositions in combination with alcohol hydrotropes used to increase physical stability, Remus' US patent No. 5,510,045 and counterpart WO 95/26389, describes an amine lubricant composition for use with glass, aluminum and two-piece PET containers. The lubricant compositions comprise a mixture of amine, hydrotrope and alkalinity source to maintain the pH above 8.

The patent of E.U.A. of Weber et al., No. 5,062,978 also discloses aqueous lubricant compositions based on neutralized fatty alkyl amines which are useful in the operations of conveyor belts, especially in the transport of bottles. Schapira's Published European Patent Application, No. 0,533,522 A1 discloses lubricant compositions comprising amines of C é 6 to C 2 alkyl ether? saturated or unsaturated branched and neutralized diamines to provide water and lubricant solubility. The lubricant compositions are useful in the operations of the carrier and may also comprise a surfactant agent, and an alcohol solvent. Although fatty amines have been found to provide adequate lubrication and antimicrobial activity, their utility is limited due to the tendency to form precipitates in the presence of the anions commonly found in water. Consequently, there is still a substantial need for a conveyor lubricant which provides a tolerance for both anions and cations commonly found in the water used to dilute the lubricant formulation prior to application to the conveyor system, and superior lubrication in the presence of spills of food such as beer. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the invention, a lubricant concentrate is provided comprising an effective lubricant ratio of one or more ether-amine compounds. Each of the amine compounds has a formula selected from the group consisting of, R? -O-R2-NH2) R1-0-R2-NH-R3-NH2, and mixtures thereof wherein Ri is a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched C6-C? 8 alkyl group, R2 is a group linear or branched d-C8 alkylene, and R3 is a linear or branched d-Cs alkylene group. The composition also comprises a proportion of surfactant effective to solubilize the ether-amine compound when diluted with water. According to a further aspect of the claimed invention, a solution is provided for use with the lubricant comprising a greater proportion of water, and from about 10 ppm to 10,000 ppm of one or more amine compounds. Each of the amine compounds has a formula selected from the group consisting of R? -0-R2-NH2, mixtures thereof wherein R ^ is a saturated or unsaturated, straight or branched C6-C? 8 alkyl, R2 is a linear or branched C? -C8 alkylene, R3 is a linear or branched C? -C8 alkylene group. The use of the lubricant-solution also includes a surface-active agent used to solubilize the amine compound. According to another aspect of the claimed invention, a lubrication method is provided to a transportation system that uses a lubricant use solution comprising one or more amine compounds each having a formula selected from the group consisting of R ^ O-Rz-NH-Rs-Nhh, and mixtures thereof wherein Ri is a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched C6-C? 8 alkyl, R2 is an alkylene of C? -C8 is linear or branched , and R3 is a linear or branched C? -C8 alkylene. The use of the solution for use as a lubricant also includes a surfactant used to solubilize the amine compound, and a water balance. The method comprises the step of applying the use of the use solution as a lubricant for the surface to be applied. The invention is a lubricant concentrate and a lubricant use-the solution each comprising amines of saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched alkyl ether. The ether-amine alkyl compounds promote lubrication in the use of the aqueous lubricant-solution despite the presence of acidic beverage soils and ions, such as acidic beer soil which often has a pH of 3 to 4 or less . The invention provides reduced dirt from conveyors that result from the reduced interaction of food dirt with the use of the lubricant solution. The compositions of the invention also provide a high tolerance of the lubricant solution to the water charged with ions. In addition, the solution used as lubricant of the invention also has antimicrobial efficacy on surfaces that are not in contact with food providing a reduction of bacterial colony that forms 99.9% units in five minutes. In the context of this invention, the "lubricant concentrate" is the composition which is diluted before use. In turn, the solution used as a lubricant is the composition of the lubricant which, once diluted, is applied to the intended surface. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY. The invention is a lubricant concentrate, a solution used as a lubricant, and a method for using the lubricant solution. The lubricant concentrate can be solid or liquid. The lubricant concentrate and solution used as the lubricant of the invention include linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl ether amine compounds which provide lubrication, antimicrobial character, as well as a reduction in the formation of various precipitates which frequently occur in the environment of use. The compositions of the invention include solubilizing surfactants, and may also include antimicrobial agents, and alkalinity sources, among other constituents. The invention also includes methods of using the claimed invention. A. The ether alkyl amine compounds.

The lubricant concentrate and solution that is used as the lubricant of the invention comprises an amine compound. The amine compound provides lubrication of the composition, in addition to the antimicrobial character, and reduces or eliminates the formation of various precipitates resulting from the dissolution with water and / or contaminants on the application surface. The amine compounds of the invention can comprise any number of species. Preferably, the amine compound is an ether-amine alkyl compound of the formula, R? -O-R2-NH2I (1) Ri-O-Rz-NH-Ra-NHz, (2) and mixtures thereof in where Ri can be a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated C6-C? 8 alkyl, R2 can be a linear or branched C? -8 alkylene, and R3 can be a linear or branched C? -C8 alkylene. More preferably, R i is a linear or branched C 2 -C 16 alkyl; R2 is a linear or branched C2-C6 alkylene; and R3 is a linear or branched C2-C6 alkylene. Preferably, the lubricant concentrate and solution that is used as the lubricant of the invention comprises one or more amine compounds having R present as a linear C 1 -C 8 alkyl. When R-i is a linear alkyl group, the solution that is used as the lubricant resulting from the lubricant concentrate provides increased lubrication.

More preferably the lubricant concentrate and solution which is used as the lubricant of the invention has a pH higher than 9, is free of any source of added acid and has one or more amine compounds where R ^ is a C6-C alkyl group ? 8 linear. Preferred compositions of the invention include linear diethylealkylamine compounds of formula (2) wherein R - is C 2 -C 6 alkyl, R 2 is C 3 alkylene, and R 3 is C 3 alkylene.

When the amine compound used is an amine of formulas (1) and (2), R, it may also be further a linear or branched C? 2-C alquilo alquilo alkyl or a mixture of C? 0-C? 2 alquilo alkyl and C? -C? 6 linear. The global linear or branched alkyl ether-amine compounds used in the composition of the invention provide low usage concentrations, in the solution, with increased lubrication. The proportion of the amine compound in the lubricant concentrate is generally between 0.1% by weight to 90% by weight, preferably around 0.25% by weight to 75% by weight, and more preferably around 0.5% by weight to 50% by weight. weight. These materials are commercially available from Tomah Products Incorporated as PA-19, PA-1618, PA-1816, DA-18, DA-19, DA-1618, DA-17, DA-1816 and the like. More specifically, Tomah DA 1618 is C? 2-? 4 linear alkyloxypropyl-1,3-diaminopropane; Tomah DA-18 is C? linear acyloxypropyl-1,3-diaminopropane; Tomah DA-17 is an N- branched isotridecyloxypropyl-1,3-diaminopropane; and Tomah PA-9 is linear alkyl propylamine. Representative ether-alkyl amine compounds are generally formulated from linear or branched C? 2 or higher alkyl alcohols and acrylonitrile to provide an ether-amine according to the scheme provided below. RiOH + CH2 = CHC = N? iOCHzCHjC? -N fatty alcohol acrylonitrile ether Nitrile R1OCH2 = CHC = N + 2H2? RTOCHZCHZNHZ Ether Nitrile Catalyst Ether-Amine where R1 is as defined above. The diamines can be synthesized according to the following scheme: R1OCH2CH2CH2CH2NH2 + CH2CHC = N? Ether-Amine Acrylonitrile R1OCH2CH2CH2NHCH2CH2C = N + 2H2? RiOCHzCHzCHzNHCHzCHzCHzNHz Ether diamine wherein R1 is as defined above. The dissolution of the lubricant concentrate with water results in a solution that is used as a lubricant which is preferably calculated to provide lubrication in the intended application or use. Accordingly, the concentration of the active amine compound in the solution that is used as the lubricant of the invention is between 10 ppm to 10000 ppm, preferably from about 30 ppm to 5000 ppm, and more preferably about 50 ppm to 2000 ppm. B. Surfactant additives. The lubricant concentrate and solution that is used as the lubricant of the invention also comprises a surfactant.

The surfactant functions as a hydrotrope to solubilize the ether-amine in the concentrate of the aqueous lubricant and solution that is used as lubricants increase the stability phase. The surfactant also increases the detergency in the solution used as a lubricant. The compounds which can be used as surfactants in the invention include nonionic surfactants, among other compounds. Nonionic surfactants are generally hydrophobic compounds which essentially carry no charge and exhibit a hydrophilic tendency due to the presence of oxygen in the molecule. Nonionic surfactants encompass a wide variety of polymeric compounds which specifically, but exclusively, include alkoxylated alkylphenols, alkoxylated aliphatic alcohols, alkoxylated amines, alkoxylated ether amines, carboxylic esters, carboxylic amides, and polyoxyalkylene oxide that blocks copolymers. Preferably, the alkoxy group is a propoxy or ethoxy group, and more preferably ethoxy. The nonionic surfactants particularly suitable for use in the concentrate of the lubricant and solution used as the lubricant of the invention are the alcohols (preferably ethoxylates) having the general formula R? ((CH2) mO) n wherein R ^ is an aliphatic group having from about 8 to 24 carbon atoms, m is a whole number from 1 to 5, and n is a number from 1 to 40 which represents the percentage number of ethylene oxide groups on the molecule. Nonionic surfactants which have been found useful in the invention include ethoxylated noniphenol with about 9.5 moles of ethoxylation available from Stepan Chemical Co. as Macon 9 and ethoxylates of C12-15 linear alcohol having about 9 moles of ethoxylation available from Shell Chemical Company as Neodol 25-9. Also useful are the ethoxylated ether amines synthesized by the following reaction sequence: (CHzCHzO) XH / ROCH2CH2CH2NH2 + (x + y) CH2CH2? ROCH2CH2CH2N \ / \ Ether-Amine O (CH2CH20) yH Ethylene Oxide Ether-Ethoxylated Aminate Generally, in the lubricant concentrate, the surfactant concentration is from about 0.1% by weight to 66% by weight, and preferably from about 0.5% by weight to 50% by weight. More preferably the surfactant concentration is from about 1 to 30% by weight. C. Source of alkalinity.

Generally, the lubricant concentrate and solution that is used as the lubricant of the invention has an alkaline pH. The lubricant concentrate of the invention has a pH which is about 10 or greater and preferably between 10 and 13. In turn, the solution that is used as a lubricant generally has a pH or greater than 9.0, preferably around 9.5 to 13 without any added alkalinity source other than the surfactant and the amine compound. However, if other adjuvants are added to the lubricant concentrate or solution that is used as a lubricant of the invention which is less than the lubricant concentrate and solution that is used as a pH lubricant, alkalinity sources can be added. The general character of the alkalinity sources is limited only to those chemical compositions which have solubility in the system. That is, the source of alkalinity should not contribute metal ions which promotes the formation of precipitates or film salts. Exemplary alkalinity sources include silicates, hydroxides, phosphates, carbonates, and alkanolamines. When present, the alkalinity source can be used to originate pH of the composition at the desired level. As a result, the concentration of the alkalinity source can vary considerably given the type of alkalinity source and the required pH increases. D. Antimicrobial agents.

Generally, the lubricant concentrate and the solution used as a lubricant have antimicrobial efficacy that provides a 99.9% colony that forms units of bacteria within five minutes of contact. However, if added antimicrobial efficacy is desired, the lubricant concentrate and the solution used as the lubricant of the invention may also comprise one or more antimicrobial agents. Generally, any solid or liquid chemical agent having microbicidal efficacy can be used in the invention. Known chemical compositions for imparting microbicidal efficacy at pH 9 or higher include iodophors, phenolics and quaternary ammonium compounds. Preferred antimicrobials useful in the invention are cationic surfactants such as alkyl and benzyl quaternary compounds such as N-dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride of C? 2.18 alkyl, N-dimethylbenzyl chloride of ammonium alkyl C? 4-? 8, monohydrate of N-tetradecyldimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride, dimethyl didecyl ammonium chloride, and N-dimethyl-naphthylmethyl ammonium chloride of C? 2- alkyl? which are commercially available from manufacturers such as Stepan Chemical Company. When present, an antimicrobial agent must have a concentration of effectiveness necessary for the action required to be provided. Generally, in the concentrate of the lubricant the concentration of the antimicrobial agent may be from about 0.1 to 10% by weight, preferably from about 1 to 8% by weight, and more preferably from about 2 to 6% by weight. E. ADJUVANTS The lubricant concentrate and, in turn, the use-solution of the invention may also comprise one or more adjuvants to modify the character or properties of those compositions. Representative adjuvants include viscosity modifiers, anti-soil deposit agents, preservatives, dyes, fragrances, anti-foaming agents, soil suspending and solubilizing agents, as well as penetrants, among others. FORMULATION The solution used as a lubricant of the invention can be formulated as a lubricant concentrate which is then diluted the solution used as a lubricant for use in a given application. Generally, the lubricant concentrate can be diluted from about 10 to 10,000 times to provide the solution used as a lubricant depending on a concentration of amine compound. The following Table includes guide lines for various concentrations for the composition of the invention.

Table 1 • Lubricant concentrate- (% by weight) Solution Used as Lubricant (PPM) EXAMPLES OF WORK. The following working examples illustrate various properties, characteristics and exemplary embodiments of the invention. However, these examples are not intended to be construed as limiting the claimed invention. WORK EXAMPLE 1.

Preparation of non-neutralized compositions and neutralized controls. Compositions 1-7 were prepared by adding the ether-amine and the ethoxylated surfactant to the water with stirring. The ether amines in Composition 3 were not adequately solubilized by the surfactants, as evidenced by the phase separation. This composition was again prepared with a higher surfactant to the ratio of the mine as Composition 7. No phase separation occurred with this composition. For Compositions 1,2 and 4-7 the pH was in excess of 11, indicating that the amines are not in a neutralizing state. Usually, the non-neutralized saturated alkyl amines having an alkyl group greater than 10 carbons are insoluble in water. The solubility in water with these compositions was carried out through the coupling by surfactants. Compositions 8 and 9 represent Comparative Examples have been neutralized with acetic acid. In Compositions 8 and 9, the ether amines were solubilized with the neutralization of acetic acid, and the surfactant was included for the detergency properties. The compositional pH for compositions 8 and 9 was a pH of 7.0-7.5.

This work illustrates that the alkyl ether amines can be solubilized in aqueous compositions using various surfactants including ethoxylated nonionic surfactants. EXAMPLE OF WORK 2 LUBRICATION. The use-solutions of lubricant 6D and 10D ("D" indicating diluted) were prepared from lubricant concentrates 6C and 10C ("C" indicating concentrate) (as prepared in working example 1), respectively, by dilution with city water to 0.5 % in weigh. Measurement of the sliding action The use of 6D and 10D lubricant solutions were directed along the perimeter of a polished stainless steel plate measuring 20.5 cm in diameter. The plate was connected to an electric motor, and it was turned in a range when it was turned on. A glass disk that weighs 189 gm was attached to a charged cell and placed on the plate in the area covered with the use-solutions of the 6D and 10D lubricant. When the electric motor was turned on, the disk slid freely on the plate. The drag between the glass disc and the steel plate Stainless was detected by the load cell, and transferred to a frame recorder. To ensure the consistency of the test method, the drag is a solution used as a standard fatty acid lubricant was measured before and after running the test, and the value obtained from it was arbitrarily assigned a coefficient of friction of 1.00. Each run test was referenced to the solution test used as a lubricant fatty acids, therefore the results were reported as a coefficient of relative friction (CDF). The smaller the CDF, the better lubrication. The formulation used as a control was a fatty acid lubricant concentrate comprising: And the CDF for this composition was: Formula Relative friction coefficient Fatty acid control of Glass over steel solution used as lubricant 1.00 'The formula was tested at 0.1% by weight in distilled water containing 200 ppm NaHC? 3 added. * (0.50% in city water) * (0.50% in city water) The solution used as a 6D lubricant showed superior lubrication in the absence and presence of acid soil. This may result from neutral to alkaline pH being provided by solubilization rather than neutralization of the amine species in the lubricant concentrate. The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention, While many embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the appended claims. .

Claims (23)

1. CLAIMS 1. A lubricant concentrate that comprises: a. an effective lubrication ratio of one or more ether-amine compounds of said amine compounds having a formula selected from the group consisting of R1-O-R2-NH-R3-NH2, and mixtures thereof wherein R1 is a linear saturated or unsaturated C6-C? 8 alkyl group, R2 is a straight or branched C? -C8 alkylene group, and R3 is a linear C? -C8 alkylene group; and b. a proportion of an effective surfactant to solubilize said ether-amine compound when diluted with water wherein said lubricant concentrate composition has a pH of 10 or greater.
2. 2. A solution that is used as a lubricant comprising a greater proportion of water, from about 10 ppm to 10,000 ppm of one or more ether-amine compounds, each said amine compound having a formula selected from the group it consists of R? -0-R2-NH-R3-NH2, and mixtures thereof in which Ri is a linear saturated or unsaturated C6-C? 8 alkyl, R2 is a linear C-?-C8 alkylene, and R3 is an alkylene group C? -C8 linear or branched; and a solution that is used as a lubricant has a pH greater than 9.
3. The composition of claim 1, wherein said ether-amine compound is present in a concentration of 0.25% by weight to 75% by weight.
4. 4. The composition of claim 1, wherein said ether-amine compound is present in a concentration of 0.5 to 50% by weight.
5. The composition of claims 1 or 2, wherein said amine compound is a monoamine compound, R is a linear C 2 -C 6 alkyl group, and R 2 is an alkylene group of C 2 -C 6.
6. The composition of claims 1 or 2, wherein more than one ether-amine compound is present in said lubricant concentrate, at least one of said ether-amine compounds is a monoamine compound, and is selected from group consisting of a linear C 0 -C 12 alkyl group, an C 1 alkyl group -C16 linear, and mixtures thereof, and R2 is an alkylene group of C2-C6.
7. The composition of claims 1 or 2, wherein said ether-amine compound is a diamine compound, R1 is a linear C2-C-? 6 alkyl group, R2 is an alkylene group of C2-C6, and R3 is an alkylene group of C2-C6.
8. The composition of claims 1 or 2, wherein more than one ether-amine compound is present in said lubricant concentrate, at least one of said ether-amine compounds is a diamine compound, Ri is selected from the group consisting of a linear C? or C? 2 alkyl group, a linear C? 4-C16 alkyl group, and mixtures thereof, R2 is an alkylene group of C2-C6 , and R3 is a C2-C6 alkylene.
9. The composition of claims 1 or 2, wherein said surfactant comprises a nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of a phenol ethoxylation alkyl, a linear alcohol ethoxylate, a secondary ethoxylate of alcohol, an amine of ethoxylated linear alkyl, an ethoxylated linear alkyl ether amine, and mixtures thereof.
10. The composition of claim 1, wherein said surfactant comprises an alkoxylated nonionic agent which is present in a concentration of from 0.5% by weight to 50% by weight.
11. The composition of claim 1, wherein said surfactant comprises an alkoxylated nonionic agent which is present in a concentration of from 1 to 30% by weight.
12. 12. The composition of claim 10, wherein said non-ionic surfactant has from 1 to 40 moles of ethoxylation.
13. 13. A lubricant resulting from the aqueous dilution of the lubricant concentrate of claim 1, wherein said amine compound is present in said solution which is used as a lubricant at a concentration of a rate from 50 ppm to 2000 ppm.
14. 14. The composition of claims 1 or 2, wherein said amine compound comprises a tetradecyl oxypropyl-1, 3-diamino propane.
15. 15. The composition of claim 1, wherein said lubricant concentrate is a solid.
16. 16. The composition of claim 1, wherein said lubricant concentrate is a liquid.
17. 17. The composition of claims 1 or 2, additionally comprises a source of alkalinity.
18. The composition of claim 17, wherein said source of alkalinity is present in a ratio necessary to provide a pH greater than 9 above 13 to a dilution of said lubricant concentrate with water.
19. The composition of claims 1 or 2, wherein Ri is a linear C6-C18 alkyl and the pH of the lubricant concentrate ranges from 10 to 13.
20. The composition of claim 2, wherein said amine compound it is present in a concentration of 30 to 5000 ppm.
21. The composition of claim 2, wherein said amine compound is present in a concentration of 25 to 3000 ppm.
22. 22. The composition of claim 2, wherein said surfactant comprises an alkoxylated nonionic which is present in a concentration of from 100 ppm to 2500 ppm.
23. 23. A method for lubricating a conveyor system comprising the steps of: (a) diluting a lubricant concentrate with water to form an aqueous lubricant of any of the preceding claims comprising an effective lubrication ratio of one or more ether compounds. amine, wherein each of said amine compounds in said lubricant concentrate has a formula selected from the group consisting of, R? -0-R2-NH2, and mixtures thereof wherein Ri is a linear saturated or unsaturated C6-C? 8 alkyl, R2 is a linear or branched C? -C8 alkylene, and R3 is a linear C? -C8 alkylene, said lubricant further comprises a proportion of surfactant effective to solubilize the amine in said lubricant concentrate upon dilution and use; and (b) applying said solution composition that is used as a lubricant to the intended surface of use.