CA2006248A1

CA2006248A1 - Free flowing concentrate of pearlescence imparting agents

Info

Publication number: CA2006248A1
Application number: CA002006248A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Rolf Kawa; Achim Ansmann; Angelika Jung
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Henkel AG and Co KGaA
Priority date: 1988-12-23
Filing date: 1989-12-20
Publication date: 1990-06-23
Also published as: ATE86096T1; ES2053936T3; JPH04502636A; EP0376083B1; EP0376083A2; WO1990007323A2; DK107891D0; KR0145316B1; AU625976B2; DE58903673D1; JP2641801B2; DE3843572A1; AU4666589A; WO1990007323A3; MX170536B; EP0376083A3; EP0449904A1; BR8907848A; KR910700042A; DK107891A

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure Pearlescent concentrates containing 15 to 40 % by weight pearlescing components may be formulated in the form of a free flowing aqueous dispersion when the dispersion simultaneously contains 5 to 55% by weight of nonionic, ampholytic, and/or zwitterionic surfactants and 0,1 to 5%
by weight of low molecular weight polyhydric alcohols.

Description

3~
PATENT
Docket D 8418 FREE FLOWING CONCENTRATE OF PEARLE8CEN~ IMPARTING AGENT8 Field of the Invention This invention relates to a concentrate in the form of a free-flowing or pumpable, aqueous dispersion containing 15 to 40% by weight of pearlescence imparting (pearlescing) components.
Statement of Related Art Aqueous compositions of surfactants and cosmetic compositions can be given a pearlescent, aesthetically attractive appearance by incorporation of substances which, after cooling, precipitate in the form of fine nacreous crystals and remain dispersed in the compositions.
Suitable among these pearlescence imparting agents or pearlescers are, for example, the monoesters and diesters of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and oligomeric alkylene glycols of this type, or of glycerol, with C1622 fatty acids; fatty acids themselves; and monoalkanolamides of fatty acids with C2 or C3 alkanolamines. (In this description, unless the context requires otherwise, the term "fatty" when applied to a chemical name such as acid or alcohol means that the chemical includes a hydrocarbon moiety with a straight chain of at least six carbon atoms and that at least one of the principal functional group such as carboxyl or hydroxyl is at one end of such a carbon chain.) It is known that the pearlescers mentioned can form stable dispersions in water or in aqueous surfactant solu-tions and that the concentrated pearlescent dispersions obtained in this way can be added without heating to other compositions for which a pearlescent appearance is desired, so that pearlescence can be obtained in these compositions into which a pearlescent concentrate is incorporated without any need for repeating the heating and cooling originally necessary to form the pearlescent crystals.
Pearlescent concentrates based on the pearlescers mentioned above are known, for example, from DE-A-16 69 152, from JP-56/71021 (Chem. Abst:r. 95/156360), from DE-A-34 11 328 and DE-A-35 19 081. The pearlescent concentrates known from DE-A-16 69 152 contain anionic surfactants to stabilize the dispersion in its liquid state. However, the presence of ionic surfactants is undesirable in many appli-cations of such pearlescent concentrates because incompat-ibility with formulation constituents of opposite ionicity can arise and can adversely affect the stability of the dispersion.
In addition, the pearlescent concentrates known from these publications contain fatty acid monoalkanolamides or dialkanolamides as part of the pearlescers. However, alkanolamines and derivatives thereof have recently been suspected of participating in the formation of nitros-amines, with the result that efforts are being made to avoid alkanolamines and alkanolamine derivatives in the formulation of cosmetic compositions.
However, omission of the fatty acid alkanolamides from the known pearlescent concentrates leads to a distinct reduction in the pearlescent properties. For example, it was proposed in applicants' German patent application 37 24 547.3 to use pearlescent concentrates containing substan-tially linear, saturated fatty acids as the pearlescing component. However, distinctly higher concentrations of such pearlescing components are required to obtain satisfactory pearlescence in the end product.
The pearlescent concentrates known from JP-56/71021 are attended by the disadvantage that they are not free-flowing and do not form stable, free-flowing dispersions upon dilution with water. This makes the concentrates very difficult to handle and process on an industrial scale.
Therefore, there is still a need for pearlescent con-centrates having high concentrations of pearlescing com-ponents as stable as those in JP-56/71021 but which are free-flowing, thus readily pumpable, and which may be incorporated into products to be given a pearlescent appearance, irrespective of the! content of ca~ionic or anionic components in the products. In addition, it should be possible, if desired, to formulate these concentrates without alkanolamides and to provide the end product with the desired pearlescence, even with lower concentrations of pearlescing components therein than are required for pearlescers according to German patent application 37 24 547.3.
Description of the Invention It has now been found that all the requirements stated above are satisfied by a pearlescent concentrate in the form of a free-flowing, aqueous dispersion which is charac-terized by a content of (A) 15 to 40% by weight of pearlescing components, (B) 5 to 55% by weight of nonionic, ampholytic, and/or zwitterionic emulsifiers and (C) 0.1 to 5% by weight of low molecular weight, polyhydric alcohols.
Particularly advantageous properties are exhibited by pearlescent concentrates containing (A) 20 to 30% by weight of pearlescing components, (B) 15 to 30% by weight of nonionic, ampholytic and/or zwitterionic emulsifiers, and (C) 0.5 to 3% by weight of low molecular weight, polyhydric alcohols.
Pearlescing components are to be understood as nacre-ous forms of fusible fats or waxes which crystallize out in the form of fine, pearlescing substances upon cooling of their aqueous solutions or emulsions from a point above the melting point of the fusible fat or wax to a point below its solidification point in a temperature range of from about 30 to 90~C.
Preferred pearlescing components are (Al) esters corresponding to formula (I):
R (CnH2n)X OR (I), in which R1 represents a linear C1422 fatty acyl group, R2 represents hydrogen or a group from the same class as R1, n = 2 or 3, and x is a number from l to 4;
(A2) monoalkanolamides corresponding to general formula (II):
R3 - CO - NH - X (II), in which R3 represents an alkyl group containing 8 to 22 and, more preferably, 8 to 18 carbon atoms and X is CH2 CH2 OH~ -CH2-cH2-cH2-oH~ or -C(CH3)2-oH;
(A3) linear, saturated C1622 fatty acids; and (A4) ~-ketosulfones corresponding to general formula (III):
Rs R4 - CO - CH - SO2 - CH2 - R6 (III), in which R4 represents a C1121 alkyl or alkenyl group, and either each of Rs and R6 represents a hydrogen atom or R5 and R6 together represent an ethylene group so that the moiety represents a tetrahydrothiophene dioxide derivative.
The pearlescent concentrates according to the inven-tion may consist exclusively of one single chemical compound from any one of these classes, may be mixtures of representatives of only one of these classes of compounds, or may be mixtures of representatives of any two or more of these classes of compounds.
Suitable esters (Al) corresponding to the general formula R1(OCn*n)XOR2 are, for example, the monoesters and diesters of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol with higher fatty acids, for example with palmitic acid, stearic acid or behenic acid, or the diesters of diethylene glycol or triethylene glycol with such fatty acids. Also suitable are mixtures of monoesters and diesters of the glycols mentioned with fatty acid mixtures, for example with hydrogenated tallow fatty acid or with the saturated C1418 fatty acid fraction of tallow fatty acid. The ethylene glycol monoester(s) and/or diester(s) of palmitic and/or stearic acids are particularly preferable.
Preferred monoalkanolamides (A2) are the monoethanol-amides. These compounds may all contain the same alkyl radicals. However, it is morle common commercially, and satisfactory for use in this invention, to produce the alkanolamides of fatty acid mixtures from natural sources, for e~ample coconut oil fatty acids, so that corresponding mixtures are present in regard to the alkyl radicals, and alkanolamide mixtures derived from such mixtures are highly suitable for use in this invention.
Suitable linear fatty acids (A3) are, for example, palmitic acid, stearic acid, arachic acid, or behenic acid, although it is also possible to use technical fatty acid cuts consisting entirely or predominantly of C1622 fatty acids, for example palmitic/stearic acid fractions of the type obtained from tallow fatty acid by separation of the fatty acids liquid at +5C or palmitic/stearic acid frac-tions of the type obtainable by hydrogenation of tallow fatty acid.
The B-ketosulfones (A4) of general formula (III) have the advantage over the known ethylene glycol monoesters and diesters that the pearlescence of the compositions shows higher heat stability, i.e. the compositions retain their pearlescence for several hours on heating to temperatures above 50C and, in some cases, to temperatures above 70C.
Further information on the B-ketosulfones mentioned can be found in German patent application 35 08 051.
According to the invention, it is preferred to use the highly pearlescing compounds of classes (Al) and (A2).
Pearlescent concentrates in which at least 70% by weight and more especially at least 90% by weight of the pearlescing components consist of ethylene glycol distea-rate are particularly preferred.
Suitable emulsifiers (B) are nonionic, ampholytic and/or zwitterionic surface-active compounds characterized by a lipophilic, preferably linear, alkyl or alkenyl group and at least one hydrophilic group. The hydrophilic group may be either an ionic group or a nonionic group.
Nonionic emulsifiers contain, for example, a polyol group, a polyalkylene glycol ether group or a combination of a polyol group and a polyglycol ether group as the hydrophilic group.
Preferred pearlescent concentrates are those which contain as emulsifiers nonionic surfactants from the group consisting of (B1) adducts of an average of from 2 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide and/or an average of 0 to 5 moles of propylene oxide with each mole of linear C822 fatty alcohols, C1222 fatty acids, and/or with alkyl phenols containing 8 to 15 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, the total moles of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide combined averaging not less than two per mole of lipophilic group containing alcohol, acid, or alkyl phenol;
(B2) C1218 fatty acid monoesters and diesters of adducts of an average of from 1 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide with each mole of glycerol;
(B3) glycerol monoesters and diesters and sorbitan mono-esters and diesters of saturated and unsaturated C818 fatty acids and of acids that are adducts of from 1 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide with each mole of saturated and unsaturated C818 fatty acids;
(B4) C818 alkyl mono- and oligo-glycosides and oligo(oxyethylene) homologs thereof; and (B5) adducts of an average of from 10 to 60 moles of ethylene oxide with each mole of castor oil and/or hydrogenated castor oil.
Individual compounds or mixtures of compounds from any of these classes are suitable for use in the invention.
The adducts of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide with fatty alcohols, fatty acids, alkyl phenols, glycerol monoesters and diesters and sorbitan monoesters and dies-ters of fatty acids or with castor oil are known commer-x L~ ~3 cially available products. They are homolog mixtures of which the average degree of alkoxylation corresponds to the ratio between the quantities of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide and substrate with which the addition reaction is carried out.
Cl218 fatty acid monoesters and diesters of adducts of ethylene oxide with glycerol are known from DE-PS 20 24 051 as oil-restoring agents for cosmetic compositions. C818 mono- and oligo-glycosides, their production and their use as surfactants are known, for example, from US-A 3,839,318, US-A 3,707,535, US-A 3,547,828, DE-A 19 43 689, DE-A 20 36 472 and DE-A 30 01 064 and from EP-A 77 167. They may be prepared in particular by reaction of glucose or oligo-saccharides with primary C818 alcohols. So far as the glycoside residue is concerned, both monoglycosides, in which a cyclic sugar residue is attached to the fatty alcohol by a glycoside bond, and also oligomeric glycosides having a degree of oligomerization of up to, preferably, 8 are suitable. The degree of oligomerization is a statisti-cal mean value on which a homolog distribution typical ofsuch technical products is based.
The compounds of group (Bl) are particularly preferred nonionic emulsifiers (B) for the purposes of the invention.
Zwitterionic surfactants may also be used as the emulsifiers (B). Zwitterionic surfactants are surface-active compounds which contain at least one quaternary ammonium group and at least one -C00 or -S03 group in the molecule. Particularly suitable zwitterionic surfactants are the so-called betaines, such as the N-alkyl-N,N'-dimethyl ammonium glycinates, for example coconut alkyldimethyl ammonium glycinate, N-acylaminopropyl-N,N-dimethyl ammonium glycinates, for example coconut acylaminopropyl dimethyl ammonium glycinate, and 2-alkyl-3-carboxymethyl-3-hydroxyethyl imidazolines containing 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl or acyl group and also coconut acylaminoethyl hydroxyethyl carboxymethyl glycinate. The fatty acid amide derivative known by the CTFA Directory ("CTFA") name of cocoamidopropyl betaine is part:icularly preferred. (The CTFA ~irectory is published by the Cosmetics, Toiletries, and Fragrances Association, Washington, DC, U.S.A.) Other suitable emulsifiers (B) are ampholytic surfac-tants. Ampholytic surfactants are surface-active compounds which, in addition to a C8l8 alkyl or acyl group in the molecule, contain at least one free amino group and at least one -COOH or -SO3H group. ~rhey are capable of forming inner salts. Examples of suitable ampholytic surfactants are N-alkyl glycines, N-alkylpropionic acids, N-alkylamino-butyric acids, N-alkyliminodipropionic acids, N-hydroxyeth-yl-N-alkylamidopropyl glycines, N-alkyltaurines, N-alkyl-sarcosines, 2-alkylaminopropionic acids, and alkylaminoace-tic acids containing approximately 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group. Particularly preferred ampholytic surfac-tants are N-coconut alkylaminopropionate, coconut acyl-aminoethylamine propionate, and C12l8 acyl sarcosine.
According to the invention, the pearlescent concen-trates may contain representatives of one or more of the above-mentioned classes of surfactants. Where mixtures are used, it is preferred to use nonionic and zwitterionic and/or ampholytic surfactants in a ratio by weight of 5:1 to 1:5.
Pearlescent concentrates according to the invention, which contain as surfactants only nonionic, zwitterionic, and/or ampholytic types, have proved to be particularly universally usable and to be particularly compatible with aqueous compositions of water-soluble surfactants of any type and any ionicity and thus are particularly preferred.
If desired, however, the pearlescent concentrates may also contain anionic or cationic emulsifiers.
Suitable anionic emulsifiers are, for example, alkyl sulfates and alkyl polyethylene glycol ether sulfates containing 1 to 6 ethylene glycol ether groups in the molecule, which are used in the form of their alkali metal, magnesium, ammonium, mono-, di- or tri-alkanolammonium salts containing 2 to 3 carbon atoms in the alkanol group.

22~8 Other suitable anionic surfactanls are alkanesulfonates, ~-olefin sulfonates, ~-sulfofatty acid methyl esters, fatty alcohol (polyglycol ether) carboxylates, sulfosuccinic acid mono- and di-al~yl esters, sulfosuccinic acid ester salts, acyl isethionates, acyl taurides, and acyl sarcosides.
Soaps may also be used as emulsifiers. This may be achieved, for example, by saponifying a small proportion, for example 1 to 20% by weight, of linear, saturated fatty acids by added alkali hydroxide and thus converting them into an anionic emulsifier~ Preferred anionic surfactants are the alkyl polyethylene glycol ether sulfates such as, for example, sodium lauryl polyglycol ether sulfate.
Suitable cationic emulsifiers are quaternary ammonium surfactants, for example alkyl trimethyl ammonium chlorides and dialkyl dimethyl ammonium chlorides, for example cetyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, stearyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, distearyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, lauryl dimethyl ammonium chloride, lauryl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, cetyl pyridinium chloride, and tallow alkyl tris-(oligooxyalkyl)-ammonium phosphate.
The alkyl groups in the anionic and cationic surfac-tants mentioned typically contain 8 to 22 and more preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms.
The molecules containing alkyl groups used as surfac-tants may be those of a single chemical compound. However,it is generally preferred to use natural vegetable and animal starting materials in the production of these compounds, so that mixtures having different alkyl chain lengths depending on the particular starting material used are obtained.
A content of low molecular weight polyhydric alcohols is crucial to the flowability or pumpability of the pearlescent concentrates according to the invention.
Preferred low molecular weight polyhydric alcohols contain 2 to 6 carbon atoms and 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups. Alcohols such as these are, for example, ethylene glycol, 1,2- and 1,3-propylene glycol, glycerol, di- and triethylene glycol, erythritol, arabitol, adonitol, xylitol, sorbitol, manni-tol, and galactitol. It is particularly preferred to use compounds which are liquid at room temperature, most preferably 1,2-propylene glycol and/or glycerol.
In the case of pearlescent concentrates containing less than about 30% by weight pearlescing components, a content of low molecular weis~ht polyhydric alcohols of approximately 1~ by weight has proved to be sufficient in many cases. This applies part:icularly when 1,2-propylene glycol and/or glycerol is used as the alcohol component.
In addition to the components mentioned above, the pearlescent concentrates according to the invention must contain water. Commercially available preservatives may be added in small quantities to protect the concentrates against bacterial and fungal attack. In addition, the concentrates may contain small quantities of buffers, for example citric acid and/or sodium citrate, to stabilize and adjust the pH to values in the range from 2 to 8.
The pearlescent concentrates according to the inven-tion are usually and preferably pumpable at least over a temperature range of 5 to 400 C and remain stable in storage for prolonged periods, i.e. for at least about 3 months.
The pearlescent concentrates according to the inven-tion are preferably prepared by initially heating com-ponents (A), (B) and (C) together to a temperature ap-proximately 1 to 30 C above the melting point. In most cases, this will be a temperature in the range from about 60 to 90 C. Water heated to substantially the same temperature is then added to this mixture. Where an ionic water-soluble surfactant is used as the emulsifier, it may be preferred to dissolve it in the aqueous phase and to introduce it together with the water into the mixture. The aqueous phase may also contain any buffer substances desired in dissolved form. The dispersion formed is then cooled with continuous stirring to room temperature, i.e.
to around 25C. In most cases, the viscosity of the 2~8 pearlescent concentrate is so low that there is no need to use special stirring units, such as homogenizers or other high-speed mixers. Any temperature-sensitive preservatives should be added only after coo]ing to temperatures below 40 C and pre~erably only just be~ore the end of the cooling period at a temperature of the order of 30 C.
The pearlescent concentrates according to the inven-tion are suitable for the production of opaque-to-translucent and pearlescent, liquid aqueous compositions of wa~er-soluble surfactants. They may be incorporated, for example, into liquid detergents, such as dish washing detergents, liquid light-duty detergents and liquid soaps, but are preferably incorporated in liquid personal hygiene and body-care compositions, such as for example shampoos, liquid hand and body soaps, shower bath compositions, bath additives (foam baths), hair rinses, and hair dyes.
To produce pearlescence, the pearlescent concentrates according to the invention are generally added to clear aqueous compositions at 0 to 40 C in a quantity of 1 to 10 % by weight and more preferably in a quantity of 1.5 to 5 % by weight of the composition and are dispersed therein with stirring. A dense and metallically lustrous to slightly lustrous and extremely dense pearlescence can be obtained, depending on the composition and the concentration used.
The following Examples are intended to illustrate the invention without limiting it in any way.
Examples Free-flowing pearlescent concentrates having the compositions shown in Table 1 were prepared. The percentages by weight shown in Table 1 are for the active ingredients, even when solutions of the active ingredients were actually used to make the compositions shown, as indicated in the explanations given in footnotes for the ingredients identified in the main part of the Table by O ~ a S L~ V,RS ~ o oD 3 u~ o 1~: 0 ~

V a V ,~ ~ V x C ~ ~ N ~/ I ~= a,a -- v a ~ ~ I O ~ ~ , a ~1 ~ u~ 0 ~
~ O O ~ O , "~ ~ I v ~ ~--V e O

. . ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ V_ ~ a~ ~

E- ~1 1~1 ~ I ~1 ,.~ ~ I u~ Ll~ ~ ~ V C ~ ~ j V

o ~ ~ e N V V I V

o ~ ", ~ ~ a ~ ~ ~ O ~ o a ~3 ' 8 trade mark names.
The quantities of components A, B, and C specified in Table 1 were heated to a temperature of 75'~. Water heated to 75 D C was added to this melt:~ The dispersion was then cooled with continuous stirrin~ to 25C, the preservative being added at a temp~ra-ture of 30C.
Comparison Example composition mixtures C9, C10, and Cll were also prepared. Except 3`or the absence of component C, each comparison mixture Cx had the same composition as the corresponding composition x. The viscosities of some of the pearlescent concentrates according to the Examples and the ~omparison Examples were measured with a Brookfield RVF Viscosimeter, spindle 5, at 10 revolutions per minute, at the particular temperature at which the mixture had been stored. The storage temperatures and measured viscosity values (in millipascal seconds) are shown in Table 2. The results show a definite reduction in viscosity from the addition of alcohol.

Application Examples (See footnotes after last example.
Al) Shampoo containinq anionic surfactants Component % by weight Fatty alcohol (C1-14) polyglycol (2 E0) ether sul~ate, sodium salt, about 30% in water (CTFA name:
sodium laureth sulfate) 40.0 N-coconut acylamidopropyl dimethyl glycine, 30% in water (CTFA name:
cocamidopropyl betaine) 10.0 Cetiol HE7 2.0 Pearlescent concentrate Example 9 3.0 Sodium chloride 0.8 Water balance 0 Table ~: Viscosity Values Mixture No. Temperature, Storagetime, Viscosity, C_ days _ mPa.s 7 10 :l 14000 7 25 :L 5600 7 40 :L 8000 9 10 1~ 14000 C~ 10 14 22000 . C9 40 14 20000 2~

A2) Foam bath containing anionic surfactants Component % by weight Fatty alcohol (C12 ,4) sulfate, magnesium salt, about 30% in water (CTFA name: Magnesium lauryl sulfate) 40.0 N-coconut acylamidopropyl dimethyl glycine, 30% in water (CTFA name:
cocamidopropyl betaine)lO.O
Sulfosuccinic acid monolauryl polyglycol (3 EO) ester, 40% in water (CTFA name: disodium laureth sulfosuccinate) 4.5 Cetiol~ RE7 2.0 Pearlescent concentrate Example 7 3.0 Sodium chloride 0.3 Water balance 20 A3) Hair treatment containing cationic surfactants Component % by weiqht Quaternium0 528 2.0 Cetiol~ HE7 0.5 Viscontran0 HEC 30000 PR950.0 Pearlescent concentrate Example 2 5.0 Citric acid 0.2 Water balance Notes for the Application Examples 7 Polyol fatty acid ester (CTFA name: PEG-7-Glyceryl Cocoate) (HENKEL) 8 Tris-(oligooxyethyl)-alkyl ammonium phosphate, 50% in water (HENKEL) 9 Hydroxyethyl cellulose, 2% in water (AQUALON)

Claims

1. A free-flowing aqueous dispersion, comprising:
(A) 15 to 40% by weight of pearlescing components;
(B) 5 to 55% by weight of emulsifiers selected from nonionic, ampholytic, and zwitterionic surfactants; and (C) 0.1 to 5% by weight of low molecular weight, polyhydric alcohols.

2. A dispersion as claimed in claim 1, comprising from 20 to 30% by weight of component (A), from 15 to 30%
by weight of component (B), and from 0.5 to 3% by weight of component (C).

3. A dispersion as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pearlescing components are selected from the group consisting of:
(A1) esters corresponding to formula (I):
R1 - (OCnH2n)x - OR2 (I), in which R1 is a linear C14-22 fatty acyl group, R2 is hydrogen or is selected from the same group as R1, n = 2 or 3, and x is a number from l to 4;
(A2) monoalkanolamides corresponding to general formula (II):
R3 - CO - NH - X (II), in which R3 is an alkyl group containing 8 to 18 carbon atoms and X is a group -CH2-CH2-OH, a group -CH2-CH2-CH2 OH, or a group -C(CH3)2-OH;
(A3) linear, saturated C16-22 fatty acids; and (A4) .beta.-ketosulfones corresponding to general formula (III):
(III), in which R4 is a C11-21 alkyl or alkenyl group, and either each of R5 and R6 represents a hydrogen atom or R5 and R6 together represent an ethylene group so that the moiety represents a tetrahydrothiophene dioxide derivative.

4. A dispersion as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pearlescing components are selected from the group consisting of:
(Al) esters corresponding to formula (I):
R1 _ (OCnH2n)x - OR2 (I), in which R1 is a linear C14-22 fatty acyl group, R2 is hydrogen or is selected from the same group as R1, n = 2 or 3, and x is a number from 1 to 4;
(A2) monoalkanolamides corresponding to general formula (II):
R3 - CO - NH - X (II), in which R3 is an alkyl group containing 8 to 22 carbon atoms and X is a group -CH2-CH2-OH, a group -CH2-CH2-CH2-OH, or a group -C(CH3)2-OH;
(A3) linear, saturated C16-22 fatty acids; and (A4) .beta.-ketosulfones corresponding to general formula (III):
R4 - CO - - SO2 - CH2 - R6 (III), in which R4 is a C11-21 alkyl or alkenyl group, and either each of R5 and R6 represents a hydrogen atom or R5 and R6 together represent an ethylene group so that the moiety - - SO2 - CH2 - R6 represents a tetrahydrothiophene dioxide derivative.

5. A dispersion as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least 70% by weight of the pearlescing component (A) consists of ethylene glycol distearate.

6. A dispersion as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least 90% by weight of the pearlescing component (A) consists of ethylene glycol distearate.

7. A dispersion as claimed in claim 6, comprising as emulsifiers nonionic surfactants selected from the group consisting of:
(B1) adducts of an average of from 2 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide and/or an average of 0 to 5 moles of propylene oxide with each mole of linear C822 fatty alcohols, C12-22 fatty acids, and/or alkyl phenols containing 8 to 15 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, the total moles of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide combined averaging not less than two per mole of lipophilic group containing alcohol, acid, or alkyl phenol;
(B2) C12-18 fatty acid monoesters and diesters of adducts of an average of from 1 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide with each mole of glycerol;
(B3) glycerol monoesters and diesters and sorbitan monoesters and diesters of saturated and unsaturated C8-18 fatty acids and of acids that are adducts of from 1 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide with each mole of saturated and unsaturated C8-18 fatty acids;
(B4) C8-18 alkyl mono- and oligo-glycosides and oligo(oxyethylene) homologs thereof; and (B5) adducts of an average of from 10 to 60 moles of ethylene oxide with each mole of castor oil or hydrogenated castor oil.

8. A dispersion as claimed in claim 5, comprising as emulsifiers nonionic surfactants selected from the group consisting of:
(B1) adducts of an average of from 2 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide and/or an average of 0 to 5 moles of propylene oxide with each mole of linear C8-22 fatty alcohols, C12-22 fatty acids, and/or alkyl phenols containing 8 to 15 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, the total moles of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide combined averaging not less than two per mole of lipophilic group containing alcohol, acid, or alkyl phenol;
(B2) C12-18 fatty acid monoesters and diesters of adducts of an average of from 1 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide with each mole of glycerol;
(B3) glycerol monoesters and diesters and sorbitan monoesters and diesters of saturated and unsaturated C8-18 fatty acids and of acids that are adducts of from 1 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide with each mole of saturated and unsaturated C8-18 fatty acids;
(B4) C8-18 alkyl mono- and oligo-glycosides and oliqo(oxyethylene) homologs thereof; and (B5) adducts of an average of from 10 to 60 moles of ethylene oxide with each mole of castor oil or hydrogenated castor oil.

9. A dispersion as claimed in claim 4, comprising as emulsifiers nonionic surfactants selected from the group consisting of:
(B1) adducts of an average of from 2 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide and/or an average of 0 to 5 moles of propylene oxide with each mole of linear C8-22 fatty alcohols, C12-22 fatty acids, and/or alkyl phenols containing 8 to 15 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, the total moles of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide combined averaging not less than two per mole of lipophilic group containing alcohol, acid, or alkyl phenol;
(B2) C12-18 fatty acid monoesters and diesters of adducts of an average of from 1 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide with each mole of glycerol;
(B3) glycerol monoesters and diesters and sorbitan monoesters and diesters of saturated and unsaturated C8-18 fatty acids and of acids that are adducts of from 1 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide with each mole of saturated and unsaturated C8-18 fatty acids;
(B4) C8-18 alkyl mono- and oligo-glycosides and oligo(oxyethylene) homologs thereof; and (B5) adducts of an average of from 10 to 60 moles of ethylene oxide with each mole of castor oil or hydrogenated castor oil.

10. A dispersion as claimed in claim 3, comprising as emulsifiers nonionic surfactants selected from the group consisting of:
(B1) adducts of an average of from 2 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide and/or an average of 0 to 5 moles of propylene oxide with each mole of linear C8-22 fatty alcohols, C12-22 fatty acids, and/or alkyl phenols containing 8 to 15 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, the total moles of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide combined averaging not less than two per mole of lipophilic group containing alcohol, acid, or alkyl phenol;
(B2) C12-18 fatty acid monoesters and diesters of adducts of an average of from 1 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide with each mole of glycerol;
(B3) glycerol monoesters and diesters and sorbitan monoesters and diesters of saturated and unsaturated C8-18 fatty acids and of acids that are adducts of from 1 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide with each mole of saturated and unsaturated C8-18 fatty acids;
(B4) C8-18 alkyl mono- and oligo-glycosides and oligo(oxyethylene) homologs thereof; and (B5) adducts of an average of from 10 to 60 moles of ethylene oxide with each mole of castor oil or hydrogenated castor oil.

11. A dispersion as claimed in claim 2, comprising as emulsifiers nonionic surfactants selected from the group consisting of:
(B1) adducts of an average of from 2 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide and/or an average of 0 to 5 moles of propylene oxide with each mole of linear C8-22 fatty alcohols, C12-22 fatty acids, and/or alkyl phenols containing 8 to 15 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, the total moles of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide combined averaging not less than two per mole of lipophilic group containing alcohol, acid, or alkyl phenol;
(B2) C12-18 fatty acid monoesters and diesters of adducts of an average of from 1 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide with each mole of glycerol;
(B3) glycerol monoesters and diesters and sorbitan monoesters and diesters of saturated and unsaturated C8-18 fatty acids and of acids that are adducts of from 1 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide with each mole of saturated and unsaturated C8-18 fatty acids;
(B4) C8-18 alkyl mono- and oligo-glycosides and oligo(oxyethylene) homologs thereof; and (B5) adducts of an average of from 10 to 60 moles of ethylene oxide with each mole of castor oil or hydrogenated castor oil.

12. A dispersion as claimed in claim 1, comprising as emulsifiers nonionic surfactants selected from the group consisting of:
(B1) adducts of an average of from 2 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide and/or an average of 0 to 5 moles of propylene oxide with each mole of linear C8-22 fatty alcohols, C12-22 fatty acids, and/or alkyl phenols containing 8 to 15 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, the total moles of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide combined averaging not less than two per mole of lipophilic group containing alcohol, acid, or alkyl phenol;
(B2) C12-18 fatty acid monoesters and diesters of adducts of an average of from 1 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide with each mole of glycerol;
(B3) glycerol monoesters and diesters and sorbitan monoesters and diesters of saturated and unsaturated C8-18 fatty acids and of acids that are adducts of from 1 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide with each mole of saturated and unsaturated C8-18 fatty acids;
(B4) C8-18 alkyl mono- and oligo-glycosides and oligo(oxyethylene) homologs thereof; and (B5) adducts of an average of from 10 to 60 moles of ethylene oxide with each mole of castor oil or hydrogenated castor oil.

13. A dispersion as claimed in claim 1, comprising zwitterionic surfactants as emulsifiers.

14. A dispersion as claimed in claim 13, wherein the zwitterionic surfactants are selected from the group of betaines.

15. A dispersion as claimed in claim 1, comprising ampholytic surfactants as emulsifiers.

16. A dispersion as claimed in claim 1, comprising both nonionic and ampholytic or zwitterionic, or both ampholytic and zwitterionic, ionic surfactants as emulsifiers, wherein the ratio of the weight of the total nonionic surfactants to the total of zwitterionic and ampholytic ionic surfactants is from 5:1 to 1:5.

17. A dispersion as claimed in claim 16, wherein component (C) is selected from alcohols containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms and 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups.

18. A dispersion as claimed in claim 15, wherein component (C) is selected from alcohols containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms and 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups.

19. A dispersion as claimed in claim 14, wherein component (C) is selected from alcohols containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms and 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups.

20. A dispersion as claimed in claim 13, wherein component (C) is selected from alcohols containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms and 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups.

21. A dispersion as claimed in claim 12, wherein component (C) is selected from alcohols containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms and 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups.

22. A dispersion as claimed in claim 11, wherein component (C) is selected from alcohols containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms and 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups.

23. A dispersion as claimed in claim 10, wherein component (C) is selected from alcohols containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms and 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups.

24. A dispersion as claimed in claim 9, wherein component (C) is selected from alcohols containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms and 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups.

25. A dispersion as claimed in claim 8, wherein component (C) is selected from alcohols containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms and 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups.

26. A dispersion as claimed in claim 7, wherein component (C) is selected from alcohol, containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms and 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups.

27. A dispersion as claimed in claim 6, wherein component (C) is selected from alcohols containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms and 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups.

28. A dispersion as claimed in claim 5, wherein component (C) is selected from alcohols containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms and 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups.

29. A dispersion as claimed in claim 4, wherein component (C) is selected from alcohols containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms and 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups.

30. A dispersion as claimed in claim 3, wherein component (C) is selected from alcohols containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms and 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups.

31. A dispersion as claimed in claim 2, wherein component (C) is selected from alcohols containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms and 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups.

32. A dispersion as claimed in claim 1, wherein component (C) is selected from alcohols containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms and 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups.

33. A dispersion as claimed in any of claims 30 - 32, wherein component (C) is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-propylene glycol and glycerol.

34. A dispersion as claimed in any of claims 27 - 29, wherein component (C) is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-propylene glycol and glycerol.

35. A dispersion as claimed in any of claims 24 - 26, wherein component (C) is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-propylene glycol and glycerol.

36. A dispersion as claimed in any of claims 21 - 23, wherein component (C) is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-propylene glycol and glycerol.

37. A dispersion as claimed in any of claims 18 - 20, wherein component (C) is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-propylene glycol and glycerol.

38. A dispersion as claimed in claim 17, wherein component (C) is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-propylene glycol and glycerol.

39. A process for the production of a dispersion comprising:
(A) 15 -to 40% by weight of pearlescing components;
(B) 5 to 55% by weight of emulsifiers selected from nonionic, ampholytic, and zwitterionic surfactants; and (C) 0.1 to 5% by weight of low molecular weight, polyhydric alcohols, wherein a mixture of components (A), (B), and (C) is heated to a temperature 1 to 30° C above the melting point of the mixture, mixed with the necessary quantity of water at substantially the same temperature as the melted mixture, and the resulting mixture is subsequently cooled to room temperature.

40. A process for the production of a pearlescent, opaque to translucent, and free-flowing aqueous composition of water soluble surfactants wherein a dispersion as claimed in claim 1 is added to a clear aqueous composition of water soluble surfactants at 0 to 40°
C in a quantity of from 0.5 to 10% by weight of the clear aqueous composition and is dispersed therein with stirring.

41. A process as claimed in claim 40, wherein the amount of pearlescent concentrate as claimed in claim 1 is from 1.5 to 5 % by weight of the clear aqueous composition used.