CA2180326A1

CA2180326A1 - Lubricant compositions

Info

Publication number: CA2180326A1
Application number: CA002180326A
Authority: CA
Inventors: James Taylour; Clare Grisdale
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Unilever NV
Priority date: 1994-01-12
Filing date: 1995-01-12
Publication date: 1995-07-20
Also published as: GB2285630A; WO1995019413A1; BR9506487A; EP0739407A1; GB9400437D0; AU680095B2; NZ278034A; MX9602747A; PL315523A1; JPH09508153A; ZA95220B; AU1411395A

Abstract

A high pH concentrate which upon dilution with water forms a lubricant composition for use in lubricating conveyor track, said concentrate having a pH of 7 to 11 comprising the following components: (a) (i) an alkylamine dicarboxylate compound of general formula (I), wherein R1 is a C8 to C18 saturated or unsaturated alkyl group, including mixtures of such alkyl groups, n is an integer of from 1 to 12, preferably n is 2, and each of M1 and M2, which may be the same or different, independently represents hydrogen or a Group I metal, typically sodium or potassium, and with the proviso that the distribution of alkyl chain lengths of the group R1 is such that components (a) and (b) remain in solution; and/or (ii) a compound of general formula (II), wherein R1 is a C8 to C18 alkyl group as defined above, R2 represents hydrogen or -(CH2)m -OH wherein m is an integer of from 2 to 12, and each of Y1 and Y2 which may be the same or different, is independently selected from -CH2 OH, -COOOM3O and -CH2COOOM3O, wherein M3 is hydrogen or a Group I metal, typically sodium or potassium; (b) a cyclic imidazoline of general formula (III), wherein R3 is a C7 to C20 saturated or unsaturated alkyl group; and (c) a C12 to C18 saturated or unsaturated alkyl sulphonate anionic surfactant, and (d) optionally, a pH reducing agent to provide said pH in the range of 7 to 11.

Description

~ wo gSrl9~13 2 1 8 0 3 2 6 PCTICA95100025 T.TT~ ~7Tr~
Field of the Inventiorl The present inverltion relates to lubricant compositions, and mor~! specifically to lubricant 5 compositions for use iLn lubricating the tracks which convey bottles, cans and similar containers and pAr~A~q for b~vt~ yuS from one station to another in a bottling plant .
Backaround of the Invention Beverage6 are so]Ld in a variety of containers such as glass bottles, plastics bottles, plastics containers, cans, or waxed carton packs. These containers are cu..v~yed through a number of stations in a plant where they are filled with t:he desired L~ L~e:; the containers 15 are c~ --v~:ye:d from one station to another by a track which is usually of stA;nl-~ steel when the containers are glass bottles, or of z~ plastics material such as an acetal resin (sold uncler the name Delrin) when the containers are other than glass bottles. Such tracks 20 will hereinafter be referred to as ~ICUllVt:y~L track".
When the containerq are being f illed with beverage at a filling station ~n the bottling plant, they are kept at a fixed position ullder the filling station while the C-~llv~:yOI track contimles to move forwards below the 25 container. In addition, blockage of the path along which the containers are travelling can occur if a container falls over or gets jar~med. In C:uch instances it is important that the CL ~IVe~ track is properly lubricated so that the track can continue to move even though the 30 containers on the tra~k are t~ ~lily prevented from advancing .
In order to ensu]-e smooth operation of the f illing process, it is imperative to ensure that the C~llVt:YUL
track is properly lub]-icated and cleaned. If the 35 Cullvt:yOI track is not properly lubricated, the containers can easily fall over or fail to stop moving when they reach the appropriate station in the plant. This can Wo 9S/19413 2 1 8 0 3 2 6 PCT/CA95/00025 cau6e serious disruption to the efficient operation of the f illing process .
Lubricant compositions which are currently u6ed for lubricating and cleaning ~ v~y~ I track are generally of 5 three main types:
(i) eomposition6 based on fatty acids, (ii) eompositions based on fatty amines, and (iii) eompositions based on phosphate esters.
Aqueous solutions of fatty aeids are not suitable f or use in areas of hard water, unless they are stabilized by the inCuL~u~ation of a complexing agent such as ethylPnP~liAm;np tetra-acetic acid (EDTA).
A further problem whieh we have eneountered with eompositions based on fatty acids or amines or on phosphate esters is that these known formulations are very aggressive to the coloring pigments used to label the surfaces of the containers, particularly steel and mi nllm cans used in the beverage industry. We have found that these known lubricating eompositions have a ~arked tendency to leach the printed matter printed an the surf ace of the containers .
U. 5 . Patent 3, 574, lOO describes a c~ r track lubricant eomposition whieh eompri~aes an aqueous solution of (a) a phosphate ester of an oleyl alcohol ethoxylate ~nd (b) a water 60luble amphoteric ~
We have now ~)L ~duced a new lubricating co~po6ition for use in lubricating CullVt:yU~ traek which has the advantage that it does not eause fading of the eolors in the printed matter on the containers which are being proeessed through the f illing plant . The lubrieant eompositions of the present invention ean also be used in areas of hard water.
S~lml-qry of the Invention Aeeording to one aspeet of the present invention, there i6 provided a high pH col.c~l.L~ ~.te whieh upon dilution with water forms a print eompatible lubrieant composition for use as a lubricant for COIIVe:yOI track, said c~ te comprising the following . L~:-ta) (i) an alkylamine dicarboxylate _ ' Of general f ormula ( I ) (CH2~ ~ CooeM,~3 Rl -- N (I) \ ( CH2 ) " COO eM2(~
10wherein R~ is a C~ to Cl8 saturated or unsaturated alkyl groUE\, inr~ in~ mixture6 of such alkyl groups, n is an integer of from 1 to 12, preferably n is 2, and each of M~ and M2, which may be the same or different, in~ y r~, ~s~ s ~ L~el- or a Group I
15 metal, typically sodium or potassium, and with the proviso that the distribution of alkyl chain lengths of the group R~ is such that: c (a) and (b) remain in solution;
and/or 2 0 ( i i ) a a f general f ormu la ( I I ) CH2Y, R~ -- C -- N -- CH2 -- CH2 -- N / (II) ll I CH2Y2 wherein R~ is a C~ to C~8 alkyl group as def ined above, R2 I~:~Lc:sellls llyd.co~el~ or -(CH2)~, -OH wherein m is an integer of from 2 to 12, and each of Y~ and Y2 which may be the same or different, is in~lP~PnrlPntly sPlected from -CH2 OH, -COOeN3- and -CH2COOeM3~, wherein M3 is hy~lr~,~ell or a Group I metal, typically sodium or potasium;

wo 95/19413 PCT/CA95/00025 (b) a cyclic imidazoline of the general formula (III) CH2 ~ C -- R3 (III) \CH2CH20H
wherein R3 i8 a C7 to C20 saturated or u~.~.&tuLated lO alkyl group;
(c) a C12 to C1~ saturated or unsaturated alkyl 51l1rhnn~te anionic surfactant, and (d) optionally, a pH reducing agent to providQ said pH in the range of 7 to ll.
15 uES~-n~ ON OF T~ K~ MRr)nIMFNTS OE' ~ TNVl;~NTION
In the group R1 of _ ^ t (a), the distribution of zllkyl chain lengths must be such that the product is stable and - -nts (a) and (b) do not come out of solution. This is achieved, for example, if the alkyl 20 chain of the group R~ is ~L~ ~7 ;nF~ntly a C~2 alkyl group, e.g., a mixture of alkyl groups as obtained from coconut acid, or a mixture of an u~ Lu~c~ted C~ alkyl group (ie oleyl) with said IJL~-~' ;ns-nt-ly C~2 alkyl mixture.
Thus, when _ (a) is an alkylamine 25 dicarboxylate of formula (I), it is preferably a salt of coco-amine dipropionate, or a mixture of said coco-amine salt, with a salt of oleyl-amine dipropionate. These salts are typically the mono sodium salts.
These alkylamine dicarboxylate ~ '~ may often 30 be referred to in the art as alkyl betaine o~nA~ and are intended to be interrhAnq~hle insofar as describing various aspects of the invention.
In a particularly preferred .~mhotl;r-~t of the concentrate of the present invention, ' L (a) 35 comprises a mixture of the said oleyl- and coco-amine dipropionate salts, preferably in a 1:2 weight ratio of oleyl-amine dipropionate: coco-amine dipropionate.
, O wO 95119413 2 1 8 0 3 2 6 PCT/CA9StO0025 The coco-amine dipropionate salt is derived from coconut acid, which acid is a mixture of long chain fatty acids having chain lengths varying from C~ to C~, with a p~ u.,d~nce of C10, C~2 and Cl4.
~7hen _ (a) i8 a _ ' of formula (II), it is preferably a, _ ' of said formula in which R1 is an oleyl-group or a coco-g:roup as defined above, R2 is a -CH2CH20H group and Y~ arld Y2 are as def ined above . A
particularly preferred ' of formula (II) is a _ ' of the formula:
CH2CH2COOeNa~
(Coco) - C -- N -- CH2CH2 - N
ll I ~ CH2CH2COOeNa~

C ~olln~lc of general formula (I) and general formula (II) are commercially alvailable. For example, the oleyl-amine dipropionate and coco-amine dipropionate salts mentioned above are sold by T.AkPIAnrl Laboratories Ltd of Nanchester, England as oleyl betaine - T.AkPl An~l ODA -(--roso~lium salt of oleyl amine dipropionate) and coca betaine - T~AkelAnA AMA - (- --;';llm salt of coca amine dipropionate) . These materials are sold as 3 0% active solutions.
C '- of general formula (II) are available from Rhone Poulenc and sold 11nder-the MIRANOL trade name.
These materials are sold as solutions which are 37-45%
active .
Typically, c nt (a) is uged in an active amount of from 0 . 4 to 18 wt%, based on the total weight of the concc:.lLLe,te. Nore preferably, the active amount of component (a) used to form the cu.,~,L~te of the present invention ranges from 3 . 8 to 13 wt%. These ranges apply whether ~ ^nt (a) i8 an alkylamine dicarboxylate of general formula (I) or a __ ' of general formula (II) .
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ wo 95/19~13 2 1 8 0 3 2 6 PCT/CA95/00025 C -~nt (b) i8 a cyclic imidazoline of general formula (III) a6 defined above. In these ~ R3 is preferably a saturated or Ull ~uL,~ted C7 to C~ alkyl group, more preferably an ul.sa~uLc,ted C17 alkyl group.
Typically, the cyclic ;m;tal~701 ;n~ is used in an active amount of from 0.35 to 14 wt%, based on the total weight of the UI~ G~LCLte. ~ore preferably, the active amount of the cyclic imidazoline ~ _ ' used to form the concentrate ranges from 3 to 10 wt~c, based on the total weight of the Cu.l~ LL-te.
Materials of general formula (III) are also commercially available. For example, an imidazoline of this type in which R3 i8 an un6aturated Cl7 alkyl group is supplied by T.;-k~ nrl Laboratories Ltd as Imidazoline 180H. This material is sold as a liquid which is typically 65-71% active, with an average activity of 68%.
C - ~ (c) is an alkyl s~l~rhnn~te anionic surfactant and is preferably an oleyl slllrhnn~te anionic surf actant . Surf actant6 of this general type are commercially available materials. For example, the oleyl sulphonate anionic surfactant mentioned above is sold by Hoechst AG as Hostapur OS and is sold as a 40% active solution .
Typically, the alkyl ~llrhnn~te anicnic surfactant is present in the CUI~ te in an active amount of rrOm 0. 2 to 5 wt%, based on the total weight of the concentrate. In preferred compositions the active amount of the alkyl sulphonate anionic surfactant ranges from 0 . 2 to 1 wt%, based on the total weight of the 3 0 CUI~ LL ~te .
Ls (a) and (b) are incorporated in the present compositions to provide the desired lubrication properties. Preferably the active weight ratio of -nt (a) to ~ ~rL (b) is 0.9-1.4:1.
The alkyl slllrht~nAte surfactant - _ ~nt (c) - is 1nr~ ecl in the present compositions as a IIYdLUL~ U~e, i. e . it acts to st:~h; 1; ~e the formulation thereby to O WO 95/19413 2 1 8 0 3 2 6 PCTIC~95/00025 prevent phase separation, particularly of the dilute solutions which are produced when the C ollc~:"LLate is diluted with water. The alkyl ulrh~n~te surfactant does not play any active role in the lubrication process nor 5 does it appear to have ~ny function in preventing leaching of pigment fro,~ the printing i~nks used on containers which are cu,~ .=d through bottling plants.
We have found that it i6 possible to include a further _ in th~ c-~,~ . al es of the present 10 invention. We have foulnd that if one in~,uL~uLateS up to 3 wt%, based on the total weight of the ~;ol~ Late, of (d) a non-ionic surfact~nt which is a linear or branched alkoxylated alcohol or alkoxylated phenol, each having from 5 to 20 units of el hoxylation, in the _u..~el.~Late of the invention, the soil hs~n~l in7 characteristics of the resultant lubricant compositions are; vvt:d. This surfactant appears to play no part in lubrication, in the stability of the composition, nor in protecting the pigment on the printed surface of the container.
A preferred such nc)n-ionic surfactant is an iso-C~3-Cl5 alcohol which has 12 units of ethoxylation. These surfactants are availab~ e commercially; for example a material of this type is sold by BASF AG as Lutensol T0129 and is said to be 88% active.
When a non-ionic surfactant of this type i6 inCc~L~uL~ted as ~ t (d) i~n the cv..c6~ La~es of the present invention, it i8 usually present in an active amount of from 0.5 to lC wt%, preferably from 1 to 5 wt%, based on the total weigh~t of the cullce-.LLate.
3 0 The ~ul~c~ L ates o~ the present invention are typically ~~ aled by dissolving the cyclic imidazoline (_ -nt b) in a mixture of water and isopropanol. The solution is stirred until the imidazoline has dissolved, whereupon _ - L (a) is then introduced.
When ~ - -nt (a) comprises a mixture of oleylamine dicarboxylate and coco-amine dicarboxylate, the ~LU''I~:dULt:
is that the oleylamine dicarboxylate is i,-LLodu- ed first W0 95/19413 2 1 ~ 0 3 2 6 PCT/CAgSIooo~S
and the solution i5 6tirred gently and heated up to a temper7~ture of about 60C until a viscous slurry is obtained (usually nbout l/2 hour) .
Finally the oleyl E-~lrhr~n~te surfactant ( ,--,t 5 c) is added to the formulation.
The pH of the formulation can be varied from 7 to 11 d~ren~ i n~ on the properties required . We have observed that at lower p~ values for the cullc "L-~.te good lubrication with drag coefficients of 0.15 - 0.16 are lO realized. However, better pigment compatibility is observed at the high pH values. A pH value of about 9 to ll is preferred for optimum pigment comp~tibility.
To lower the pH of the formulation, as needed, a suitable acid is added. We have found that addition of a 15 simple acid such as acetic acid results in an unstable product. We have found that acids which have llydLOLLU~Jic properties are suitable. EYamples of such 1IYdLULLU~iC
acids are caprylic acid and n~nrlP~ Anr it acid.
Neo~lPc~noic acid is preferred; surprisingly, the 20 resultant product remains stable in hard water. Use of caprylic acid results in a product that is not stable to hard water.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a lubricant compo6ition for 25 u6e as a lubricant for CUI~ L track, 6aid lubricant composition comprising a ~iu..~ ~..LLate as defined above diluted with from 80 . 00 to 99 . 99 parts by volume of water. More typically, the cu~,cenLr~tes of the present invention are diluted with from 99 . 0 to 99 . 9 parts by 30 volu~e of water.
The compositions of the present invention are usually sold as conc~--LL-tes and are diluted for use as conveyor track lubricants.
Typical use uu~luellLL~ltions of the formulation would 35 be from 0.1 to 1% vol/vol made up in water. The eYaCt ~_ullC~I-LL~tion depends on factors such as the speed of the :yul track, the type of package or container being WO 95~19413 2 1 8 0 3 2 6 PCT/CA95/00025 carried by the track, the total loading on the CV--V~:YUr track and the amount of soiling caused by spillage.
Dilution of the lubricant ..o~.~el.LL~te is normally performed at a central ,1; FrQn~Dr~ and the diluted 5 lubricant composition is then pumped to spray nozzles at the point of use. There are some areas of the ~ V~:yvI
track that require very little lubricant. Typically these are the zones before the riller and before the pasteurizer. In these regions secondary dilution is 10 often employed. Lubricant is likely to be at its highest use concentration at thl~ f iller .
The lubricant solll~; i f)n~ are typically sprayed onto the cu..v-:yo~ from fan jet nozzles placed at the start of each length of track. E'or particularly long runs, 15 seron~Ary spray jets ma~ be positioned along the length of the track.
In areas of heavy E;oiling it may be n~-rDCCAry to continually spray lubricant onto the ~rack. However, in mo6t instances timers are employed to vary the dosing 20 rate. Typically on and o~f times will be between 10 and go seconds. Off times will not always egual on times.
Also i~ is likely that throughout a plant timer settings wi l l vary .
In some application~6, A final water wash jet will be 25 placed at the end of a ~ottle/can filling track. This will wash residues of lubricant from the package before crating and dispatching.
Excess lubricant will be allowed to fall from the track either to the floor or suitable drip trays. In 30 either event it will eventually enter the drainage and water LL e~ ' L systems .
A6 has been stated above, we have found that the lubricant compositions of the present invention have the particular adv~ a~ that they 2Lre compatible with can 35 print, i.e. they do not rapidly leach print from the surface of containers being carried by CVIIV~VL track which is being lubricated by the said lubricant 2 1 ~0326 Wo 95/19413 PCT/CA9510002 compositions. ~urthermore the lubricant compositions of the invention can also be used in areas of hard water without any apparent ~dverse effects.
The present invention is illustrated by the 5 following Examples:

A ~ e~ a~e suitable for use upon dilution with water as a COII~ L track lubricant waE formulated in the lO following manner from the ~ 8 set out in the Table below: -Raw %wt/wt 8ulk 96 Active Material f.. rc.. ~ tion in formulation Imidazoline 180H 5 . 4 3 . 7 TAkPlAn~l ODA 5-7 1.7 T.AkPlAnt9 A15A 10 . 4 3 .1 Hostapur OS 1. O 0 . 4 20 Isopropyl Alcohol 5.7 5.7 Soft Water t<5ppm 71. 8 71. 8 CaC03) Referring to the Table, TT~ O1 ;nP 18011 i8 a , _ ' of general formula (III) in which R3 is an unsaturated Cl7 alkyl group and ig gl~rpl; Pc~ by T.~kPl Anl Laboratories Ltd as a liquid which is 65-71% active.
T AkPl An~ ODA ig an oleylan~ine dipropionate (mono sodium salt), i.e. a - ,_ ' of general formula (I), sold by T.Akpl Antl Laboratories Ltd as a 30% active solution .
T Akf-l An~l AMA is a coco-amine dipropionate (mono sodium salt), i.e. a ~ , ' of general formula (I), sold by T AkP~ An~l Laboratories Ltd as a 30% active solution.
Ilor~dyu~ OS is an oleyl E~llrht~nAte anionic surfactant i.e. ~ (c) - sold by Hoechst AG as a 40% active material.

WO 95/19413 2 ~ 8 0 3 2 6 PCT~C~9s/0002s Imidazoline 180H (component c) was added to a mixture of the isopropyl alcohol and soft water. The resultant solution was stirred until the imidazoline was fully dissolved.
T.AkPl An~l ODA (~~ - - L (a): oleyl amine dipropionate) was then added to the solution and stirred for up to 30 minutes with gentle heating at up to 60C.
During this mixing proc~as6, the mixing vessel was sealed to prevent loss of volatile material. The resultant product was a viscous slurry.
1AkPlAn~ A ( -nt (a): coco-amine dipropionate) was add~d to the slurry and stirred until the mixture had cooled ~o room temperature. The mixture at this stage was a clear solution.
Finally, llo~La~uL OS ( ~ --L (b): anionic surfactant) wa6 added to the solution.
The resultant formulation had a pH between 10 and 11. The product was folmd to be stable when diluted to 1% in hard water and dill not cause fading of the printing inks used on the surfac~ag of printed Al~lm;mlm cans, i.e.
the formulation is comp21tible with the printing on aluminum cans.
The product formul.ltion shown in the Table above i8 typically diluted in water for use as a Cu~ r track lubricant. Typical use aollc~-.LL~tions are from 0.1 to 1%
vol/vol .
EXAl~LE 2 Following the ~Loae~uL.: described in Example 1, an alternative aclueous cc,~c~ LLc-Le formulation was prepared f rom the ~ lts set out in the Table below: -Wo 95119~13 2 1 8 0 3 2 6 PCT~CA95/00025 Raw %wt/wt Bulk %Active Material Cu~ L~tion in formulation Tm~rlA~Qllne 180H 5.4 3-7 5 T~kPl~n~ ODA 5.4 1.7 Miranol C2MSF lO . 0 3 . 9 HOD l,~UL 05 1. 0 0 . 4 Isopropyl Alcohol 5 . 7 5 . 7 Soft Water 72 . 5 72 . 5 Apart from Miranol C2MSP, the ~_, 1,5 are the same as those described in Example l. Miranol C2MSF is a ' of ge~eral formula (II) of the ~LLu~,l,ur~
CH2CH2COOeNa~3 (Coco) -- C -- N -- CH2CH2 -- N ~
Il I ~ s~ oOeNa~

and is supplied by Rhone Poulenc as a solution which is said to be 39% active.
As will be seen, this formulation i8 similar to that described in Example 1, except that the T. IkPl ~n-l AMA
material ( i . e . the coco-amine dipropionate) is replaced by the Miranol C2MSF material described above.
The properties of the resultant formulation were very similar to those of the formulation o~ Example l.
l~xample 3 3 0 Tests were condueted to evaluate the ink compatibility of the various lubrieant compositions of this invention as well as their lubrieity at various pH
levels .
The lubricity of the test eomposition was measured using an apparatus whieh eomprised a moving COIlve:yur on top of whieh a stationary load eell is mounted. A
dynamie load is positioned upstream of the load eell and a statie load is positioned upstream of the dynamie load.

O wo sst19413 2 1 8 0 3 2 6 PCT/CA95/0002s In order to test the lubricity or drag coefficient ~, a four kilogram glass bottle was positioned on the CU~IVCYUL
and ~ cse..Led the dynamic load, whereas the static load consisted of ten 600 gr~m glasE; bottles. The drag 5 coefficient was calculated on the basis of;
= draa (~) weight of dynamic load (g) lO For Alumin~m cans, the dynamic load was replaced with cans to give a load Or 3 . 6 kilograms and the static load consisted of ten Al-1m;nl~m/steel cans. The drag coefficient was calculated in accordance with the above formula .
The durability of the lubricant composition was also evaluated. Durability is measured as the time taken for the drag coefficient to increase to 0.25 after di~c. )d?~iOrl of the lubricant gupply to the CullV~yuL
whilst continuous dosing of the cc--veyur with water is continued over that peri~d of monitoring. Both the drag coefficient and durability are a measure of lubricant effectiveness. A good lubricant has a low drag coefficient, a high dura]~ility rating and quickly reaches equilibrium lubrication.
In order to test the print compatibility of the various lubricants of this invention with ink that is used in marking Alllm;nl1m cans or steel cans, the following ink compatibility test was conducted.
This is an aggressi~e test method that we believe 3 0 mimics the conditions that a ~e ~ _L .~ge can would experience in a pasteuri:~er. In detail, test strips were cut from Alllm;mlm b~cL~e cans printed pr~d~ ;nAntly with red ink. Each strip had dimensions of approximately 20 mm by 80 mm. Contact of the strips with lubricant was achieved by placing strips into lubricant solutions at 65OC. Furth- e, these solutions were made up to a concentration of approxinately ten times the expected maximum use concentration. For this type of formulation, we expect the maximum use. ~u..~e..LLi-tion to be about 0.596 wt/wt, hence test 601utions were made to 5. 09i wt/wt in soft water (< 10 ppm calcium carbonate). Contact time was taken between 1 and 24 hours during which time the t~ ~ItUl-' was maintained at 65C. At the end of the 5 duration, the strip was removed from the solut ;nn and compared qualitatively against a control formulation that was known to be benign towards the ink. Arbitrary units were Aasiqn~d to reflect the degree of aggressive removal of print pigment. A lower unit value indicates mild, if 10 any, pigment removal, whereas a higher unit value indicates an aggressive pigment removal. The control standard es~hl; qh~-q that a score of 1 indicates a benign action, whereas a score of 4 indicates an unacceptable aggressive action by the lubricant.
Formulations of Example 1 were tested and identif ied by the composition numbers D853; D854; D855 and D856.
The only difference in each composition is that the pH
was adjusted to the level noted in the following Table 1.

O WO 95/19413 2 1 ~ 0 3 2 6 PCTICA95100025 f f l , N O
I C~ f.~ f' f'l 1~ f'l ~ . t a o u~ O
a O
N H
C~ O
1~ ..
o O
U~ f'~
a o ~ I
r f - ~

From the above Table, it is apparent that acceptable print compatibility was ,~chieved with formulations D856 and D855 . The formulation of D854 with a pH of 7 . 2 iB
understood to be at the outermost edge of print 5 compatibility acceptability, although from Table 1, it is apparent that a pH of about 9.5 and about 10.2 for the formulation are far superior. As is understood by those skilled in the ~-rt, evaluation of lubrication performance depends on the drag coefficient, durability and time to lO reach equilibrium value of ~. From Table 1, we can see that as pH decreases, lubrication performance decreases.
The drag coefficient is reasonably consiætent for the variou6 selected pH with a slight increase being noted at a pH of 9.5, but dropping back to a level cfJLL~ ;nfJ
15 to the lower pHs when the pH is increased above 9 . 5 . It is understood, however, that, in measuring drag coef f icient, the slight increase at A pH of 9 . 5 may be due to a particular ~Luce-lu-~ with that composition and should not be interpreted as indicating any special 20 circumstance for the pH lubricity value at 9.5. However, in c~~ncid~ring the values for durability and time to react equilibrium value for ,~L, Table 1 fl LL,~te6 the above increase in lubrication performance with decreasing pH, but it is ~ r~..L that the higher pH composition 25 still constitutes good lubricants.
Example 4 In order to further evaluate print compatibility of the lubricant compositions of this invention, a second technique f or testing print compatibility was undertaken .
30 The revised method required a - ~a;fi-~ation of the method def ined in Example 3 to provide a more quantitative way of ~qsPssi n~ print compatibility. This was achieved by using the same Al ;ml~^ beverage cans used in the previous method, filling them with water and placing them 35 completely in a ten times working ~ u~C~ LL~tion of the lubricant. Excess fluid was allowed to drain from the paper and then carefully wrapped around the hot can. The can was maintained at 65~C by placing in an insulated box for a contact time of ~l5 minutes. The blotting paper was then allowed to air dr~ and compared qualitatively against the eontrol formulation, As with the previous 5 test method, the seoring of the lubricant's aggressive nature f or removing print pigment was evaluated in a similar manner.
The results of the test i nc~ i n~ also measuring of drag coeffieient were u~ndertaken and summarized in the 10 following Table 2.

D610 D600 Control pH 9.5 10,5 ~L 0.13 - 0.14 0.15 - 0.18 15 Durability/ 156 . 0 24 . 0 Seconds Time to reach 5 13 equilibrium minul:es minutes lubrication 20 Qualitative 1 1 1 - 2 Ink Compatibility Rating pH INCR `ASING --Lubrieant Effieacy Il -~F~gI~
Ink Compatibility ACCEPTABLE

From the above Tab]Le 2, it is apparent that preferred compositions of the invention having a pH of 9 . 5 and 10 . 5 have aceeptable ink eompatibility with very high durabilities and very aeeeptable drag eoefficients.
35 From the results of Tables 1 and 2, it is apparent that a suitable lubricant, in a,ccordance with the composition of this invention, can be provided with a pH preferably from 9 to 11 to yield ink co~patibility in accordance with the test techniques.

Claims

18

1. A high pH concentrate which upon dilution with water forms a print compatible lubricant composition for use in lubricating conveyor track, said concentrate having a pH
of 7 to 11 and comprising the following components:-(a) (i) an alkylamine dicarboxylate compound of general formula (I) (I) wherein R1 is a C8 to C18 saturated or unsaturated alkyl group, including mixtures of such alkyl groups, n is an integer of from 1 to 12, preferably n is 2, and each of M1 and M2, which may be the same or different, independently represents hydrogen or a Group I
metal, typically sodium or potassium, and with the proviso that the distribution of alkyl chain lengths of the group R1 is such that components (a) and (b) remain in solution;
and/or (ii) a compound of general formula (II) (II) wherein R1 is a C8 to C18 alkyl group as defined above, R represents hydrogen or -(CH2)m -OH wherein m is an integer of from 2 to 12, and each of Y1 and Y2 which may be the same or different, is independently selected from -CH2 OH, -COO?M3t? and -CH2COO?M3?, wherein M3 is hydrogen or a Group I metal, typically sodium or potassium;

(b) a cyclic imidazoline of the general formula (III) (III) wherein R3 is a C7 to C20 saturated or unsaturated alkyl group;
(c) a C12 to C18 saturated or unsaturated alkyl sulphonate anionic surfactant, and (d) optionally a pH reducing agent to provide said pH in the range of 7 to 11.

2. A concentrate according to Claim 1, wherein component (a) comprises a salt of coco-amine dipropionate, or a mixture of said coco-amine dipropionate salt with a salt of oleylamine dipropionate.

3. A concentrate according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein component (a) comprises a mixture of the mono sodium salts of oleylamine dipropionate and coco-amine dipropionate, preferably in a 1:2 ratio by weight of oleylamine dipropionate: coco-amine dipropionate.

4. A concentrate according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein component (a) comprises a compound of general formula (II) wherein R1 is an oleyl group or a coco group, R2 is a -CH2CH2OH group and Y1 and Y2 are as defined in claim 1.

5. A concentrate according to Claim 4, wherein component (a) comprises a compound of formula:

6. A concentrate according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein component (a) is used in an active amount of from 0.4 to 18 wt%, based on the total weight of the concentrate, preferably from 3.8 to 13 wt%, based on the total weight of the concentrate.

7. A concentrate according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein component (b) comprises a cyclic imidazoline of general formula (III) in which R3 is a saturated or unsaturated C7 to C18 alkyl group, preferably an unsaturated C17 alkyl group.

8. A concentrate according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cyclic imidazoline (b) is used in an active amount of from 0.35 to 14 wt%, based an the total weight of the concentrate, preferably from 3 to 10 wt%, based on the total weight of the concentrate.

9. A concentrate according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the alkyl sulphonate anionic surfactant is an oleyl sulphonate anionic surfactant.

10. A concentrate according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the alkyl sulphonate anionic sulphonate surfactant is present in an active amount of from 0.2 to 5 wt%, based on the total weight of the concentrate, preferably from 0.2 to 1 wt%, based on the total weight of the concentrate.

11. A concentrate according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the weight ratio of component (a) to component (b) in the concentrate is 0.9-1.4:1.

12. A concentrate according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a further component (d) which comprises a non-ionic surfactant which is a linear or branched alkoxylated alcohol or alkoxylated phenol, each having from 5 to 20 units of ethoxylation.

13. A concentrate according to Claim 12, wherein component (d) comprises an iso-C13 to C15 alcohol having 12 units of ethoxylation.

14. A concentrate according to claim 12 or 13, wherein component (d) is present in an active amount of from 0.5 to 10 wt%, preferably from 1 to 5 wt%, based on the total weight of the concentrate.

15. A concentrate according to any one of the preceding claims, having a pH from 9 to 11 and most preferably 10 to 11.

16. A concentrate according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said pH reducing agent is a hydrotropic acid.

17. A concentrate according to any one of the preceding claims, said hydrotropic acid being selected from the group consisting of caprylic acid and neodecanoic acid.

18. A lubricant composition for conveyor track comprising a concentrate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims diluted with from 80.00 to 99.99 parts by volume of water.

19. A lubricant composition according to Claim 18, wherein the concentrate is diluted with from 99.0 to 99.9 parts by volume of water.