EP0004353A2

EP0004353A2 - Non-water gelling alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil

Info

Publication number: EP0004353A2
Application number: EP79100801A
Authority: EP
Inventors: John Wulbern Miley; John Frank Stadalsky
Original assignee: Milliken Research Corp
Current assignee: Milliken Research Corp
Priority date: 1978-03-16
Filing date: 1979-03-15
Publication date: 1979-10-03
Also published as: EP0004353A3; JPS54163905A

Abstract

A non-water gelling alkylenoxy substituted castor oil having at least one alkyleneoxy moiety represented as -(CH₂CH₂O)_x(C₃ or C₄ alkyleneoxy constituent)yH wherein x is an integer of from 0 to about 45 and the total -(CH₂CH₂0) constituent is not more than about 90, and y is an integer of from about 0.3 to about 10 and the total -(C₃ or C₄ alkyleneoxy constituent) is at least 1 and not more than about 30 is useful as a lubricant for textile materials. Such is accomplished by contacting the textile material with an aqueous admixture containing an effective amount of the alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil so as to provide from about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent of the castor oil constituent on the textile material.

Description

This invention relates to non-water gelling alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil compositions. In one aspect it relates to such alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil compositions wherein said alkyleneoxy moiety contains at least one C₃ or C₄ alkyleneoxy constituent. More particularly, the invention relates to non-water gelling alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil compositions and their use as textile lubricants in textile processing operations.
Ethoxylated castor oils have heretofore been employed as tufting lubricants for carpet backing and as a major component of producer finishes for man-made fibers. Problems have, nevertheless, been encountered in that such ethoxylated-castor oils have been difficult to dissolve or disperse in an aqueous medium because of their tendency to form gels of high viscosity when brought into contact with water. To overcome the before-mentioned gelling problems, the prior art has resorted to the use of heat and/or powerful agitation to break up and dissolve the gel to form an aqueous admixture.
It has further been recognized that higher alkylene oxides could be reacted with compounds containing active hydrogen in much the same manner as ethylene oxide. For example, alcohols, carboxylic acids, amines, phenols and the like have been subjected to propoxylation techniques, as well as ethoxylation techniques. In addition, copolymers of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide both random and block, have long been available commercially.
High temperature lubricants, for use in textile processing operations, such a gem disubstituted alicyclic compound in which the ring portion of the compound, e.g., a cycloaliphatic hydrocarbyl containing about 5 to about 7 carbon atoms, is substituted by a polyalkyleneoxy chain to thereby render same water-soluble or water-dispersible are disclosed in U. S. Patent Number 4,044,033. The polyalkyleneoxy chain, which is attached to a ring carbon through a functional group, such as a hydroxyl group, is stated to be an alkylene oxide, such as ethylene oxide or propylene oxide.
Thus, while numerous methods and compositions have heretofore been disclosed which contain alkyleneoxy moieties, such as ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide, as well as uses for such compounds, the art has been void as to elimination of the gelling problem created when an ethoxylated castor oil composition is contacted with an aqueous medium, except for the use of heat and/or severe agitation.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved castor oil derivative useful as a textile lubricant which does not suffer from the problem of gel formation when contacted with an aqueous medium.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved textile lubricant which is not reactive with the textile material and can be removed easily therefrom after processing of same.
These and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description.
According to the present invention, we have now discovered a substantially water-soluble or water-dispersible non-water gelling alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil composition having at least 1 alkyleneoxy moiety generally represented as
(̵CH₂CH₂O)̵_x(C₃ or C₄ alkyleneoxy constituent)yH
wherein x is an integer of from 0 to about 45 and the total (̵CH₂CH₂O)̵ constituent in said alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil is not more than about 90, and y is an integer of from 0.3 to about 10 and the total iC₃ or C₄ alkyleneoxy constituent) in said alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil is at least 1 and not more than about 30.
Further according to the invention, we have discovered an improved method for reducing friction of a textile material and processing equipment during a textile processing operation which comprises contacting the textile material prior to and/or during processing with an aqueous admixture containing an effective amount of a non-water gelling alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil lubricant so as to provide from about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent of the lubricant on the textile material. More specifically, the alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil lubricant contains at least one alkyleneoxy moiety wherein the alkylene moiety is represented as
(̵CH₂CH₂O)̵_x(C₃ or C₄ alkyleneoxy constituent)yH
wherein x is an integer of from 0 to about 45 and the total (̵CH₂CH₂O)̵ constituent is not more than about 90, and y is an integer of from about 0.3 to about 10 and the total fC₃ or C₄ alkyleneoxy constituent) in said lubricant is at least 1 and not more than about 30.
As previously indicated, the subject invention relates to a substantially water-soluble or water-dispersible non-water gelling alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil composition and to a method for using same wherein the alkyleneoxy moiety of such composition contains at least one alkyleneoxy moiety represented generally by the formula
(̵CH₂CH₂O)̵_x(C₃ or C₄ alkyleneoxy constituent)_yH
wherein x is an integer of from 0 to about 45 and the total (̵CH₂CH₂0)̵ constituent in said alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil is not more than about 90, and y is an integer of from 0.3 to about 10 and the total (̵C₃ or C₄ alkyleneoxy constituent) in said alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil is at least 1 and not more than about 30.
It is important to note that in providing the desired non-water gelling properties to such an alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil composition that the alkyleneoxy moiety must contain at least one mole of the C₃ or C₄ alkyleneoxy constituent. As evident to those skilled in the art, what is meant by C₃ or C₄ alkyleneoxy constituent is to be understood to be propylene oxide, butylene oxide, including 1-butylene oxide as well as 2-butylene oxide. While the presence of either the C₃ or C₄ alkyleneoxy constituent in the alkyleneoxy moiety of the alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil composition will provide the desired non-water gelling properties to such composition, especially desirable results have been obtained wherein such C₃ or C₄ alkyleneoxy constituent is propylene oxide.
The term "non-water gelling" as used in the subject disclosure is to be understood to mean that upon admixing the alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil composition into an aqueous medium, a resulting admixture is formed which may either be an aqueous solution or an aqueous emulsion containing the desired composition. However, when an emulsion is formed, it is a very finely divided emulsion and thus, would be considered water-dispersible. The term "castor oil" is to be understood to be a generic term for a pale amber viscous liquid derived from the seed of the plants "Ricinus Cummunis" of the family "Eurphorbiaceae". Castor oil is one of the few naturally occurring glycerides that approaches being a pure compound since the fatty acid portion is nearly 90 % richinoleic. Thus, the average fatty acid composition of castor oil is 86% richinoleic, 8.5% oleic, 3.5% linoleic, 0.5 - 2% stearic, and 1-2% dihydroxy stearic acid. Thus, castor oil can generally be represented by the formula
Of course, as previously indicated, castor oil is understood to contain minor amounts of other components. However, the term "castor oil" as meant herein is well understood in the industry and can be readily obtained by those wishing to obtain such.
As previously stated, the substantially water-soluble or water-dispersible non-water gelling alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil composition for use in textile processing in accordance with the present invention contains at least one alkyleneoxy moiety which can be generally represented by the formula
(̵CH₂CH₂O)̵_x(C₃ or C₄ alkyleneoxy constituent) H
wherein x and y are as previously defined.
Especially desirable results can be obtained when each alkyleneoxy moiety of the alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil composition contains from about 0 to about 15 moles of ethylene oxide, e.g. x is from 0 to about 15, and the total moles of such ethylene oxide in the molecule is not more than about 45 and when each alkyleneoxy moiety further contains from about 0.3 to about 10 moles of the C₃ or C₄ alkyleneoxy constituent, e.g., y is from about 0.3 to about 10, and the total number of moles of the C₃ or C₄ alkyleneoxy constituent in the alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil composition is from at least 1 to about 30. More specifically, the alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil composition can be typically illustrated by the following formula wherein x and y are as previously defined and z is an integer of 0 to 1.
wherein x and y are as previously defined and z is an integer of 0 or 1. As is to be understood, when z is the integer 0, the alkyleneoxy constituent of the alkyleneox^y moiety is a C₃ alkyleneoxy constituent, e.g., propylene oxide, whereas when z is 1, such represents the alkyleneoxy constituent being a butylene oxide.
The non-water gelling alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil composition of the present invention can be prepared by employing ethoxylation and propoxylation or butoxylation procedures which are well known in the art. To illustrate such preparation the following is set forth. However, it is to be understood that many other methods of preparation can be envisioned and thus the subject invention is to not be limited only to the method of pre^pa-ration as set forth hereinafter.
In preparing the novel compositions of the present invention, one generally will first ethoxylate the castor oil. Once the desired level of ethoxylation has been achieved, the resulting product, e.g., the ethoxylated castor oil is then propoxylated and/or butoxylated with an effective amount of propylene oxide or butylene oxide to insure that at least one mole of propylene oxide or butylene oxide per mole of castor oil is reacted therewith. However, one could readily envision a single alkoxylation process in which two or more alkyleneoxy monomers are mixed prior to alkoxylation. It is interesting to note that we have found that if one desires to obtain the desired non-gelling water-soluble or water-dispersible alkylene oxide substituted castor oil composition of the present invention, one must provide at least one mole of the propylene oxide or butylene per mole of castor oil onto the molecule.
In carrying out the desired ethoxylation it is important to insure that the reactor is in a clean and dry condition. Thereafter, the castor oil is charged into the reactor along with a minor amount of sodium hydroxide flake. Agitation is then commenced within the reactor and vacuum stripping in the magnitude of 25 to 28 inches is likewise commenced. Thereafter, the reactor and contents therein is heated to a temperature of from about 100°C to about 150°C while maintaining a vacuum on the reactor for a period of time after the reactants within the reactor have reached the desired temperature. Thereafter, the vacuum on the reactor is broken with nitrogen and the reactor is purged, preferably about two times, followed by venting. However, the pressure on the reactor should be maintained up to about 150 psi. Once the reactor has been purged with nitrogen, vented, and the pressure established, the temperature of the reactants is then increased to about 145-150°C at which time the desired amount of ethylene oxide is introduced into the reactor. Once the ethylene oxide has been completely added, the reactor is maintained at such reaction conditions for a period of time to allow substantially complete reaction of the ethylene oxide with the castor oil. Thereafter, the reactor is vacuum stripped to remove any unreactive ethylene oxide and then repressured with an inert gas, such as with nitrogen, for the subsequent propoxylation or butoxylation of the ethoxylated castor oil.
To propoxylate or butoxylate the resulting ethoxylated castor oil the following procedure can be employed. The temperature of the reactor is preferably reduced to a temperature of from about 110 to 140 and the propylene oxide or butylene oxide is added to the reactor in a predetermined amount. The pressure on the reactor should gradually increase upon the addition of the propylene oxide or butylene oxide. Generally a pressure of less than about 60 psi is maintained in the reactor during the propoxylation or butoxylation step. The reaction of propylene oxide or butylene oxide will generally be somewhat more sluggish than that of the ethylene oxide particularly where the concentration of propylene oxide or butylene oxide is low. The reaction is held at reaction temperature for about one hour after all the propylene oxide or butylene oxide has been added to the reactor. Thereafter, the product is vacuum stripped to remove any unreacted constituents from the reactor. It is advisable at this time to submit a sample of the resulting product for analysis to see if the desired amount of propoxylation or butoxylation has occurred. If additional propoxylation or butoxylation is determined to be necessary, such can be readily obtained by the addition of a propylene oxide or butylene oxide charge to the reactor and the maintaining of the reactor in the before-mentioned reaction conditions.
Once the proper degree of ethoxylation and propoxylation or butoxylation has been achieved, the product is again stripped well to remove any residual propylene oxide or butylene oxide. Thereafter, the resulting ethoxylated-propoxylated or butyoxylated castor oil composition is then cooled under nitrogen to a temperature of less than about 100°C. If required, the product can be bleached to the color specification using any suitable bleaching agent, such as 30% hydrogen peroxide. The product can then be recovered from the reactor and be pH adjusted if desired.
The compositions so prepared, e.g., the non-water gelling alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil composition of the present invention in which the total amount of the C₃ or C₄ alkyleneoxy constituent is present in the molecule in at least one mole can thereafter be employed as a lubricant in the textile processing operations, such as tufting, texturing, spinning, or the like, such operations being well known in the textile processing art. Generally, by application of an aqueous admixture containing an effective amount of the substantially water-soluble or water-dispersible non-water gelling alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil composition as described hereinbefore, one can substantially reduce the friction of a textile material and processing equipment during the textile processing operations. Any suitable means can be employed to apply the alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil composition to the textile material, such as by passing the textile material, e.g., fibers, yarns, and the like, through a bath containing effective amounts of alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil composition, or by passing the textile material over a saturated roll containing the aqueous admixture of such castor oil constituent, or by direct spraying of the textile material with same. The amount of the non-water gelling alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil lubricant which is applied to the textile material, e.g., the fibers, yarns, and the like, can vary widely but will generally be from about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent. Likewise, the amount of the alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil composition present in the aqueous admixture can vary widely, such being due to a large extent upon the particular make-up of the textile material, as well as its wet pick-up characteristics. Generally, however, we have found that when the aqueous admixture contains from about 0.5 percent to about 30 weight percent of the alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil composition that the desired amount of such lubricant, e.g., from about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent, can be applied to substantially any textile material. Further, depending upon the particular operation through which the textile material is being passed, the aqueous admixture containing the alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil lubricant can be applied prior to and/or during such processing steps, the particular mode of application being left to the prerogative of those skilled in the art and their particular processing techniques.
In order to more fully describe the subject invention the following examples are set forth. Such examples are given for illustrative purposes only and are not to be construed as unduly limiting the scope of the present invention. Unless otherwise stated, all parts and percentages used in the examples are parts or percentages by weight.

EXAMPLE I

To a clean, dry 10 gallon stainless steel Pflaundler reactor was charged 12.7 kg of castor oil and 80 grams of potassium hydroxide, flake. Agitation was begun and the charge was heated to 120°C under 720 mm Hg vacuum and held there for 15 minutes to remove,any water present. The vacuum was removed with nitrogen and after pressuring to 30 psi the reactor was vented to 5 psi. The temperature was increased to 135°C and maintained there while 25.9 kg of ethylene oxide was added. The pressure was maintained below 60 psi. After all the ethylene oxide was added, the hydroxyl number was found to be 68.6 mg KOH per gram. At this point, 5.9 kg of the ethoxylate were removed under pressure and discarded. The temperature was then lowered to 120°C and 0.7 kg of propylene oxide was added. After two hours at 120°C, the reaction mixture was vacuum stripped and 7.3 kg of product was discharged from the reactor. The product so produced and removed from the reactor is hereinafter referred to as Product No. 1 and contained about 43 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of castor oil and about 1 mole of propylene oxide per mole of castor oil.

EXAMPLE II

To the remaining product in the reactor from Example I was charged an additional 1.2 kg of propylene oxide which was allowed to react as before. The product was then vacuum stripped and again 7.3 kg of product was removed from the reactor. The product so produced and removed from the reactor is hereinafter referred to as Product No. 2 and contained about 43 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of castor oil and about 3 moles of propylene oxide per mole of castor oil.

EXAMPLE III

To the remaining product in the reactor from Example II was charged an additional 1.4 kg of propylene oxide which was allowed to react as in Example I. The product was then vacuum stripped, cooled, and discharged from the reactor. The product so produced and removed from the reactor is hereinafter referred to as Product No. 3 and contained about 43 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of castor oil and about 6 moles of propylene oxide per mole of castor oil.

EXAMPLE IV

A 10 gallon stainless steel reactor was charged with 10.5 kg of castor oil and 80 grams of flaked potassium hydroxide. This charge was reacted with first 13.0 kg ethylene oxide and then 0.7 kg propylene oxide using the procedure described in Example I except that no ethoxylate was discarded. A 3.6 kg portion of the product was removed from the reactor leaving the remainder for subsequent reactions. The product so produced and removed from the reactor is hereinafter referred to as Product No. 4 and contained about 26 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of castor oil and about 1 mole of propylene oxide per mole of castor oil.

EXAMPLE V

To the reaction mass remaining in the reactor of Example IV was added 1.1 kg of propylene oxide. After reaction as in Example II, 3.6 kg of product was removed and the remaining material was retained for subsequent reactions. The product so produced and removed from the reactor is hereinafter referred to as Product No. 5 and contained about 26 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of castor oil and about 3 moles of propylene oxide per mole of castor oil.

EXAMPLE VI

To the reaction mass remaining in the reactor of Example V was added 1.4 kg of propylene oxide. After reaction as in Example II, 3.6 kg of product was removed and the remaining material was retained for the subsequent reaction. The product so produced and removed from the reactor is hereinafter referred to as Product No. 6 contained about 26 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of castor oil and about 6 moles of propylene oxide per mole of castor oil.

EXAMPLE VII

To the reaction mass remaining in the reaction at the end of Example VI was added 2.3 kg of propylene oxide. After reaction as in Example II, 17.7 kg of product was collected. The product so produced and removed from the reactor is hereinafter referred to as Product No. 7 and contained about 26 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of castor oil and about 12 moles of propylene oxide per mole of castor oil.

EXAMPLE VIII

To the 10 gallon reactor of Example I was charged 15.9 kg of castor oil and 0.5 kg of flaked potassium hydroxide. This charge was reacted with first 4.5 kg of ethylene oxide and then 10 kg of propylene oxide using the procedure of Example IV. A 7.3 kg portion of the product was removed from the reactor and the remainder was retained for subsequent reactions. The product so produced is hereinafter referred to as Product No. 8 and contained about 6 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of castor oil and about 10 moles of propylene oxide per mole of castor oil.

EXAMPLE IX

The reaction mass remaining in Example VIII was reacted with 7.7 kg of propylene oxide using the procedure described in Example II. A 7.3 kg portion of the product was removed from the reactor and the remaining product was used for a subsequent reaction. The product so produced and recovered from the reactor is hereinafter referred to as Product No. 9 and contained about 6 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of castor oil and about 20 moles of propylene oxide per mole of castor oil.

EXAMPLE ^X

The reaction mass remaining at the end of Example IX was reacted with 5.9 kg of propylene oxide as using the procedure described in Example II. The product so produced and recovered from the reactor is hereinafter referred to as Product No. 10 and contained about 6 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of castor oil and about 30 moles of propylene oxide per mole of castor oil.

EXAMPLE XI

The reactor of Example I was charged with 18.1 kg of castor oil and 0.5 kg of flaked potassium hydroxide. Propylene oxide, 11.4 kg was combined with the castor oil as described in Example IV. Seven and three tenths kilograms of product was removed from the reactor for characterization and the remainder of the reaction mass was retained in the reactor for further reaction. The product so produced and recovered from the reactor is hereinafter referred to as Product No. 11 and contained about 10 moles of propylene oxide per mole of castor oil.

EXAMPLE XII

To the reaction mass remaining in the reactor of Example XI was added an additional 8.6 kg of propylene oxide. After reaction as described in Example II, 3.6 kg of product was removed for characterization and the remaining material was retained in the reactor for further reaction. The product so produced and recovered from the reactor is hereinafter referred to as Product No. 12 and contained about 20 moles of propylene oxide per mole of castor oil.

EXAMPLE XIII

To the reaction mass remaining in the reactor of Example XII was charged an additional 6.8 kg of propoylene oxide. The reaction was executed as in Example II. Thirty-one and one tenth kilograms of product were collected after the reaction was complete. The product so produced and recovered from the reactor is hereinafter referred to as Product No. 13 and contained about 30 moles of propylene oxide per mole of castor oil.

EXA14PLE XIV

The procedure of Example I was carried out using charges of 6.8 kg of castor oil, 0.2 kg potassium hydroxide, 36.4 kg ethylene oxide. Before addition of 0.5 kg of propylene oxide, 10.5 kg of the ethoxylate was removed from the reactor and discarded. A sample of the product, 3.6 kg, was removed for characterization and the remainder was retained in the reactor for further reaction. The product so produced and recovered from the reactor is hereinafter referred to as Product No. 14 and contained about 128 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of castor oil and about 2 moles of propylene oxide per mole of castor oil.

EXA!1PLE XV

To the reaction mass retained in the reactor of Example XIV, was added 0.5 kg propylene oxide which was allowed to react as in Example II. A 3.6 kg sample od this product was removed and the remainder was retained in the reactor for subsequent reaction. The product so produced and recovered from the reactor is hereinafter referred to as Product No. 15 and contained about 128 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of castor oil and about 4 moles of propylene oxide per mole of castor oil.

EXAMPLE XVI

To the reaction mass retained in the reactor of Example XV was added 2.7 kg of propylene oxide which was reacted according to the procedure of Example II. A 3.6 kg portion of the resulting product was removed from characterization and the bulk of the material was retained in the reactor for further reaction. The product so produced and recovered from the reactor is hereinafter referred to as Product No. 16 and contained about 128 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of castor oil and about 18 moles of propylene oxide per mole of castor oil.

EXAMPLE XVII

To the reaction mass retained in the reactor of Example XVI was added 2.3 kg of propylene oxide which was reacted according to the procedure of Example II. A 3.6 kg portion of the resulting product was removed and the bulk of the material was retained in the reactor for further reaction. The product so produced and recovered from the reactor is hereinafter referred to as Product No. 17 and contained about 128 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of castor oil and about 31 moles of propylene oxide per mole of castor oil.

EXAMPLE XVIII

To the reaction mass retained in the reactor of Example XVII was added an additional 4.1 kg of propylene oxide which was reacted according to the procedure of Example II. There was obtained.19.3 kg of product. The.product so produced is hereinafter referred to as Product No. 18 and contained about 128 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of castor oil and about 60 moles of propylene oxide per mole of castor oil.

EXAMPLE XIX

Certain of the above products, namely Product Nos. 1-6, both inclusive, were employed to form a 10% aqueous admixture and the dissolution time for each Product to form a substantially homogeneous aqueous admixture was determined. The dissolution time of the products into water was determined by pouring the predetermined amount of the product into cold water, e.g., water maintained at 22°C, under moderate agitation to form a 10% aqueous admixture. The time period required to form a substantailly homogeneous 10% solution in water at 22°C was determined as the dissolution time. Two control samples, hereinafter designated as Control Product A and Control Product B were tested in a similar manner. Control Product A was an ethoxylated castor oil containing about 26.5 moles of ethylene oxide and no propylene oxide. Control Product B was an ethoxylated castor oil containing about 33 moles of ethylene oxide and no propylene oxide. Each of the Control Products A and B are prepared similar to the procedure of Example I except that no propylene oxide is added.
It should further be noted that upon the addition of Control Products A and B to the water a gell was formed which must be broken in order to provide a substantially homogeneous aqueous admixture; whereas, when Product Nos. 1-6, both inclusive, were added to the water no gell was formed.

EXAMPLE XX

The viscosity of Products in Examples I-VI and VIII to XII were determined using a Brookfield Viscometer Model PTV. In addition the appearance of a 10% aqueous admixture of the products of Examples I to XVIII, both inclusive. Tabulated on the following page are the results of such viscosity measurements and visual observations of the appearance of the 10% aqueous admixture.

EXAMPLE XXI

Friction measurements were made using a RochschildF-Meter by passing a continuous filament manmade fiber with 1% applied lubricant over a 3/8" round stainless steel pin. Both 70 denier 34 filament nylon 66 and polyester fibers, which had been extracted to remove all producer finish, were used. Samples and controls were preconditioned at 70°F and 65% R.H. for 24 hours prior to running.
The above data clearly indicates the lubricity properties of the products of the subject invention.

Claims

1. A substantially water-soluble or water-dispersible non-water gelling alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil composition for use in textile processing, said alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil containing at least 1 alkyleneoxy moiety wherein the alkyleneoxy moiety is generally represented as
(̵CH₂CH₂O)̵_x(C₃ or C₄ alkyleneoxy constituent) H
wherein x is an integer of from 0 to about 45 and the total fCH2CH20r constituent in said alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil is not more than about 90, and y is an integer of from 0.3 to about 10 and the total fC₃ or C₄ alkyleneoxy constituent) in said alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil is at least 1 and not more than about 30.

2. The substantially water-soluble or water-dispersible non-water gelling alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil compositions of Claim 1 wherein x is an integer of from 0 to about 15 and the total x in said alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil is not more than about 45, y is an integer of from about 0.3 to about 10 and the total y in said alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil is from at least 1 to about 30.

3. The substantially water-soluble or water-dispersible non-water gelling alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil according to Claim 2 wherein such composition is represented generally by the formula

wherein x and y are as previously defined and z is an integer of 0 to 1.

4. The substantially water-soluble or water-dispersible non-water gelling alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil of Claim 3 wherein said C₃ or C₄ alkyleneoxy constituent is propylene oxide.

5. A method for reducing friction of a textile material and processing equipment during a textile processing operation which comprises contacting the textile material prior to and during processing with an aqueous admixture containing an effective amount of a non-water gelling alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil lubricant so as to provide from about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent of said lubricant on the textile material, said alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil containing at least 1 alkyleneoxy moiety wherein the alkylene moiety is generally represented as
(̵CH₂CH₂O)̵_x(C₃ or C₄ alkyleneoxy constituent) H
wherein x is an integer of from 0 to about 45 and the total (̵CH₂CH₂O)̵ constituent is not more than about 90, and y is an integer of from about 0.3 to about 10 and the total fC₃ or C₄ alkyleneoxy constituent) in said lubricant is at least 1 and not more than about 30.

6. The method of Claim 5 wherein said effective amount of said non-water gelling alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil lubricant present in said aqueous admixture is from about 0.51 to about 30 weight percent.

7. The method of Claim 6 wherein said alkyleneoxy moiety of said non-water gelling alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil lubricant x is an integer of from 0 to about 15 and the total x in said alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil lubricant is not more than about 45, y is an integer of from about 0.3 to about 10 and the total y in said alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil lubricant is from at least 1 to about 30.

8. The method of Claim 7 wherein said non-water gelling alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil lubricant is represented generally by the formula

wherein x and y are as previously defined and z is an integer of 0 or 1.

9. The method of Claim 8 wherein the C₃ or C₄ alkyleneoxy constituent of said alkyleneoxy substituted castor oil lubricant is propylene oxide.