EP1360267B1 - Lubricant concentrate based on glycerin - Google Patents

Abstract

Lubricant concentrate for conveyors containing at least one alcohol component not containing nitrogen, selected from monohydroxy, dihydroxy and trihydroxy compounds as well as their esters and ethers, and in addition at least one further component selected from a) nitrogen-containing, organic, preferably aliphatic compounds with fewer than 14 C atoms in the molecule and fewer than 8 C atoms in the molecule directly joined to one another, and/or b) an organic acid with 1 to 18, preferably 1 to 10 C atoms in the molecule.

Description

The present invention relates to glycerol based lubricant concentrates in combination with at least one selected nitrogen compound and / or a selected organic carboxylic acid. Additionally, the present invention encompasses the use of these lubricant concentrates, methods and system in which these lubricant concentrates are incorporated.

In the food industry, especially in beverage companies, the containers to be filled in the bottling plants are transported by transporters of various designs and materials, for example via plate conveyor belts or chain-like arrangements, which will generally be referred to below as transport chains. The transporters make the connection between the different optional treatment stages of the filling process such. B. unpacker, bottle washer, filler, capper, labeler, Einpacker and others. The containers may be various forms, in particular glass and plastic bottles, cans, jars, barrels, beverage containers (KEG), paper and cardboard containers. In order to ensure trouble-free operation, the transport chains must be lubricated in a suitable manner, so that excessive friction is avoided to the containers. Usually, for lubrication dilute aqueous solutions are used which contain suitable friction-reducing agents. With the aqueous solutions, the transport chains are brought into contact, for example, by immersion or by spraying, which then speaks of immersion lubrication systems or automatic belt lubrication systems or central chain lubrication systems.

The chain lubricants hitherto used as lubricants are usually based on fatty acids in the form of their water-soluble alkali or alkanolamine salts or on fatty amines, preferably in the form of their organic or inorganic salts.

1. 1. Es kommt zu einer Reaktion mit der Wasserhärte, also den Erdalkali-Ionen, und anderen Wasserinhaltsstoffen unter Bildung schwerlöslicher Metallseifen, den sogenannten primären Erdalkaliseifen.
2. 2. Es kommt zu einer Reaktion zwischen diesen Schmiermitteln auf Seifenbasis und in Wasser oder in dem abzufüllenden Gut gelöstem Kohlendioxid.
3. 3. Die so erzeugte Anwendungslösung ist stets keimfördemd.
4. 4. Bei Anwendung von hartem Wasser sind lonenaustauscher zur Wasserenthärtung erforderlich, was eine zusätzliche Keimquelle bedeutet (und deshalb in der Praxis kaum anzutreffen ist), oder aber der Einsatz hoch komplexierungsmittelhaltiger Produkte, was wiederum ökologisch bedenklich ist, ist nötig.
5. 5. Es kommt zu vermehrter Schaumbildung, was insbesondere Probleme am Bottle-Inspector (automatische Flaschenkontrolle) hervorrufen kann und eine stärkere Benetzung der Transportbehältnisse zur Folge hat.
6. 6. Die meisten dieser Produkte sind lösungsmittelhaltig.
7. 7. Die Reinigungswirkung dieser Produkte ist schlecht, so daß eine separate Reinigung notwendig ist.
8. 8. Derartige Schmiermittelzubereitungen auf Seifenbasis zeigen ein pH-abhängiges Leistungsverhalten.
9. 9. Schmiermittelzubereitungen auf Seifenbasis zeigen weiterhin eine Wassertemperatur-Abhängigkeit.
10. 10. Schmiermittel auf Seifenbasis zeigen nur eine geringe Lagerstabilität, insbesondere bei niederen Temperaturen.
11. 11. Das in vielen Produkten enthaltene EDTA (Ethylendiamintetraacetat) ist bekanntermaßen nur schlecht biologisch abbaubar.
12. 12. Derartige Schmiermittelzubereitungen auf Seifenbasis sind nicht für alle Transportgüter aus Kunststoff geeignet, da es bei Anwendung dieser Mittel in vielen Fällen zu Spannungsrißkorrosionen am Transportgut kommt.

While both classes of substances are easily applicable in immersion lubrication, they show a number of disadvantages in today's common centralized chain lubrication systems. Thus, DE-A-23 13 330 describes soap-based lubricants containing aqueous mixtures of C ₁₆ -C ₁₈ fatty acid salts and surface-active substances. Such soap-based lubricants have the following disadvantages:

1. 1. It comes to a reaction with the water hardness, ie the alkaline earth ions, and other water constituents to form sparingly soluble metal soaps, the so-called primary alkaline earth metal soaps.
2. 2. There is a reaction between these soap-based lubricants and carbon dioxide dissolved in water or in the product to be bottled.
3. 3. The application solution thus produced is always germ-promoting.
4. 4. When using hard water ion exchangers are required for water softening, which means an additional source of germ (and therefore is hardly encountered in practice), or the use of highly complexing agent-containing products, which in turn is ecologically harmful, is necessary.
5. 5. It comes to increased foaming, which in particular can cause problems with the bottle inspector (automatic bottle control) and has a stronger wetting of the transport containers result.
6. 6. Most of these products contain solvents.
7. 7. The cleaning effect of these products is poor, so that a separate cleaning is necessary.
8. 8. Such soap-based lubricant formulations exhibit pH-dependent performance.
9. 9. Soap based lubricant formulations continue to exhibit water temperature dependence.
10. 10. Soap-based lubricants show only a short storage stability, especially at low temperatures.
11. 11. The EDTA (ethylene diamine tetraacetate) found in many products is known to be poorly biodegradable.
12. 12. Such soap-based lubricant preparations are not suitable for all plastic transport goods, since in many cases, when these agents are used, stress corrosion cracking occurs on the transported goods.

In addition to soap-based lubricants, those based on fatty amines are mainly used. Thus, DE-A-36 31 953 describes a method for lubricating chain-like bottle conveyor belts in beverage bottling plants, especially in breweries, and for cleaning the belts by means of a liquid detergent, which is characterized in that the chain-shaped bottle conveyor belts with tape lubricants based on neutralized primary Fat amines, which preferably have 12 to 18 carbon atoms and an unsaturated content of more than 10%, lubricates.

als Schmiermittel bekannt, worin

R¹

eine gesättigte oder ungesättigte, verzweigte oder lineare Alkylgruppe mit 8 bis 22 C-Atomen;

R²

Wasserstoff, eine Alkyl- oder Hydroxyalkylgruppe mit 1 bis 4 C-Atomen oder -A-NH₂;

A

eine lineare oder verzweigte Alkylengruppe mit 1 bis 8 C-Atomen; und

A¹

eine lineare oder verzweigte Alkylengruppe mit 2 bis 4 C-Atomen

bedeutet.EP-A-0 372 628 discloses fatty amine derivatives of the formulas

known as lubricant, wherein

R ¹

a saturated or unsaturated, branched or linear alkyl group having 8 to 22 carbon atoms;

R ²

Hydrogen, an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or -A-NH ₂ ;

A

a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms; and

A ¹

a linear or branched alkylene group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms

means.

Moreover, DE-A-39 05 548 discloses lubricants based on N-alkylated fatty amine derivatives which contain at least one secondary and / or tertiary amine.

        R⁴-NH-R⁵     (IIa)

        R⁴-N⁺H₂-R⁵ X-     (IIb)

        R⁴-NH-(CH₂)₃ NH₂     (IIIa)

        R⁴-NH-(CH₂)₃ N⁺H₃2X^-     (IIIb)

        R⁴-N⁺H₂-(CH₂)₃-N⁺H₃2X^-     (IIIc)

        R⁴-NR⁷R⁸     (IVa)

und/oder

        R⁴-N⁺HR⁷R⁸ X-     (IVb)

wobei

R

für einen gesättigten oder einfach oder mehrfach ungesättigten, linearen oder verzweigten Alkylrest mit 6 bis 22 C-Atomen, der gegebenenfalls durch -OH, -NH₂, -NH-, -CO-, -(CH₂CH₂O)_l- oder -(CH₂CH₂CH₂O)_l- substituiert sein kann,

R¹

für Wasserstoff, einen Alkylrest mit 1 bis 4 C-Atomen, einen Hydroxyalkylrest mit 1 bis 4 C-Atomen oder einen Rest -R³COOM

R²

nur für den Fall, daß M eine negative Ladung darstellt für Wasserstoff, einen Alkylrest mit 1 bis 4 C-Atomen, oder einen Hydroxyalkylrest mit 1 bis 4 C-Atomen,

R³

für einen gesättigten oder einfach oder mehrfach ungesättigten, linearen oder verzweigten Alkylrest mit 1 bis 12 C-Atomen, der gegebenenfalls durch -OH, -NH₂, -NH-, -CO-, -(CH₂CH₂O)_I- oder -(CH₂CH₂CH₂O)_I- substituiert sein kann,

R⁴

für einen substituierten oder unsubstituierten, linearen oder verzweigten, gesättigten oder einfach oder mehrfach ungesättigten Alkylrest mit 6 bis 22 C-Atomen, der als Substituenten mindestens einen Amin-, Imin-, Hydroxy-, Halogen- und/oder Carboxyrest aufweisen kann,
einen substituierten oder unsubstituierten Phenylrest, der als Substituenten mindestens einen Amin-, Imin-, Hydroxy-, Halogen-, Carboxy- und/oder einen linearen oder verzweigten, gesättigten oder einfach oder mehrfach ungesättigten Alkylrest mit 6 bis 22 C-Atomen aufweisen kann,

R⁵

für Wasserstoff oder - unabhängig von R⁴ - für einen Rest R⁴,

X^-

für ein Anion aus der Gruppe Amidosulfonat, Nitrat, Halogenid, Sulfat, Hydrogencarbonat, Carbonat, Phosphat oder R⁶-COO- steht, wobei

R⁶

für Wasserstoff, einen substituierten oder unsubstituierten, linearen oder verzweigten Alkylrest mit 1 bis 20 C-Atomen oder Alkenylrest mit 2 bis 20 C-Atomen, die als Substituenten mindestens einen Hydroxy-, Amin- oder Iminrest aufweisen können, oder einen substituierten oder unsubstituierten Phenylrest, der als Substituenten einen Alkylrest mit 1 bis 20 C-Atomen aufweisen kann, steht, und

R⁷ und R⁸

jeweils unabhängig voneinander für einen substituierten oder unsubstituierten, linearen oder verzweigten Alkylrest mit 1 bis 20 C-Atomen oder Alkenylrest mit 2 bis 20 C-Atomen, die als Substituenten mindestens einen Hydroxy-, Amin- oder Iminrest aufweisen können, oder
einen substituierten oder unsubstituierten Phenylrest, der als Substituenten einen Alkylrest mit 1 bis 20 C-Atomen aufweisen kann,

M

für Wasserstoff, Alkalimetall, Ammonium, einen Alkylrest mit 1 bis 4 C-Atomen, einen Benzylrest oder eine negative Ladung,

n

für eine ganze Zahl im Bereich von 1 bis 12,

m

für eine ganze Zahl im Bereich von 0 bis 5 und

I

für eine Zahl im Bereich von 0 bis 5

steht,
enthaltend Alkyldimethylaminoxide und/oder Alkyloligoglycoside als nichtionische Tenside.From DE-A-42 06 506 are known:
Soap-free lubricants based on amphoteric compounds, primary, secondary and / or tertiary amines and / or salts of such amines of the general formula (I), (IIa), (IIb), (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc) (IVa) and (IVb)

R ⁴ -NH-R ⁵ (IIa)

R ⁴ -N ⁺ H ₂ -R ⁵ X- (IIb)

R ⁴ -NH- (CH ₂ ) ₃ NH ₂ (IIIa)

R ⁴ -NH- (CH ₂ ) ₃ N ⁺ H ₃ 2X ^- (IIIb)

R ⁴ -N ⁺ H ₂ - (CH ₂ ) ₃ -N ⁺ H ₃ 2X ^- (IIIc)

R ⁴ -NR ⁷ R ⁸ (IVa)

and or

R ⁴ -N ⁺ HR ⁷ R ⁸ X- (IVb)

in which

R

for a saturated or mono- or polyunsaturated, linear or branched alkyl radical having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, optionally substituted by -OH, -NH ₂ , -NH-, -CO-, - (CH ₂ CH ₂ O) _l - or - (CH ₂ CH ₂ CH ₂ O) _l - may be substituted,

R ¹

is hydrogen, an alkyl radical having 1 to 4 C atoms, a hydroxyalkyl radical having 1 to 4 C atoms or a radical -R ³ COOM

R ²

only in the case where M represents a negative charge for hydrogen, an alkyl radical having 1 to 4 C atoms, or a hydroxyalkyl radical having 1 to 4 C atoms,

R ³

for a saturated or mono- or polyunsaturated, linear or branched alkyl radical having 1 to 12 C atoms, optionally substituted by -OH, -NH ₂ , -NH-, -CO-, - (CH ₂ CH ₂ O) _I - or - (CH ₂ CH ₂ CH ₂ O) _I - may be substituted,

R ⁴

a substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched, saturated or mono- or polyunsaturated alkyl radical having 6 to 22 C atoms, which may have as substituents at least one amine, imine, hydroxyl, halogen and / or carboxy radical,
a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl radical which may have as substituents at least one amine, imine, hydroxyl, halogen, carboxy and / or a linear or branched, saturated or mono- or polyunsaturated alkyl radical having 6 to 22 carbon atoms,

R ⁵

is hydrogen or, independently of R ⁴ , is a radical R ⁴ ,

X ^-

represents an anion from the group amidosulfonate, nitrate, halide, sulfate, bicarbonate, carbonate, phosphate or R ⁶ -COO-, wherein

R ⁶

is hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched alkyl radical having 1 to 20 C atoms or alkenyl radical having 2 to 20 C atoms, which may have as substituents at least one hydroxyl, amine or imine radical, or a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl radical . which may have as substituents an alkyl radical having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, is, and

R ⁷ and R ⁸

each independently of one another for a substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched alkyl radical having 1 to 20 C atoms or alkenyl radical having 2 to 20 C atoms, which may have as substituents at least one hydroxyl, amine or imine radical, or
a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl radical which may have as substituents an alkyl radical having 1 to 20 C atoms,

M

is hydrogen, alkali metal, ammonium, an alkyl radical having 1 to 4 C atoms, a benzyl radical or a negative charge,

n

for an integer in the range of 1 to 12,

m

for an integer in the range of 0 to 5 and

I

for a number in the range of 0 to 5

stands,
containing alkyldimethylamine oxides and / or alkyloligoglycosides as nonionic surfactants.

• a) einer oder mehrerer Verbindungen der Formel
  
  wobei

  R¹

  für einen gesättigten oder einfach oder mehrfach ungesättigten, linearen oder verzweigten Alkylrest mit 6 bis 22 C-Atomen, der gegebenenfalls durch -OH, -NH₂, -NH-, -CO-, Halogen oder einen Carboxylrest substituiert sein kann,

  R²

  für einen Carboxylrest mit 2 bis 7 C-Atomen,

  M

  für Wasserstoff, Alkalimetall, Ammonium, einen Alkylrest mit 1 bis 4 C-Atomen oder einen Benzylrest und

  n

  für eine ganze Zahl im Bereich von 1 bis 6 steht,

• b) wenigstens eine organische Carbonsäure ausgewählt aus einbasigen oder mehrbasigen, gesättigten oder einfach oder mehrfach ungesättigten Carbonsäuren mit 2 bis 22 C-Atomen,
• c) gegebenenfalls Wasser und Zusatz- und/oder Hilfsstoffe.

EP-B-629 234 discloses a lubricant combination consisting of

• a) one or more compounds of the formula
  
  in which

  R ¹

  a saturated or mono- or polyunsaturated, linear or branched alkyl radical having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, which may optionally be substituted by -OH, -NH ₂ , -NH-, -CO-, halogen or a carboxyl radical,

  R ²

  for a carboxyl radical having 2 to 7 C atoms,

  M

  for hydrogen, alkali metal, ammonium, an alkyl radical having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a benzyl radical and

  n

  is an integer in the range of 1 to 6,

• b) at least one organic carboxylic acid selected from monobasic or polybasic, saturated or mono- or polyunsaturated carboxylic acids having 2 to 22 C atoms,
• c) optionally water and additives and / or auxiliaries.

WO 94/03562 describes a lubricant concentrate based on fatty amines and optionally customary diluents or auxiliaries or additives, characterized in that it contains at least one polyamine derivative of a fatty amine and / or a salt of such an amine, wherein the proportion of said polyamine derivatives of Fatty amines in the total formulation 1 to 100 wt .-% is.

R

ein substituierter oder unsubstituierter, linearer oder verzweigter, gesättigter oder einfach oder mehrfach ungesättigter Alkylrest mit 6 bis 22 C-Atomen, wobei die Substituenten ausgewählt sind aus Amino, Imino, Hydroxy, Halogen und Carboxy, oder
ein substituierter oder unsubstituierter Phenylrest, wobei die Substituenten ausgewählt sind aus Amino, Imino, Hydroxy, Halogen, Carboxy und einem linearen oder verzweigten, gesättigten oder einfach oder mehrfach ungesättigten Alkylrest mit 6 bis 22 C-Atomen, ist;

A

entweder für -NH- oder für -O- steht,

X^-

ein Anion einer anorganischen oder organischen Säure bedeutet,

k, l, m

unabhängig voneinander eine ganze Zahl im Bereich von 1 bis 6 ist;

y

im Falle A = -NH- 0, 1, 2 oder 3 und
im Falle A = -O- 1, 2, 3 oder 4 ist,

n

eine ganze Zahl von 0 bis 6 ist.

According to a preferred embodiment of WO 94/03562, this lubricant concentrate contains at least one polyamine derivative of a fatty amine of the general formula

RA- (CH ₂ ) _k -NH - [(CH ₂ ) ₁ -NH] _y - (CH ₂ ) _m -NH _2. (H ⁺ X ^- ) _n

in which

R

a substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched, saturated or mono- or polyunsaturated alkyl radical having 6 to 22 C atoms, wherein the substituents are selected from amino, imino, hydroxy, halogen and carboxy, or
a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl radical wherein the substituents are selected from amino, imino, hydroxy, halogen, carboxy and a linear or branched, saturated or mono- or polyunsaturated alkyl radical having 6 to 22 carbon atoms;

A

is either -NH- or -O-,

X ^-

an anion of an inorganic or organic acid means

k, l, m

independently is an integer in the range of 1 to 6;

y

in the case of A = -NH- 0, 1, 2 or 3 and
in case A = -O- 1, 2, 3 or 4,

n

is an integer from 0 to 6.

Some filling companies use polytetrafluoroethylene-based lubricants. These are in the form of dispersions and are not, as commonly practiced, applied via nozzles, but brush on the chains. These means have the advantage that they bring a substantial reduction in the friction between conveyor belts and transport goods with it. In addition, the polytetrafluoroethylene adheres very strongly to the chains.
A disadvantage turned out in practice that the entire hygienic condition was deteriorated in terms of contamination and contamination of the transport chains. This has even gone so far that the performance profile of the lubricant has diminished over time due to the increase in contamination.

As a further disadvantage, it was observed that the dispersions of polytetrafluoroethylene were not storage-stable and separated with time. This has the consequence that observed over a longer period, not constant amounts of active ingredient on the transport chains.

In the attempt to clean the transport chains, it was found that the lubricant layer from the transport chains was very difficult to remove.

In testing the compatibility of polytetrafluoroethylene dispersions for their plastic compatibility, it has also been found that they create stress cracks on PET bottles.

WO94 / 19438 A1 describes the use of alkylpolyglucosides as chain lubricants in bottling plants for thermoplastic beverage containers.

US 5,244,589 describes an antimicrobial chain lubricant containing a fatty acid and a quaternary ammonium compound.

The commonly used lubricants have the disadvantage that they form a firmly adhering film on the transport chains, which is not easy to remove by simply rinsing with water.

In this film, residues and abrasives can accumulate and lead to hygiene and operational problems in operation.

The non-prepublished application DE 199 42 535.3 provides lubricants based on polyhydroxy compounds, which are hydrophilic due to their molecular structure and at the same time improve the lubricating performance compared to the amines usually used as a lubricant.

Particular preference is given to polyhydroxy compounds which are selected from alkanediols or alkanetriols, very particularly preferably glycerol, or their polymers and their esters and ethers.

At no point in the unpublished application DE 199 42 535.3 is pointed to combinations of alcohols with organic nitrogen-containing compounds having less than 10 carbon atoms in the molecule and / or with organic carboxylic acids having 1 to 10 carbon atoms.

• a. einer stickstoffhaltigen Verbindung der Formel I
  
  wobei die Reste R¹, R², R³ unabhängig voneinander H oder -(CH₂)_n-OH mit n = 1 oder 2 sein können, wobei nicht alle Reste R¹, R², R³ gleichzeitig H sein dürfen, und mindestens
• b. einer organischen Säure mit 1 bis 10 C-Atomen im Molekül.

Thus, the present invention is a lubricant concentrate containing more than 20 wt .-% of glycerol, based on the total concentrate, as non-nitrogen-containing alcoholic component in combination with at least

• a. a nitrogen-containing compound of the formula I.
  
  where the radicals R ¹ , R ² , R ^{3 can} independently of one another be H or - (CH ₂ ) _n -OH with n = 1 or 2, where not all radicals R ¹ , R ² , R ³ may be H at the same time, and at least
• b. an organic acid with 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the molecule.

The proportion of glycerol is particularly preferably more than 25% by weight and very particularly preferably greater than 50% by weight and in particular greater than 70% by weight.

It is preferred that present as the nitrogen-containing compound a) monoethanolamine and / or triethanolamine.

It is regarded as a preferred embodiment of the lubricant concentrate according to the invention if the proportion of nitrogen-containing compound a), based on the total concentrate, is 0.1 to 20% by weight, particularly preferably 0.2 to 10% by weight.

It is likewise preferred if the lubricant concentrate according to the invention, based on the total concentrate, contains 0.1 to 20% by weight, especially preferably 0.2 to 10% by weight, of the organic carboxylic acid b).

The preferred organic carboxylic acid b) is acetic acid and / or caproic acid in the lubricant concentrate according to the invention.

The lubricant concentrate according to the invention is preferably present as liquid, solution, gel, emulsion, paste, dispersion.

Depending on the requirements of the application, it is preferred that additionally at least one antimicrobial component selected from the groups of alcohols, aldehydes, antimicrobial acids, carboxylic acid esters, acid amides, phenols, phenol derivatives, diphenyls, diphenylalkanes, urea derivatives, oxygen, nitrogen in the lubricant concentrate according to the invention Acetals and formals, benzamidines, isothiazolines, phthalimide derivatives, pyridine derivatives, antimicrobial surface-active compounds, guanidines, antimicrobial amphoteric compounds, quinolines, 1,2-dibromo-2,4-dicyanobutane, iodo-2-propynyl-butyl-carbamate, iodine, iodophores, peroxides, peracids.

Apart from the substances mentioned so far, the lubricant concentrates of the present invention may additionally contain components selected from fluorine and silicone compounds, wherein the fluorine compound is preferably selected from the groups of perfluorinated or partially fluorinated monomeric organic compounds, pure and mixed di- and oligomers based on at least one per- or partially fluorinated organic monomer, pure and mixed polymers based on at least one per- or partially fluorinated organic monomer. Which ingredients are particularly preferred here, it is apparent from the unpublished application DE 199 42 535.3.

The silicone compounds are preferably selected from the group of polysiloxanes and more preferably from the groups of the linear, branched, cyclic and crosslinked polysiloxanes.

Depending on requirements, the lubricant concentrates according to the invention may comprise further components selected from the groups of surfactants and solubilizers, with particular preference being given to containing at least one alkylpolyglycoside as the surfactant. Further constituents may be fatty alkylamines having more than 10 carbon atoms and / or their alkoxylates, in particular coconut fatty amine ethoxylates and / or imidazoline compounds and / or amphoteric surfactants and / or nonionic surfactants and / or ether carboxylic acids and / or ether amine compounds having more than 10 carbon atoms.

Another object of the present invention is the use of a lubricant concentrate according to the invention or a dilute solution of a lubricant concentrate according to the invention for the transport of Kuriststoff-, cardboard, metal or glass containers primarily in the food processing industry, which is in the plastic containers to be transported preferably those containing at least one polymer selected from the group of polyethylene terephthalates (PET), polyethylene naphthenates (PEN), polycarbonates (PC), PVC, and most preferably PET beverage bottles.

In a preferred embodiment of the use according to the invention separately additional antimicrobial agents are added during the application, which are particularly preferably selected from organic peracids, chlorine dioxide or ozone.

It is also preferred that in the use according to the invention, the lubricant concentrates, optionally after dilution with water, are applied to the conveyor belts via an aid, for example selected from brush, sponge, rollers, cloths, cloths, brushes, wipers, rubber, spray device , wherein preferably the Schmiemnittelkonzentrat is used in undiluted form, so with dilution factor 0 or diluted form with a dilution factor up to less than 10,000.

Particularly preferred dilution factors are between 0 and 10 and very particularly preferably between 0 and 2.

Another object of the present invention is a method for maintaining the ease of transport chains by the computer-controlled application of a lubricant concentrate according to the invention, which is preferably diluted before application, at predetermined positions of the transport chains and by periodic application of chain cleaning agent and / or rinsing or Nachspülwasser ,

It is preferred that for applying the lubricant of the invention and for applying the chain cleaner combined nozzle sticks are used.

The present invention also relates to a system for maintaining the smooth running of transport chains, comprising a lubricant concentrate according to the invention and a system for lubricating and cleaning transport chains and a chain cleaning agent, wherein in the plant for lubricating and cleaning transport chains at least one tank for receiving the lubricant associated feed pump and supply line to the one or more lubricant application elements and a tank for receiving the chain cleaning agent with associated feed pump and supply line to the detergent application elements or a the respective application cycles and the respective feed quantities controlling control device is included.

It is particularly preferred that the lubricant application element and the detergent application element are arranged as a functional unit on a common nozzle holder.

In a very particularly preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, the lubricant application element is designed as a compressed air-assisted 2-material nozzle.

Examples

The use of alcohol-based lubricants has problems with lubrication during transport, especially of glass bottles.

These problems can be solved by formulations according to the invention. For this purpose, a glycerol-based agent V1 of the prior art was compared with a glycerol-based agent B1 according to the invention. Both agents were tested for their lubricating effect on different beverage bottle materials.

The lubricating effect can be determined by determining the friction coefficient. The coefficient of friction between beverage bottle and transport chains is defined according to the present invention as the ratio of draw weight exerted, for example, on a spring balance, when attempting to hold a drink bottle in running transport chains, to the weight of the bottle. The transport chains were in the present experiment made of stainless steel.

In the respective experiments, 25 ml of the agent B1 or of the comparison agent V1 according to the invention were spread on the transport chains with a cloth. Thereafter, the friction coefficient between bottles and transport chain was measured over a period of 1 hour. The following table contains the results. <b> Table: Lube tests with alcohol-based agents </ b> ingredient B1 [% by weight] B2 [% by weight] B3 [% by weight] V1 [% by weight] glycerin 70 50 30 70 alkyl glucoside 0 0 0 2 silicone emulsion 0 0 0 2 triethanolamine 2 2 2 0 caprylic 2 2 2 0 water 26 46 66 26 lubricity Glass μ <0.1: very good Bottle falls over: very bad, no coefficient of friction measurable PET μ <0.1: very good μ <0.1: very good carton μ <0.1: very good μ <0.1: very good

It should be mentioned for the sake of completeness that the means B1, B2 and B3 are sufficiently microbiologically stable, so that the addition of preservatives, although possible, but for pure preservation is not essential.

Claims (19)

1. A lubricant concentrate containing more than 20 wt.-% glycerol, relative to the overall concentrate, as non-nitrogen-containing alcoholic component in combination with at least

   a) one nitrogen-containing compound of formula I

   

   wherein the residues R¹, R², R³ independently can be H or -(CH₂)_n-OH with n = 1 or 2, and all residues R¹, R², R³ must not simultaneously be H, and at least

   b) one organic acid having 1 to 10 C atoms in its molecule.
2. The lubricant concentrate according to claim 1, characterized in that the proportion of the alcoholic component, relative to the overall concentrate, is more than 50 wt.-%.
3. The lubricant concentrate according to any of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that monoethanolamine and/or triethanolamine are present as nitrogen-containing compound.
4. The lubricant concentrate according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the proportion of nitrogen-containing compound, relative to the overall concentrate, is from 0.1 to 20 wt.-%.
5. The lubricant concentrate according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the proportion of organic acid b), relative to the overall concentrate, is from 0.1 to 20 wt.-%.
6. The lubricant concentrate according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that acetic acid and/or caproic acid are present as organic acid b).
7. The lubricant concentrate according to any of claims 1 to 6, said concentrate being present in the form of a liquid, solution, gel, emulsion, paste, dispersion.
8. The lubricant concentrate according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least one antimicrobial component selected from the groups of alcohols, aldehydes, antimicrobial acids, carboxylic esters, amides, phenol, phenol derivatives, diphenyls, diphenylalkanes, urea derivatives, oxygen and nitrogen acetals and formals, benzamidines, isothiazolines, phthalimide derivatives, pyridine derivatives, antimicrobial surface-active compounds, guanidines, antimicrobial amphoteric compounds, quinolines, 1,2-dibromo-2,4-dicyanobutane, iodo-2-propynylbutyl carbamate, iodine, iodophors, peroxides and peracids is additionally included.
9. Use of a lubricant concentrate or of a dilute solution of a lubricant concentrate according to any of claims 1 to 8 for the lubrication of conveyor chains for conveying plastic, cardboard, metal or glass containers predominantly in the food-processing industry.
10. The use according to claim 9, characterized in that the plastic containers include at least one polymer selected from the groups of polyethylene terephthalates (PET), polyethylene naphthenates (PEN), polycarbonates (PC), PVC.
11. The use according to any of claims 9 to 10, characterized in that additional antimicrobial agents are added separately during application.
12. The use according to any of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the lubricant concentrates, optionally following dilution with water, are applied on the conveyor belts using a means selected from e.g. brush, sponge, rollers, cloths, rags, scrub-brush, wiper, rubber, spray device.
13. The use according to claim 12, characterized in that the dilution factor is below 10,000 and preferably between 0 and 10.
14. A method of maintaining smooth running of conveyor chains by means of computer-controlled application of a lubricant concentrate according to any of claims 1 to 8 on predetermined positions of the conveyor chains and by means of periodic application of chain cleaning agents and/or washing or rinsing water.
15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the lubricant concentrate is diluted with water prior to application.
16. The method according to any of claims 14 or 15, characterized in that combined nozzle assemblies are used to apply the lubricant and to apply the chain cleaning agent.
17. A system for maintaining smooth running of conveyor chains, including a lubricant concentrate according to any of claims 1 to 8, an installation for lubricating and cleaning conveyor chains, and a chain cleaning agent, comprising at least one tank for receiving the lubricant, with associated conveying pump and feed line to the lubricant application element(s) and one tank for receiving the chain cleaning agent, with associated conveying pump and feed line to the cleaning agent application element(s) and a control device controlling the respective application cycles and the respective amounts supplied is present in the installation for lubricating and cleaning the conveyor chains.
18. The system according to claim 17, characterized in that the lubricant application element and the cleaning agent application element are arranged as a functional unit on a common nozzle holder.
19. The system according to any of claims 17 or 18, characterized in that the lubricant application element is designed in the form of a compressed air-supported two-component nozzle.