Functional fluid

Abstract

A functional fluid useful as an emulsion in a cleaning product or a personal care product is the esterification reaction product of a) a triglyceride or a fatty acid or a methyl ester of a fatty acid, and b) an alcohol which comprises b1) a polyglycerol having at least 3 glycerol units (preferably polyglycerol-4), and b2) glycerol and/or diglycerol. The functional fluid is effective as a stabilizer and as an emulsifier for o/w and w/o emulsions. When a triglyceride is used as a reactant, glycerol and fatty acids are generated in situ by an interesterification reaction. Preferred functional fluids provide the significant benefit that they may be mixed into an oil phase and in a water phase before such phases are mixed together, and that such processing may be carried out at ambient temperature.

Claims

1. A functional fluid comprising: an esterification reaction product of a) a triglyceride and b) a polyhydric alcohol which comprises b1) a polyglycerol having at least 3 glycerol units, and b2) at least one of glycerol or diglycerol, wherein the polyglycerol component b1) comprises at least 25 wt % of the compound tetraglycerol.

2. The functional fluid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polyglycerol component b1) comprises at least 50% wt of polyglycerol compounds composed of 3 to 6 glycerol units.

3. The functional fluid of claim 1, wherein the proportions by weight of compounds is as follows: triglycerol, 25-50% wt tetraglycerol, 25-50% wt higher polyglycerols, 15-40% wt other compounds, not more than 20% wt.

4. The functional fluid of claim 1, wherein the average molecular weight of the polyglycerols in component b1), having at least 3 glycerol units, is in the range 220-500 g/mol.

5. The functional fluid of claim 1, wherein the polyhydric alcohol component b1) comprises the product polyglycerol-4.

6. The functional fluid of claim 1, wherein diglycerol constitutes at least 60% wt of the component b2).

7. The functional fluid of claim 1, wherein a glycerol liberated in the esterification reaction provides all of the glycerol comprised by component b2).

8. A cleaning product or a personal care product comprising a formulation of oil and water; and a quantity of the functional fluid of claim 1 as an emulsifier or stabiliser or dispersant or suspension aid.

9. A cleaning product or a personal care product as claimed in claim 8, containing at least 0.5% wt, of the functional fluid.

10. A cleaning product or a personal care product of claim 8, which is a personal cleaning product selected from a group consisting of: a shower gel, shampoo, hair conditioner, shaving product, or skincare product, a body wash, a sunscreen; or a hard surface cleaner; or a dishwashing or laundering product; or a vehicle cleaning product.

11. A method of making a product according to claim 8, the method comprising mixing the functional fluid into the oil phase in an amount of at least 0.5% wt, or into the water phase in an amount of at least 0.5% wt, or into both the water phase and the oil phase in an amount of at least 0.5% wt in each phase, before such phases are mixed together.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the same functional fluid is mixed into the oil phase, and into the water phase, before such phases are mixed together.

13. A method as claimed in claim 11, in which each step of the method takes place at a temperature not exceeding 50° C.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, in which each step of mixing the functional fluid into the oil phase and/or the water phase and the mixing together of the oil and water phases, takes places at a temperature in the range 15-30° C.

15. A functional fluid comprising: an esterification reaction product of a) a fatty acid or a methyl ester of a fatty acid, and b) a polyhydric alcohol which comprises b1) a polyglycerol having at least 3 glycerol units, and b2) glycerol, wherein the polyglycerol component b1) comprises at least 25% wt of the compound tetraglycerol.

Description

(1) The invention will now be further described by way of illustration with reference to the following example:

EXAMPLE 1—PALM KERNEL OIL+POLYGLYCEROL-4

(2) TABLE-US-00001 Palm kernel oil (average Mw = 722) = 722 g  Polyglycerol-4 (average Mw = 250) = 550 g  NaOH = 0.2 g

(3) Procedure:

(4) Charge oil to reaction vessel, charge in polyglycerol-4, warm to melt reagents, when temperature reaches 50° C. charge in NaOH. Evacuate headspace with vacuum pump, break vacuum with nitrogen, repeat purge and refresh N.sub.2 blanket on reaction. Heat to 220 to 240° C. When at this temperature apply vacuum and monitor reaction visually—reaction mixture becomes transparent after 1 hour at 220° C.

(5) Check TLC of reaction (toluene 80%, chloroform 15%. methanol 5%). Visualise with potassium permanganate stain showing complete reaction of triglyceride. Cool to room temperature. At 90° C. add phosphoric acid (0.2 g) to neutralise catalyst. Carry out cooling under N.sub.2 atmosphere.

(6) Product: recovery=1200 g pale amber oil: viscous at ambient temperature

(7) The resulting polyglycerol ester product was able to produce a stable emulsion by the mixing together of an oil phase and an oil phase, as described in examples which follow.

EXAMPLE 2—FLAX OIL+POLYGLYCEROL-4

(8) TABLE-US-00002 Flax oil (average Mw = 872) = 872 g  Polyglycerol-4 (average Mw = 250) = 550 g  NaOH = 0.2 g

(9) Procedure:

(10) Reaction as described for Example 1. Reaction became transparent after 45 minutes. TLC confirmed reaction of all triglyceride.

(11) Product: recovery=1375 g pale amber viscous oil

(12) The resulting polyglycerol ester product was able to produce a stable emulsion by the mixing together of an oil phase and an oil phase, for example following the procedure on Example 5 below.

EXAMPLE 3—BORAGE OIL+POLYGLYCEROL-4

(13) TABLE-US-00003 Borage oil (average Mw = 879) = 879 g  Polyglycerol-4 (average Mw = 250) = 550 g  NaOH = 0.2 g

(14) Reaction carried out as per Example 1. Reaction went transparent after 50 minutes at 200° C. TLC indicated all triglyceride consumed.

(15) Product: recovery=1385 g pale green viscous oil

(16) The resulting polyglycerol ester product was able to produce a stable emulsion by the mixing together of an oil phase and an oil phase, for example following the procedure on Example 5 below.

EXAMPLE 4—OLEIC ACID+POLYGLYCEROL-4 ESTER

(17) TABLE-US-00004 Oleic acid (average Mw = 282) = 275 g Polyglycerol-4 (average Mw = 250) = 182 g Glycerol = 30.7 g Orthophosphoric acid = 1 drop

(18) Procedure: charge reagents to reaction vessel, evacuate headspace with vacuum, break with N.sub.2—repeat, heat reaction to 220° C. under N.sub.2 blanket. Monitor reaction for 3 hours measuring free fatty acid content. Collect water from reaction distillation after 3 hours. FFA=0.2%. Reaction was now complete.

(19) Product: recovery=468 g pale viscous oil

(20) The resulting polyglycerol ester product was able to produce a stable emulsion by the mixing together of an oil phase and an oil phase, for example following the procedure on Example 5 below.

EXAMPLE 5—EMULSIFIER STUDIES WITH POLYGLYCEROL ESTERS

(21) Assessments of the polyglycerol esters of Example 1 in forming emulsions under ambient conditions were carried out.

(22) Base Formulation:

(23) TABLE-US-00005 Water = 78.9% wt (to 100%) ) in water phase Polyglycerol-4 ester =  1.5% wt (ex. Ex. 4) ) Xanthan gum =  0.1% wt (binder) ) Oil (olive) =   15% wt ) in oil phase Polyglycerol-4 ester =  1.5% wt (ex. Ex. 1) )

(24) The two phases were each prepared at ambient temperature (18° C.), using a magnetic stirrer. One phase was added to the other and stirred at ambient temperature (18° C.) for 5 minutes.

(25) The resulting emulsion was a low viscosity odourless emulsion.

(26) The stability of the emulsion was determined by weekly monitoring of undisturbed samples stored under different controlled conditions—one in an oven at 40° C., one at ambient temperature in ambient light, and one at ambient temperature in the dark; before an overall assessment was made. The testing was concluded after 12 weeks. The test is an accelerated test designed to equate to 12 months if the formulation is held at ambient temperature. In this manner the emulsion was determined to have excellent stability.

EXAMPLE 6—EMULSIFIER STUDIES WITH POLYGLYCEROL ESTERS

(27) An emulsion was prepared with the following components:

(28) TABLE-US-00006 Water to 100% wt ) Microcare PE 0.7% wt ) water phase Xanthan gum 0.2% wt ) Polyglycerol-4 ester of 2.5% wt ) Ex. 1 Sunflower oil 40% wt ) oil phase Polyglycerol-4 ester of 4% wt ) Ex. 1

(29) Microcare PE is a preservative based on chloromethylisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone

(30) The two phases were each prepared at ambient temperature (18° C.), using a magnetic stirrer. One phase was added to the other and stirred at ambient temperature (18° C.) for 5 minutes.

(31) The product was stable over an extended period. In particular, there was no separation of the oils. Without the oil—polyglycerol ester no emulsion would form, or under certain mixing conditions there could be an emulsion formed, of short duration.

EXAMPLE 7—STABILISATION WITH POLYGLYCEROL ESTERS

(32) A foaming lotion was prepared with the following components:

(33) TABLE-US-00007 Water to 100% wt ) Carbopol ultrez 20 0.75% wt ) water phase Euxyl 9010PE 0.7% wt ) Sunflower oil 5% wt ) Palm kernel oil 5% wt ) oil phase Polyglycerol-4 ester of Ex. 1 0.75% wt ) Potassium citrate 1% wt ) electrolyte phase Palm kernel liquid soap 4% wt )

(34) Carbopol ultrez 20 is a viscosity modifier based on hydrophobically modified cross-linked polyacrylate

(35) Euxyl 901 OPE is a preservative based on phenoxyethanol

(36) The components of the water phase were mixed until the Carbopol is fully wetted, using an overhead stirrer. The components of the oil phase were mixed using an overhead stirrer, and the oil phase was added to the water phase, with stirring.

(37) The potassium citrate was added, and the mixture became viscous. The remaining ingredients were added in the order stated and the composition stirred until homogeneous (approximately 15 minutes). The entire process was approximately carried out at ambient temperature (18° C.). The lotion has excellent foaming properties.