Fragrant gel polymer with solvents

Abstract

The fragrant gel polymer system is a process where a complete fragrance formulation remains whole and is then blended with either a polymer or a cross-linking agent. The non-fragrance carrying polymer is then liquefied and made homogenous with a solvent, including esters. The solvents modify viscosity and ease the mixing of the non-fragrance carrying polymer with the fragrance carrying polymer. The method also provides surfactants and wetting agents for further integration and mixing of the fragrance oils with either the polymer or the cross-linking agent during the steps of the process. Mixing of the fragrance carrying polymer and the non-fragrance polymer results in a gel that sets in less time and with less syneresis than existing processes.

Claims

1. A process for preparing a fragrant gel comprising the steps of: blending a liquid mixture A including a fragrance oil and one of a polymer or a cross linking agent; said liquid mixture A comprising at least 5%-95% by weight of the fragrant gel; wherein said polymers derived from one of maleinized polybutadiene, maleinized polyisoprene or chloroprene, and wherein said polymer comprising at least 5%-50% by weight of the liquid mixture A; wherein said cross linking agent is derived from one of amine or polyetheramine, and includes at least one of polypropoxy diamines, polypropoxy triamines and polyethoxydiamines; blending a liquid mixture B including a polymer or a cross linking agent omitted from mixture A and a solvent, said mixture B becoming a homogeneous liquid and without any of said fragrance oil, said liquid B comprising at least 10%-90% by weight of the fragrant gel; wherein said solvent is an ester, said solvent modifying the viscosity of mixture B, to between about 10 Pa.Math.s to 200 Pa.Math.s, and functions as a plastifier to provide a fruit smell to the fragrance oil of mixture A when combined, said ester including one of di-isoheptyl phthalate, 2-tert-butylcyclohexyl acetate, diethyl malonate, ethyl benzoate, benzyl butyrate, methyl benzoate, and benzyl benzoate, and triethyl citrate to provide foam stablization and to act as a plastifier; wherein adding methyl benzoate with the solvent as a plasticizer provides a fruit like smell to the fragrance oil; during the mixing of the fragrant gel, the polymer or cross-linking agent, and the solvent, the fragrant gel transforms from a semi-liquid to semi-solid phase, and finally the fragrant gel cures into a solid rubbery texture dry to the touch; adding a wetting agent to either mixture A or mixture B, said wetting agent comprising at least 1% to 50% by weight of said mixture A or mixture B, wherein said wetting agent is an alcohol and provided for solubilizing of the fragrance oil when added to one of said mixture A or mixture B; adding a surfactant of ammonium laureth sulfate to integrate the polymer and cross-linking agent for mixing with the fragrance oil when these components are combined together; adding an anti-oxidant into either mixture A or mixture B in order to improve the coloration of the gel, said anti-oxidant added to the fragrant gel in a range of 0.5%-2% by weight of the mixtures A or B, and wherein said antioxidants include at least one of 2,6-Di-tert-butyl-4(4,6-bis(octylthio)-1,3,5-triazin-2-ylamino)phenol and 2-hydroxy-4 n octyloxybenzophenone where the fragrant gel has improved or extended color stability than without the antioxidant; blending the mixture A with the mixture B, adding a fragrance oil into the mixture B, forming a gel carrying the fragrance oil following the blending of mixture A with mixture B with reduced syneresis and shortened setting time; wherein said process reduces premature reaction of said polymer and said cross-linking agent; and wherein said process produces a fragrance carrying gel that remains together as a whole when applying said mixtures into a mold to form a selected shape to function as an air freshener or fragrance sample during application and usage.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In referring to the drawings,

(2) FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the components and processes of the preferred embodiment of the fragrant gel polymer system practiced in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

(3) The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various FIGURES.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(4) The present art overcomes the prior art limitations by assembling a fragrance formulation from its components then mixing the fragrance with only one of two classes of polymer, dissolving the other class of polymer with a solvent, and then mixing the polymer carrying the fragrance with the dissolved polymer resulting in a gel product with minimal syneresis and a shortened setting time. Though the components of the invention are few in number, the sequence of mixing forms the key to the present invention. Turning to FIG. 1, a block diagram shows the fragrant gel polymer system from initial components to the resulting product.

(5) The present invention 1 begins with the components of a fragrance formulation selected by a fragrance house or manufacturer. A fragrance may have as many components as determined by the designers and chemists of the fragrance house. The present invention then mixes the components to form the fragrance F, generally in a liquid state, as at 4.

(6) The fragrance is then mixed with either a polymer, as at A, or a cross linking agent, as at B, with the mixing step shown as at 5. The polymer derives from butadiene, isoprene or chloroprene. Preferably the polymer, as at A, is maleinized polybutadiene of at least 5000 molecular weight. Alternatively, the polymer includes maleinized polyisoprene of at least 200,000 molecular weight. These polymers are readily available from commercial chemical sources. A preferred polymer is Lithene® by Synthomer®, typically Lithene® N4-9000 10MA, which is a maleinized polybutadiene of a 9000 molecular weight before maleinization. The other component, a cross-linking agent comes from the amine family of polymers, including polypropoxy diamines, polypropoxy triamines and polyethoxydiamines. A preferred cross linking agent, as at B, is Jeffamine® by Huntsman® Corp., such as the Jeffamine® D-400, which is polyetheramine. In a liquid state, the fragrance is then blended with either a polymer or a cross linking agent. The fragrance carrying polymer then proceeds for further manufacturing as at 9.

(7) Segregated from the fragrance carrying polymer, the polymer or cross linking agent not used in the preceding mixing step, as at 6, is next blended as at 8 with a solvent 7. Blended with the solvent, the non-fragrance carrying polymer becomes a homogeneous liquid. Preferably the solvent is benzyl benzoate. Alternatively, the solvent includes di-propylene glycol, isopropyl myristate, alcohol, mineral oil, and the like. Alternatively, the solvent includes substitutes for benzyl benzoate having similar function, particularly esters. Such esters include di-ethyl phthalate, diisoheptyl phthalate a/k/a Jayflex 77® from ExxonMobil of Houston, Tex., triethyl citrate, 2-tert-butylcyclohexyl acetate a/k/a Argumex a/k/a green acetate from Symrise GmbH of Teterboro, N.J. and Holzminden, Germany, diethyl malonate, ethyl benzoate, benzyl butyrate, and methyl benzoate. Di-ethyl phthalate is a plasticizer of low risk to humans with a boiling point of approximately 563° F. Diisoheptyl phthalate a/k/a Jayflex 77® from ExxonMobil of Houston, Tex. is another plasticizer with a flash point of 113° C. Triethyl citrate serves as a plasticizer that also stabilizes foams and it has a boiling point of 235° C. Green acetate, 2-tert-butylcyclohexyl acetate a/k/a Argumex dissolves in alcohol and paraffin oil but not water and it has a boiling point of 221° C. Diethyl malonate also plasticizes perfume formulations while it has a boiling point of 199° C. Ethyl benzoate, a plasticizer, is nearly insoluble in water but blends with others solvents to provide a component for fruit like perfume. Ethyl benzoate has its boiling point of approximately 211° C. Benzyl butyrate does not dissolve in water but does dissolve in alcohol and select oils for use as a plasticizer and while it have a boiling point of approximately 238° C. And, methyl benzoate also does not dissolve in water but blends with organic solvents as a plasticizer to provide a fruit like smell to perfumes. Methyl benzoate has its boiling point of approximately 199° C. The solvents solely modify the viscosity of the non-fragrance carrying polymer and prepare it for mixing with the fragrance carrying polymer, 5, to form a gel.

(8) Alternatively, either the polymer or the cross linking agent undergo further preparation for mixing with surfactants and wetting agents W, as at 11. The surfactants and wetting agents provide for integration of the polymer and the cross linking agent with less energy and time required and for complete mixing of the fragrance within the polymer and the cross linking agent once combined together. The preferred surfactant is Steol® from Stepan® Co. also known as ammonium laureth sulfate. The surfactants and wetting agents can be introduction either to the fragrance carrying polymer or the non-fragrance carrying polymer.

(9) With the fragrance carrying polymer prepared as at 9 and the non-carrying fragrance polymer ready as at 10, the liquid fragrance carrying polymer is blended with the liquid non-fragrance carrying polymer in a mold to a desired shape, often an air freshener or fragrance sample, thus the present invention forms a gel product 1.

(10) Examples of the various formulations for the Fragrant Gel Polymer with Solvents for this application may be defined as follows:

Example 1

(11) A process for preparing a fragrant gel comprising the steps of:

(12) blending a liquid mixture A including a fragrance oil and one of a polymer or a cross linking agent;

(13) wherein said polymer is derived from one of maleinized butadiene, isoprene or chloroprene;

(14) wherein said cross linking agent is derived from one of amine or polyetheramine;

(15) blending a liquid mixture B including the polymer or the cross linking agent omitted from mixture A and a solvent, said mixture B being homogeneous and without any of said fragrance oil;

(16) wherein said solvent is an ester, said solvent modifying the viscosity of mixture B, and functions as a plastifier to provide a fruit like smell to the fragrance oil of mixture A when combined, said ester including one of di-isoheptyl phthalate, 2-tert-butylcyclohexyl acetate, diethyl malonate, ethyl benzoate, benzyl butyrate, methyl benzoate, and benzyl benzoate;

(17) adding a wetting agent to either mixture A or mixture B;

(18) blending said mixture A with mixture B; and,

(19) forming a gel carrying the fragrance following said blending of mixture A with mixture B with reduced syneresis and shortened setting time;

(20) wherein said process reduces premature reaction of said polymer and said cross-linking agent; and

(21) wherein said process produces a fragrance carrying gel that remains together as a whole.

Example 2

(22) A process for preparing a fragrant gel comprising the steps of:

(23) blending a liquid mixture A including a fragrance oil and one of a polymer or a cross linking agent (at least 5% and at most 95% by weight);

(24) wherein said polymer is derived from one of maleinized butadiene, isoprene or chloroprene (5%-50% weight by weight);

(25) wherein said cross linking agent is derived from one of amine or polyetheramine;

(26) blending a liquid mixture B including the polymer or the cross linking agent omitted from mixture A and a solvent (10%-90% W/W), said mixture B being homogeneous and without any of said fragrance oil;

(27) wherein said solvent is an ester, said solvent modifying the viscosity of mixture B, and functions as a plastifier to provide a fruit like smell to the fragrance oil of mixture A when combined, said ester including one of di-soheptyl pthathalate 2-tert-butylcyclohexyl acetae, diethyl molonate, ethyl benzoate, benzyl butyrate, methyl benzoate, and benzyl benzoate (range from 10%-90% W/W);

(28) adding a wetting agent to either mixture A or mixture B;

(29) blending said mixture A with mixture B; and,

(30) forming a gel carrying the fragrance following said blending of mixture A with mixture B with reduced syneresis and shortened setting time;

(31) wherein said process reduces premature reaction of said polymer and said cross-linking agent; and

(32) wherein said process produces a fragrance carrying gel that remains together as a whole.

Example 3

(33) A process for preparing a fragrant gel comprising the steps of:

(34) blending a liquid mixture A (10% to 90%) including a fragrance oil and one of a polymer or a cross linking agent;

(35) wherein said polymer is derived from one of maleinized butadiene, isoprene or chloroprene;

(36) wherein said cross linking agent is derived from one of amine or polyetheramine;

(37) blending a liquid mixture B (90% to 10%) including the polymer or the cross linking agent omitted from mixture A and a solvent, said mixture B being homogeneous and without any of said fragrance oil;

(38) wherein said solvent is an ester, said solvent modifying the viscosity of mixture B, and functions as a plastifier to provide a fruit like smell to the fragrance oil of mixture A when combined, said ester including one of di-isoheptyl phthalate, 2-tert-butylcyclohexyl acetate, diethyl malonate, ethyl benzoate, benzyl butyrate, methyl benzoate, and benzyl benzoate;

(39) adding a wetting agent to either mixture A or mixture B;

(40) blending said mixture A with mixture B; and,

(41) forming a gel carrying the fragrance following said blending of mixture A with mixture B with reduced syneresis and shortened setting time;

(42) wherein said process reduces premature reaction of said polymer and said cross-linking agent; and

(43) wherein said process produces a fragrance carrying gel that remains together as a whole.

Example 4

(44) A process for preparing a fragrant gel comprising the steps of:

(45) blending a liquid mixture A (10% to 90%) including a fragrance oil and one of a polymer or a cross linking agent;

(46) wherein said polymer is derived from one of maleinized butadiene, isoprene or chloroprene;

(47) wherein said cross linking agent is derived from one of amine or polyetheramine;

(48) blending a liquid mixture B (90% to 10%) including the polymer or the cross linking agent omitted from mixture A and a solvent, said mixture B being homogeneous and without any of said fragrance oil;

(49) wherein said solvent is an ester, said solvent modifying the viscosity of mixture B, and functions as a plastifier to provide a fruit like smell to the fragrance oil of mixture A when combined, said ester including one of di-isoheptyl phthalate, 2-tert-butylcyclohexyl acetate, diethyl malonate, ethyl benzoate, benzyl butyrate, methyl benzoate, and benzyl benzoate;

(50) adding a wetting agent of alcohol to either mixture A or mixture B;

(51) blending said mixture A with mixture B; and,

(52) forming a gel carrying the fragrance following said blending of mixture A with mixture B with reduced syneresis and shortened setting time;

(53) wherein said process reduces premature reaction of said polymer and said cross-linking agent; and

(54) wherein said process produces a fragrance carrying gel that remains together as a whole.

(55) The process of Example 3 and including adding an antioxidant to the said gel, said antioxidant being included at 0.5-2% by weight of the combined mixtures.

(56) The process for preparing a fragrant gel of claim 4 wherein said antioxidants include at least one of 2,6-Di-tert-butyl-4(4,6-bis(octylthio)-1,3,5-triazin-2-ylamino) phenol and 2-hydroxy-4 n octyloxybenzophenone had improved or extended color stability longer than without.

(57) The forming gel is initially in a homogeneous liquid phase, as crosslink interacted with viscous polymer, the gel undergoes a transition phase which is semi liquid phase, simultaneously, the viscosity of semi liquid phase become viscous, the 10 Pa.Math.s to 200 Pa.Math.S. The gel transformed from semi liquid to semi solid phase where the gel texture is soft to touch, slightly tacky. Finally, the formed gel cured into a solid rubbery texture, dry to touch. The formed gel cured can be from 1 minute to 1 day.

(58) Various types of antioxidants added to the gel within a range of about 0.5%-2% by weight, in order to improve the coloration of formula. We noticed that these two antioxidants 2,6-Di-tert-butyl-4(4,6-bis(octylthio)-1,3,5-triazin-2-ylamino)phenol and 2-hydroxy-4 n octyloxybenzophenone had improved or extended color stability longer than without.

(59) From the aforementioned description, a fragrant gel polymer system has been described. The system is uniquely capable of combining all of the fragrance components with either a polymer or a cross linking agent in liquid form and then mixing the fragrance carrying polymer with the non-fragrance carrying polymer to make a gel product providing a fragrance. The system may be manufactured from many materials, including but not limited to, Lithene®, Jeffamine®, polymers, ferrous and non-ferrous metal foils and their alloys, and composites.