Hydroxy ethers, a process for their production, and methods for their use

Abstract

Hydroxyalkyl polyethylene glycol and hydroxyalkyl polypropylene glycol ethers of the formula ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 is a linear C.sub.6 -C.sub.16 alkyl radical, R.sup.2 is a linear or branched, C.sub.1 -C.sub.22 alkyl or alkenyl radical, R.sup.3 is hydrogen or a methyl group, and n is a number of from 0 to 30, and to mixtures of several such compounds. Also, a process for the preparation of these hydroxy ethers, wherein epoxides are reacted with alcohol alkoxylates at an elevated temperature in the presence of a catalyst and in an inert gas atmosphere. The compounds or their mixtures are used as foam inhibiting additives in low-foam cleaning preparations.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.