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AssigneeWest Agro, Inc.
InventorsElsie Winicov, Chris Foret, Cynthia Palmer, Michael W. Griffith, Thomas C. Hemling
Estimating the term…
Improved conveyor lubricants are provided which are compatible with thermoplastic articles such as containers made of polyalkylene terephthalates. The lubricants are essentially free of oil and include a nonionic surfactant (e.g., a nonylphenol ethoxylates) dispersed in water where the surfactant has a molecular weight of at least about 1000 and contains at least about 12 ethylene oxide moieties therein. The surfactant should preferably comprise at least about 50% by weight of the non-aqueous components of lubricant concentrates and use dilutions. In use, the concentrates are diluted and sprayed or otherwise applied onto handling equipment for the thermoplastic articles. The use dilution surfactants of the invention give very advantageous lubricity ratio and crazing values, making them eminently suited for use with PET containers.
A method of lubricating handling equipment for thermoplastic articles subject to stress cracking comprising the step of applying to said equipment an aqueous use lubricant essentially free of oil and including a nonaqueous fraction dispersed in water, said nonaqueous fraction comprising a nonionic surfactant fraction constituting at least about 50% by weight of said nonaqueous fraction and consisting essentially of a substituted phenol ethoxylate surfactant having a molecular weight of at least about 1000 and having at least about 12 ethylene moieties therein, said substituted phenol ethoxylate having the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of straight or branched chain C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 alkyl groups and substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkylaryl groups, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are individually selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, straight or branched chain C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 alkyl groups and substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkylaryl groups, and n is from about 12-100.
A lubricant concentrate adapted for dilution in water to form a diluted use lubricant which can be applied to handling equipment for thermoplastic articles subject to stress cracking, said lubricant concentrate comprising an aqueous composition essentially free of oil and including a nonaqueous fraction dispersed in water, said nonaqueous fraction comprising a nonionic surfactant fraction constituting at least about 50% by weight of said nonaqueous fraction and consisting essentially of a substituted phenol ethoxylate surfactant having a molecular weight of at least about 1000 and having at least about 12 ethylene moieties therein, said substituted phenol ethoxylate having the formula ##STR3## wherein R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of straight or branched chain C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 alkyl groups and substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkylaryl groups, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are individually selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, straight or branched chain C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 alkyl groups and substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkylaryl groups, and n is from about 12-100.
A dilute aqueous use lubricant adapted for application to equipment for handling of thermoplastic articles subject to stress cracking, said use lubricant comprising an aqueous composition essentially free of oil and comprising a nonaqueous fraction dispersed in water, said nonaqueous fraction including a nonionic surfactant fraction constituting at least about 50% by weight of said nonaqueous fraction and consisting essentially of a substituted phenol ethoxylate surfactant having a molecular weight of at least about 1000 and having at least about 12 ethylene moieties therein, said substituted phenol ethoxylate having the formula ##STR4## wherein R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of straight or branched chain C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 alkyl groups and substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkylaryl groups, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are individually selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, straight or branched chain C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 alkyl groups and substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1-C.sub.18 alkylaryl groups, and n is from about 12-100.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.