Compositions: coating or plastic – Materials or ingredients – Pigment – filler – or aggregate compositions – e.g. – stone,...
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-12
2004-11-09
Koslow, C. Melissa (Department: 1755)
Compositions: coating or plastic
Materials or ingredients
Pigment, filler, or aggregate compositions, e.g., stone,...
C106S487000, C106S499000, C424S061000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06814797
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a gel composition and a nail enamel; and, in particular, to an improvement in viscosity controlling ability and stability thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Since a cation-modified clay mineral obtained by replacing an exchangeable cation being between crystal layers in a clay mineral with an organic cation such as a quaternary ammonium cation forms a satisfactory oily gel having a thixotropic property, it is incorporated into a product such as a paint or a nail enamel as a pigment sedimentation-preventing agent. A gelation mechanism which is proposed currently is that an organic solvent introduces into a cation site between crystal layers of a cation-modified clay mineral to enlarge a space between the layers, whereby effecting a gelation.
However, a change in the polarity of the solvent leads to a problematically substantial change in the viscosity since the gelation ability (viscosity controlling ability) may vary greatly depending on the suitability between the type of the cation and the polarity of the solvent. For example, a product containing a substantial amount of an organic solvent such as a nail enamel or a paint tends to change in the polarity due to the evaporation of the solvent, which may reduce the viscosity or the sedimentation-preventing effect.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is performed in view of the problems associated with the art described above, and its objective is to provide a gel composition capable of maintaining a high viscosity controlling ability over a wide polarity range from a low polarity to a high polarity and also capable of exhibiting an excellent viscosity stability over a prolonged period as well as such nail enamel.
In order to accomplish the objective, the inventors have carried out delligent studies and finally found that the problems described above can be solved by using two certain quaternary ammonium cations as substitute cations for cation-modified clay mineral at a certain weight ratio, whereby accomplishing the present invention.
Namely, a gel composition of the present invention comprises cation-modified clay mineral, wherein cations of said cation-modified clay mineral, wherein cations of said cation-modified clay mineral comprise quaternary ammonium cations represented by Formula (I):
wherein R
1
is a C
1-9
alkyl group, a phenyl group or a C
7-9
aralkyl group and R
2
is a C
10-36
alkyl group,
and Formula (II):
wherein R
3
and R
4
are independent from each other and each representes a C
10-36
alkyl group.
In the gel composition of the present invention, said cation-modified clay mineral preferably comprises a cation-modified clay mineral A whose cation is the quaternary ammonium cation represented by Formula (I) and a cation-modified clay mineral B whose cation is the quaternary ammonium cation represented by Formula (II) in a weight ratio of A:B from 55:45 to 99.9:0.1, more preferably from 60:40 to 80:20.
R
1
is preferably benzyl group.
R
1
is preferably methyl group.
R
2
is preferably a C
16-18
alkyl group.
Eeach of R
3
and R
4
is preferably a C
16-18
alkyl group.
A host clay mineral of said cation-modified clay mineral is preferably montmorillonite or hectorite, more preferably montmorillonite.
A nail enamel of the present invention comprises any of gel compositions described above.
BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
In Formula (I), the C
1-9
alkyl group of R
1
may be a straight or branched chain. Examples thereof include methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, tert-butyl. hexyl, octyl, and nonyl group. Preferably, it is methyl group.
The C
7-9
aralkyl group of R
1
may be benzyl group, phenethyl and so on. Preferably, it is benzyl group.
The C
10-36
alkyl group of R
2
may be a straight or branched chain. Examples thereof include decyl, undecyl, 6-methyldecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl, octadecyl, 2-ethylhexadecyl, icosyl, henicosyl, docosyl, tetoracosyl, 22-methyltetracosyl, hexacosyl, octacosyl, and 2-dodecyloctadecyl group. Preferably, it is a C
16-18
alkyl group, particularly preferably hexadecyl or octadecyl group.
Preferable examples of Cation(I) include hexadecyldimethylbenzyl-ammonium, octadecyldimethylbenzylammonium, hexadecyltrimethylammonium and octadecyltrimethylammonium.
In Formula (II), the C
10-36
alkyl group of R
3
or R
4
is as defined in R
2
mentioned above. Preferably, it is a C
16-18
alkyl group, particular preferably hexadecyl or octadecyl group.
Preferable examples of Cation(II) include dihexadecyldimethylammonium and dioctadecyldimethylammonium.
The clay mineral (as a host) which is exchanged with Cation (I) or Cation (II) may be a water-swollen clay mineral which is one of hydrated colloidal aluminum silicates having three-layered structures, such as natural or synthetic clay mineral including bentonite, montmorillonite, hectorite, saponite and the like. Preferably, it is montmorillonite or hectorite, particularly preferably montmorillonite.
The cation-modified clay mineral employed in the present invention can be prepared by a known method. For example, it can be obtained by: dissolving a salt of the cation described above such as a quaternary ammonium salt whose counter ion is a halogen ion (e.g., chloride ion), nitrite ion, hydroxyl ion, acetate ion, methyl sulfate ion, or the like in an ion-exchange water; adding and dispersing the host clay mineral; and then collecting by filteration and drying the resulting precipitates. More conveniently, a commercial product may also be used.
An especially preferred example of the cation-modified clay mineral A whose cation is Cation (I) is one wherein R
1
is benzyl, R
2
is octadecyl and the clay mineral is montmorillonite. Examples of commercial products thereof include TIXOGEL-MPZ and TIXOGEL-MP250 (manufactured by Sud-Chemie Rheologicals).
An especially preferred example of the cation-modified clay mineral B whose cation is Cation (II) is one wherein each of R
3
and R
4
is octadecyl and the clay mineral is montmorillonite. Examples of commercial products thereof include TIXOGEL-MP and TIXOGEL-MP100 (manufactured by Sud-Chemie Rheologicals).
In the present invention, two or more cation-modified clay minerals A may be employed. Also, a cation-modified clay mineral A resulting from the exchange with two or more Cations (I) can be used. Similarly, two or more cation-modified clay minerals B may be employed. Also, a cation-modified clay mineral B resulting from the exchange with two or more Cations (II) can be used.
In the present invention, the weight ratio between the cation-modified clay minerals A and B as a whole may be 55:45 to 99.9:0.1, preferably 60:40 to 80:20. It is also possible in the present invention to employ a cation-modified clay mineral resulting from the exchange with both of Cation (I) and Cation (II). An example of commercial products is TIXOGEL-UN (manufactured by Sud-Chemie Rheologicals). In such case, this cation-modified clay mineral may be regarded as a mixture of a cation-modified clay mineral A whose cation is only Cation (I) and a cation-modified clay mineral B whose cation is only Cation (II), and the ratio between cation-modified clay minerals A and B caluculated from the level of the exchange with Cation (I) and Cation (II) should be within the range specified above.
While the amount of the cation-modified clay mineral in a gel composition may vary depending on the intended product, it is usually 1 to 20% by weight. In a nail enamel, the amount is usually 0.05 to 10% by weight, preferably 1 to 5% by weight. An excessive amount may lead to an adverse effect on the gloss or the long-lasting performance of the nail enamel coating.
A gel composition of the present invention may contain other components as long as the advantageous property of the present invention is not affected adversely.
As for a surfactant, any of nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants and amphoteric surfactants may be incorporated. Particularly, when a polyoxyethylene/polyoxypropylene (POE/POP) chain-containin
Kaneko Katsuyuki
Soyama Yoshikazu
Suhara Tsuneo
Takada Hirotaka
Chao Fei-Fei
Koslow C. Melissa
Manlove Shalie
Shiseido Co. Ltd.
LandOfFree
Gel composition and nail enamel does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Gel composition and nail enamel, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Gel composition and nail enamel will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3337864