Synthetic resins or natural rubbers -- part of the class 520 ser – Synthetic resins – At least one aryl ring which is part of a fused or bridged...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-16
2004-06-22
Cheung, William (Department: 1713)
Synthetic resins or natural rubbers -- part of the class 520 ser
Synthetic resins
At least one aryl ring which is part of a fused or bridged...
C524S766000, C524S767000, C524S773000, C524S796000, C008S094220, C252S008570
Reexamination Certificate
active
06753369
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to novel formulations for waterproofing leather, processes for waterproofing leather, and leather goods waterproofed by the formulations and processes of the present invention. More specifically, this invention relates to the use of a composition containing the sodium salt of polyalkyl carboxylic acid anhydride, and/or an aliphatic carboxylic acid amide, a fatty alcohol or blend of fatty alcohols, an alcohol cosolvent, a preservative, and water for imparting improved hydrophobicity, flexibility, and product feel of the finished leather goods.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
To control the mechanical, physical, and chemical properties of leather, such as softness, flexibility, and hydrophobicity (waterproof and/or water repellent ability), aqueous fat emulsions (fat-liquors) which are generally based on petrochemically produced or natural oils and fats are used. Polymeric products, such as unsaturated dicarboxylic acid derivatives and long chain olefins that have fat-liquoring properties for leather and fur skins are used as water repellents for leather, hides and fur skins.
For example, EP-A-412 389 relates to the use of water repellents for leather. In particular, this published application shows the use of copolymers of C
8
- to C
40
-monoolefins and ethylenically unsaturated C
4
- to C
8
-dicarboxylic anhydrides, converted into aqueous solutions or dispersions by solvolysis of the anhydride groups, with, for example, bases such as amines, or partial esterification of the anhydride groups with alcohol and at least partial neutralization of the resulting carboxyl groups with bases in an aqueous medium.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,752 relates to the use of the reaction products of homo- or copolymers based on monoethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic anhydrides with amines and alcohols. This patent, however, shows that the monoethylenically unsaturated component used to derivatize the dicarboxylic anhydride should be an aromatic vinyl compound, such as styrene.
Various publications relate to the preparation of copolymers containing an alpha-olefin modified carboxylic acid or carboxylic acid derivative, such as maleic anhydride. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,104,216 relates to copolymers containing an alpha-olefin and alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid plasticized with a selected long chain fatty acid.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,130,213 relates to a plastisol composition containing a copolymer of a normal alpha-olefin and maleic anhydride.
A common leather industry waterproofing material is a copolymer of cetyleicosyl (C
16
to C
20
) methacrylate (“CETA”) and acrylic acid (“AA”) as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,537. All patents, applications, and publications mentioned here and throughout the application are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein and form a part of the present application.
A common and successful conventional waterproofing formulation, Lubritan WP, available from Rohm & Haas, is a CETA acrylate in a toxic solvent and water. However, Lubritan WP has certain disadvantages including toxicity and a detrimental environmental impact.
An improved waterproofing treatment for leather and hides, a composition for achieving the waterproofing treatment, and hide or leather goods with improved waterproof and/or water repellent characteristics would be desirable by those in the industry. Particularly desired by the leather treating industry is a formulation with low toxicity, easy handling properties, good waterproofing qualities, and/or which does not have an adverse impact on the environment.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
It is a feature of the present invention to provide a method for improving the water repellency or waterproof characteristics of leather without an adverse environmental impact. It is another feature to provide leather goods with improved waterproof and/or water repellant characteristics. Finally, a waterproofing composition for leather or hide with low toxicity is provided by the present invention.
In one of its embodiments, the present invention relates to a composition, also referred to herein as a formulation, for waterproofing leather. In this embodiment, a composition containing the combination, mixture, or reaction product of an alpha-olefin poly(carboxylic acid anhydride), or an alkali salt thereof, a fatty acid amide, a fatty alcohol or blend of fatty alcohols, a shorter chain alcohol cosolvent, a preservative, and water has been discovered to provide improved processing characteristics and environmental impact when used in the waterproofing of leather. The compositions of the present invention can be used with or without conventional syntans and fat-liquors to provide roundness, grain smoothness, firmness, softness, and lubrication of hide or leather fibers. In addition, the resulting leather goods have water repellency, appearance, and texture which are generally equal to or improved relative to the properties of conventionally waterproofed leather. Finally, the composition of the present invention has low toxicity, easy handling characteristics, and minimal environmental impact.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present invention. The objectives and other advantages of the present invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the description and appended claims.
To achieve these and other advantages, and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention relates in an embodiment to a composition of matter containing:
a) at least one hydrocarbon-modified carboxylic acid anhydride, or the alkali salt thereof, which can be prepared, for example, by the reaction of the anhydride with an alkali material, such as caustic soda;
b) at least one aliphatic acid amide;
c) at least one fatty alcohol or blend of fatty alcohols;
d) at least one alcohol cosolvent;
e) at least one preservative; and
f) water.
The present invention further provides a method for imparting water repellency to leather or hide by contacting leather, or a hide to be processed into leather, with a composition of the present invention.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a single component, the aliphatic acid amide of a hydrocarbon-modified carboxylic acid anhydride, or the alkali salt thereof is dissolved or dispersed in an ecologically desirable solvent or blend of co-solvents, such as butyl alcohol and water. The solution or mixture so prepared is used to advantageously treat leather at various stages of the leather manufacture procedure.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a leather-treating formulation is provided containing a hydrocarbon-modified carboxylic acid anhydride or alkali salt thereof, and/or an aliphatic acid amide, or an alkali salt thereof.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are intended to provide further explanation of the present invention, as claimed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
In one embodiment, the present invention can be practiced by combining, mixing, reacting, or otherwise contacting the following components:
1. At least one hydrocarbon-modified carboxylic acid anhydride, or an alkali salt thereof;
2. At least one aliphatic acid amide;
3. Caustic soda;
4. One or more fatty alcohols, preferably C
20
and higher (e.g., C
20
-C
200
);
5. At least one shorter carbon chain alcohol, such as butylpropanol;
6. At least one preservative; and
7. Water.
Component 1, above, a hydrocarbon-substituted carboxylic acid anhydride, or the alkali salt of the hydrocarbon-substituted carboxylic acid anhydride, can be derived from the reaction of, for example, maleic anhydride or a poly(maleic anhydride) with a hydrocarbon such as, for example an alpha-olefi
Hill, Jr. Walter Bernard
Miguel Naim Barcellos
Buckman Laboratories International Inc.
Cheung William
Kilyk & Bowersox P.L.L.C.
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