Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Preparations characterized by special physical form – Biocides; animal or insect repellents or attractants
Reexamination Certificate
1997-02-19
2002-01-22
Page, Thurman K. (Department: 1615)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Preparations characterized by special physical form
Biocides; animal or insect repellents or attractants
C424S484000, C424S486000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06340467
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to solid hydrocarbon gel products and more particularly relates to solid hydrocarbon gel products and novel uses thereof in various applications.
BACKGROUND ART
Various types of gel products are known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,534 of Applicants' Assignee, for example discloses gel compositions which contain one or more health and beauty aid components wherein the gel comprises a hydrocarbon oil and a blend of at least two different polymers selected from the group consisting of diblock and triblock polymers. The hydrocarbon oils disclosed in this patent are indicated as having characteristics which would cause them to remain liquid at temperatures ranging from 0° C. up to about 200° C. for almost all applications.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,563 to Chang discloses compositions for topical application to the skin which are indicated as being greasy occlusive viscous bases comprising a mixture of from 40-90% of a greasy viscous base and from 10-60% of a solid non-irritating ointment forming powder. Other ingredients such as colorants can also be included in the composition. The composition can also contain a thickening agent which can be an unvulcanized elastomeric block polymer.
International Application PCT No. W88/00603, published Jan. 28, 1988 by Francis et al. discloses block copolymers which are described as gels or gel liquid extended polymer compositions which can comprise a mixture of a block copolymer containing relatively hard blocks and relatively elastomeric blocks. Such block copolymers include styrene-diene block copolymers which can be diblock or triblock copolymers. Extender liquids mentioned in this patent are hydrocarbon oils such as paraffinic or napthenic oils, synthetic oils such as polybutene or polypropylene, and mixtures.
Published European Patent Application No. 224,389 discloses styrene-diene block copolymer compositions which comprise a mixture of triblock copolymers and a hydrocarbon oil. These materials are indicated as being useful as sealing materials.
The present invention provides solid hydrocarbon products which is are novel composition having uses unexpected in view of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly one object of the present invention to provide a novel, solid hydrocarbon gel product and articles of manufacture made therefrom.
A further object of the invention is to provide a method for the preparation of useful solid hydrocarbon gel products.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds.
In satisfaction of the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention provides a solid hydrocarbon gel product, processes of making same and articles of manufacture made therefrom. The solid hydrocarbon gel comprises a) a solid or semi-solid hydrocarbon, and b) at least one block copolymer selected from the group consisting of:
1) a triblock copolymer;
2) a radial block copolymer;
3) a multi-block copolymer;
4) a diblock copolymer; or
5) mixtures of these polymers.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a novel, solid hydrocarbon gel product which finds application in many areas to produce novel and unexpected products. The product, which is a solid or semi-solid product at room temperature (25° C.), is produced from a composition comprising a polymer, a solid or a semi-solid hydrocarbon product and optionally an oil. The solid hydrocarbon gel therefore comprises: a) a solid or semi-solid hydrocarbon, and b) at least one block copolymer selected from the group consisting of:
1) a triblock copolymer;
2) a radial block copolymer;
3) a multi-block copolymer;
4) a diblock copolymer; and
5) mixtures of these polymers.
The solid or semi-solid hydrocarbon is a hydrocarbon material which is at least semi-solid and preferably solid at room temperature, that is about 25° C. Examples of suitable solid hydrocarbons include paraffin wax, petrolatum, synthetic waxes, mineral (paraffins) waxes, vegetable oil waxes, polyethylene waxes, microcrystalline waxes, natural waxes such as carnauba, beeswax and the like. Therefore, this solid hydrocarbon includes both petroleum based and non-petroleum based solid hydrocarbons.
It is also optional to include in the composition a liquid hydrocarbon such as a white mineral oil to modify the softening point of the gel. Resins may also be included in for this purpose.
In the composition, the total polymer content of the solid hydrocarbon gel will range from greater than 0 to about 50% by weight and preferably will range from about 0.05 up to about 35 wt. %. Especially preferred compositions will contain about 1 to 25 wt. % of total polymer content.
The solid hydrocarbon may accordingly comprise from greater than about 0 to about 99% by weight of the composition and preferably will range from about 20 to 95% by weight.
As indicated, oils, resins and the like can be added to modify the softening point of the gel. When such oils or resins are added, they are added in an amount ranging from about 5 to 75% by weight. Additional hydrocarbon based materials such as esters may also be included in the solid gel in amounts of up to about 75%. Other functional ingredients, for example, antioxidants, stabilizers, fragrances or colorants and the like may also be incorporated in amounts of about 0.1 to 10 wt. %.
The gel is prepared by heating the solid or semi-solid hydrocarbon under atmospheric conditions so as to form a melt and then adding the polymer thereto with agitation. The heating and agitation are maintained until the polymer is dissolved in the hydrocarbon.
Any additional materials or ingredients may then optionally be added, preferably while the gel is cooling.
The polymeric components used in the present invention are preferably of the diblock or triblock type and more preferably are either triblock polymers alone or mixtures of diblock and triblock polymers. When mixtures of diblock copolymers and triblock copolymers are used as the polymer component, the mixture may comprise from about 0.1 to 99.9% wt. % of diblock copolymers to about 99.9 to 0.1 wt. % of triblock copolymers.
Each of the diblock, triblock, radial block and/or multiblock copolymers used in the invention contains at least two thermodynamically incompatible segments. By the expression thermodynamically incompatible with respect to the polymers, it is meant that the polymer contains at least two incompatible segments, for example, at least one hard and one soft segment. In general, in a triblock copolymer, the ratio of segments is one hard, one soft, one hard or an A-B-A copolymer. Diblock copolymers, on the other hand, are of the A-B type and sequential with respect to hard and soft segments. The multiblock and radial block copolymers can contain any combination of hard and soft segments, provided that there are both hard and soft characteristics. Such polymers are fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,534.
Commercially available thermoplastic rubber type polymers which are especially useful in forming the compositions of the present invention are sold under the trademark Kraton® by Shell Chemical Company. The Kraton® rubber polymers are described as elastomers which have an unusual combination of high strength and low viscosity and a unique molecular structure of linear diblock, triblock and radial copolymers. Each molecule of the Kraton® rubber is said to consist of block segments of styrene monomer units and rubber monomer and/or comonomer units. Each block segment may consist of 100 or more monomer or comonomer units. The most common structure for the triblock copolymer is the above-mentioned linear ABA block type; styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) and styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS), which is the Kraton® D rubber series.
A second polymer of this general type is the Kraton® G series. This copolymer comprises a styrene-ethylenebutylene-styrene type (S-EB-S) structure. The Kraton® G series is preferred in the practice of the invention, as the copolymers of this series are hydrogenated and thus more thermal
Joynes Robert M.
McDermott & Will & Emery
Page Thurman K.
Pennzoil Products Company
LandOfFree
Solid and semi-solid hydrocarbon gels and uses thereof does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Solid and semi-solid hydrocarbon gels and uses thereof, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Solid and semi-solid hydrocarbon gels and uses thereof will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2827627