Fuel and related compositions – Candle composition
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-01
2003-02-18
Toomer, Cephia D. (Department: 1714)
Fuel and related compositions
Candle composition
C431S288000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06521002
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a clear candle and to a novel composition for its preparation.
A conventional candle is made from beeswax and/or petroleum paraffin to which fragrance can be added. More recently, hydrocarbon gels, gelling agents with oil, and polyamide gelling agents have been disclosed as candle base materials.
Polyamide candles have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,615,289, 3,645,705, and 3,819,342). A low molecular weight, ester-terminated polyamide blended with a liquid hydrocarbon to form a transparent composition having gel consistency and also useful as a candle bese material was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,783,657. However, the results show a sticky surface and low resistance to shear stresses.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,363 has taught the use of certain polyamide resins in combination with one or more 12-hydroxystearic acid ester solvents. In this case, the mechanical properties are better, but the burning presents a poor performance, with the formation of black pools and drowning of the wick. There remains a need for an improved candle composition to obtain better burning, no stickiness and improved mechanical properties.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with this invention, there is provided, in order to overcome the disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art summarized above, a clear transparent candle comprising a wick and a novel clear transparent combustible candle composition comprising 30-55 parts by weight of at least one polyamide resin, 5-45 parts by weight of at least one aliphatic acid alkyl ester having 16 to 40 carbon atoms total in the acid and alcohol moieties thereof; 10 to 30 parts of at least one unsaturated alcohol having 11 to 24 carbon atoms; 10 to 30 parts of at least one polyether diol ester; 5 to 15 parts by weight of at least one drying agent selected from the group consisting of saturated alcohols having 14 to 22 carbon atoms, fatty acid amides, and fatty acid bis-amides, 0 to 5 parts by weight of at least one emulsifier, 0 to 10 parts by weight of at least one fragrance and 0 to 1 part by weight of at least one preservative. In the proportions indicated, the components of the composition cooperate in solubilizing and compatibillzing one another and thus afford a rigid and clean burning candle that is clear and transparent and dry to the touch.
A candle according to the invention can be presented as a stand alone candle (a so-called “pillar” candle) or as a candle in a container.
In a pillar candle according to the invention, the novel clear transparent combustible candle composition preferably comprises 40-55 parts by weight of at least one polyamide resin, 5-30 parts by weight of at least one aliphatic acid alkyl ester having 16 to 40 carbon atoms total in the acid and alcohol moieties thereof; 10 to 30 parts of at least one unsaturated alcohol having 11 to 20 carbon atoms; 10 to 20 parts of at least one polyether diol ester; 5 to 15 parts by weight of at least one drying agent selected from the group consisting of saturated alcohols having 14 to 22 carbon atoms, fatty acid amides, and fatty acid bis-amides, 0 to 3 parts by weight of at least one emulsifier, 0 to 10 parts by weight of at least one fragrance and 0 to 1 part by weight of at least one preservative.
In a container candle according to the invention, the novel clear transparent combustible candle composition preferably comprises 30-45 parts by weight of at least one polyamide resin, 30-45 parts by weight of at least one aliphatic acid alkyl ester having 16 to 40 carbon atoms total in the acid and alcohol moieties thereof; 10 to 30 parts of at least one unsaturated alcohol having 11 to 20 carbon atoms; 10 to 30 parts of at least one polyether diol ester; 5 to 15 parts by weight of at least one drying agent selected from the group consisting of saturated alcohols having 14 to 22 carbon atoms, fatty acid amides, and fatty acid bis-amides, 0 to 3 parts by weight of at least one emulsifier, 0 to 10 parts by weight of at least one fragrance and 0 to 1 part by weight of at least one preservative.
The terms “clear” and “transparent” are used with their conventional meanings to indicate that object placed behind or within a candle (for example the wick or a decorative icon) can be discerned by a viewer. The term “visually compatible” is used to indicate that the combustible composition of the invention is clear and transparent as defined.
The term “dimer acid” is used to designate a known product obtained under dimerization conditions from unsaturated fatty acids having 15 to 21 carbon atoms, such as oleic acid, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid, and containing predominantly dicarboxylic acids having 30 to 42 carbon atoms, along with minor amounts of monocarboxylic acids and tricarboxylic acids.
The dimer acid based polyamide resin can be a neutral or slightly acidic (i.e. not amine-terminated) polyamide having a molecular weight in the range from 1000 to about 60000 daltons, as obtained, for example, from the polymerization of a diamine with one or more dicarboxylic acids of which at least one is dimer acid as defined. Dicarboxylic acids which can be included in the polyamide according to the invention include oxalic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, 2-methylglutaric acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid, isophthalic acid, and terephthalic acid. Diamines which can be included in the polyamide according to the invention include ethylenediamine, propylene-1,2-diamine, 1,6-diaminohexane, piperazine, N,N′-bis(2-aminoethyl)piperazine, and ether-interrupted alkylenediamines such as the polyoxyalkylenediamines disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,077,900 here incorporated by reference.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In a preferred embodiment, the dimer acid based first polyamide resin ingredient of the shell composition according to the invention has the formula
R—CO(NH—R′—NHCO—D—CO)n-NH—R′—NH—CO—R, in which n is a number from 1 to 20;
R independently at each occurrence is a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic group having 7 to 25 carbon atoms, and particularly an aliphatic group having 11 to 19 carbon atoms, or a cycloaliphatic group having 5 to 36 carbon atoms, and is terminated by a hydrogen atom (H)or a carboxyl group (COOH);
D independently at each occurrence is an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic residue of a dicarboxylic acid having 2 to 54 carbon atoms, provided that in at least one occurrence D is the hydrocarbon moiety of dimer acid; and
R′ independently at each occurrence is a hydrocarbylene group having 2 to 12 carbon atoms or a chain of such hydrocarbylene groups alternating with ether oxygen groups.
Aliphatic R groups are saturated or unsaturated, for example, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, 2-ethylliexyl, isooctyl, isodecyl, 3,5,5-trimethylhexyl, n-decyl, n-dodecyl, 2-butyloctyl, 10-undecenyl, oleyl, cetyl, stearyl, isostearyl, behenyl, and mixtures thereof.
Cycloaliphatic R groups are sacurated or unsaturated, for example, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, 4-t-butylcyclohexyl, cholesteryl, cholestanyl, and R groups derived from other steroid and terpenoid alcohols.
D, the hydrocarbon moiety of dimer acid, is believed to be represented by a six carbon ring to which are attached two aliphatic groups each terminating in a methyl group and two aliphatic groups each terminating in a carboxyl group, and can contain 0-3 carbon-carbon double bonds.
R′ is the hydrocarbylene or bivalent hydrocarbon moiety of an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic diamine and is, for example, ethylene (i.e. —CH
2
—CH
2
—, the hydrocarbon moiety of 1,2-diaminoethane), 1,2-propylene, 1,3-propylene, hexamethylene (hexane-1,6-diyl), dodecamethylene, 3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexane-1,3-diyl (the hydrocarbon moiety of isophoronediamine), and mixtures thereof.
In a particularly preferred embodiment the diamine-dimer acid based polyamide resin is based on dimer acid that is at least partially hydrogenated, such that in at least one occurrence D is a hydrogenated hydrocarbon moiety of dimer acid.
Diamine-dimer acid based polyamide
Schwartz Robert M.
Toomer Cephia D.
Xanadu Candle International Limited
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