Compositions – Electrolytes for electrical devices
Patent
1994-03-24
1995-07-11
Willis, Jr., Prince
Compositions
Electrolytes for electrical devices
252 493, 252 77, 252392, C10M13308, C10M17300
Patent
active
054318343
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This Application is a 371 of PCT/SE92/00701, Oct. 7, 1992.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present application relates to the use of a triethanolamine product mixture having a low content of diethanolamine and monoethanolamine in functional fluids, such as lubricants, metal working fluids and hydraulic fluids.
2. Description of the Related Art
The use of triethanolamine in a variety of industrial fluids is well known. Triethanolamines are normally produced in one or more steps by ethoxylating ammonia with ethylene oxide. In order to avoid the formation of polyalkyleneglycol chains, HOC.sub.2 H.sub.4 (OC.sub.2 H.sub.4).sub.n, where n>0, and quaternization the nitrogen, atom the ethoxylation is normally stopped, when the reaction mixture contains 60-90% by weight of triethanolamine and 10-40% by weight of diethanolamine and monethanolamine. Such a reaction mixture may be subjected to distillation to obtain purer triethanolamine. The fact that the triethanolamine reaction product contains a large amount of diethanolamine has not previously been considered a real drawback, as diethanolamine contributes to anticorrosion properties, low foaming and desired alkalinity when used in functional fluids.
Recently, more attention has been paid to the fact the diethanolamine is toxic and forms nitrosamines, which are carcinogenic in animal tests. Therefore, a reduction of the content of diethanolamine is desirable. The content should, according to recommentations, be less than 1% by weight.
Thus, one object of the invention is to produce a triethanolamine product mixture which contains diethanolamine in an amount less than 1% by weight. This triethanolamine product mixture shall at least have about the same corrosion inhibiting ability and/or defoaming properties in functional fluids.
Another object of the invention is that the method of producing a triethanolamine product mixture shall be simple to perform and that the mixture shall be usable without any additional cleaning and/or working-up processes, such as distillation.
Still another object of the invention is to keep the formation of quarternized triethanolamine and polyalkylene glycol chain containing ethanolamine products to a low level.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention it has now been found that these objects can be met by using in functional fluids, a triethanolamine mixture containing a major part of triethanolamine, a minor part of diethanolmono-C.sub.3-4 -alkanolamine and monoethanoldi-C.sub.3-4 -alkanolamine, and less than 1% by weight of diethanolamine and monoethanolamine. By the expression "major part of triethanolamine" is here understood that said triethanolamine constitutes at least 50% by weight of the product mixture. The triethanol amine product mixture used in accordance with the invention can easily be obtained by reacting a conventional triethanolamine reaction mixture, obtained when reacting ammonia in one or more steps, with a C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 -alkylene oxide.
Such a process is described in British Patent No 1 140 867. Diethanolamine and monoethanolamine, which are both reactants in the process, have a catalytic effect and catalyze rather selectively their own alkoxylation. The presence of an effective amount of alkoxylation catalyst other than the diethanolamine and monoethanolamine shall preferably be avoided in order not to favour undesired side reactions. By the process, the contents of diethanolamine and monoethanolamine are reduced to less than 1% by weight, while the undesired side reactions, such as alkoxylation of hydroxyl groups or quarternization of the nitrogen atom is kept on a low level. In order to further suppress side reactions, it has been found suitable to perform the reaction below 160.degree. C., preferably between 120.degree.-150.degree. C. The amount of alkylene oxide added has to be adjusted in relation to the amount of diethanolamine and monoethanolamine, so that the latter ones can be alkoxylated to the corresponding tertiary amine. Normally, the molar ratio of th
REFERENCES:
patent: 4273937 (1981-06-01), Gum et al.
patent: 4420414 (1983-12-01), Valone
patent: 4726914 (1988-02-01), Fellows et al.
Berol Nobel AB
Toomer Cephia D.
Willis Jr. Prince
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