Gelled articles containing tertiary amide-terminated polyamide

Abstract

A tertiary amide-terminated dimer acid-based polyamide may be blended with a solvent to form a gel. The solvent may be flammable, and a wick may be added to the resulting gel so as to form a candle. Depending on the composition, the candle may be formed into a free-standing pillar, or may be better suited to being placed in a container. The solvent may be mineral oil. A solid coating may be placed around the candle, for advantages including to enhance the mechanical stability of the gelled body, and to eliminate the tendency of a gel to have an oily feel and to accept noticeable fingerprints. The solvent which, in combination with the tertiary amine-terminated dimer acid-based polymer forms a gel, may be or include a fragrance material. In one aspect, the article does not contain a wick, and is intended to function as a fragrance-releasing product.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A candle comprising a wick and a gel phase, the gel phase comprising a gellant and a liquid that is gelled by the gellant, the gellant comprising a tertiary amide-terminated polyamide resin of the formula (1):  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein, 
 n designates a number of repeating units such that terminal amide groups constitute from 10% to 50% of the total amide groups;  
 R 1  at each occurrence is independently selected from a C 1-22  hydrocarbon group;  
 R 2  at each occurrence is independently selected from a C 2-42  hydrocarbon group;  
 R 3  at each occurrence is independently selected from an organic group containing at least two carbon atoms in addition to hydrogen atoms, and optionally containing one or more oxygen and nitrogen atoms; and  
 R 3a  at each occurrence is independently selected from hydrogen, C 1-10  alkyl and a direct bond to R 3  or another R 3a  such that the N atom to which R 3  and R 3a  are both bonded is part of a heterocyclic structure defined in part by R 3a —N—R 3 .  
 
     
     
         2 . The candle of  claim 1  wherein terminal amide groups of the formula C(═O)N(R 1 )(R 1 ) constitute from 20% to 35% of the total of the amide groups.  
     
     
         3 . The candle of claim I wherein n is an integer from 1 to 5.  
     
     
         4 . The candle of  claim 1  wherein R 2  is a C 30-42  hydrocarbon group having the structure of polymerized fatty acid with the carboxylic acid groups removed.  
     
     
         5 . The candle of  claim 1  wherein between 1% and 50% of the R 2  groups are a C 4-19  hydrocarbon group.  
     
     
         6 . The candle of  claim 1  wherein R 3  is a C 2-36  hydrocarbon group and R 3a  is hydrogen.  
     
     
         7 . The candle of  claim 1  wherein at least 1% of the —N(R 3a )—R 3 —N(R 3a )— groups are independently selected from polyalkylene amine,  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R c  is a C 1-3 alkyl group.  
     
     
         8 . The candle of  claim 1  further comprising diamide having formula (1) wherein n=0, such that the ratio of terminal amide groups to the total of the amide groups in the resin is from 0.1 to 0.7.  
     
     
         9 . The candle of  claim 1  wherein the liquid comprises mineral oil.  
     
     
         10 . The candle of  claim 1  wherein the liquid comprises fatty acid ester.  
     
     
         11 . The candle of  claim 1  further comprising wax.  
     
     
         12 . The candle of  claim 1  wherein the resin constitutes 10-40 weight percent of the gel phase, mineral oil constitutes 20-60 weight percent of the gel phase, and fatty acid ester constitutes 10-40 weight percent of the gel phase.  
     
     
         13 . The candle of  claim 1  wherein the resin constitutes 20-30 weight percent of the gel phase, mineral oil constitutes 30-50 weight percent of the gel phase, and fatty acid ester constitutes 20-30 weight percent of the gel phase.  
     
     
         14 . The candle of  claim 1  further comprising fragrance.  
     
     
         15 . The candle of  claim 1  further comprising at least one icon.  
     
     
         16 . The candle of  claim 1  further comprising a second, visually distinct phase.  
     
     
         17 . The candle of  claim 16  wherein the second phase comprises solvent and a gellant for the solvent.  
     
     
         18 . The candle of  claim 16  wherein the second phase comprises wax.  
     
     
         19 . A candle comprising a wick and a gel phase, the gel phase comprising a gellant and a liquid that is gelled by the gellant, the gellant prepared by a method comprising reacting x equivalents of carboxylic acid from diacid or a reactive equivalent thereof, y equivalents of amine from diamine and z equivalents of a secondary amine-containing monoamine having no reactive functional groups except the secondary amine or a reactive equivalent thereof, where the monoamine is substantially the only monofunctional reactant used to form the gellant, and wherein each of x, y and z is greater than 0.  
     
     
         20 . The candle of  claim 19  wherein at least about 50% of the carboxylic acid equivalents are from polymerized fatty acid, 0.9≦{x/(y+z)}≦1.1, and 0.1≦{z/(y+z)}≦0.7.  
     
     
         21 . The candle of  claim 19  wherein all equivalents of carboxylic acid come from polymerized fatty acid.  
     
     
         22 . The resin of  claim 19  wherein the diamine has the formula H 2 N—R 3 —NH 2  and R 3  is a C 2-36  hydrocarbon group.  
     
     
         23 . The resin of  claim 19  wherein at least 50% of the amine equivalents are contributed by a diamine of the formula H 2 N—R 3 —NH 2  wherein R 3  is a C 2-36  hydrocarbon group, and at least 1% of the amine equivalents are contributed by one or more diamines selected from  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and H 2 N—R 3 —NH 2 , wherein R 3  is selected from polyalkylene oxide, polyalkylene amine, and the formula  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R c  is a C 1-3  alkyl group.  
     
     
         24 . The resin of  claim 19  wherein the secondary amine-containing molecule has the formula R 1 —NH—R 1 , and R 1  is independently at each occurrence a C 12-22  hydrocarbon group.  
     
     
         25 . The candle of  claim 19  wherein the liquid comprises mineral oil.  
     
     
         26 . The candle of  claim 19  wherein the liquid comprises fatty acid ester.  
     
     
         27 . The candle of  claim 19  further comprising wax.  
     
     
         28 . The candle of  claim 19  wherein the resin constitutes 10-40 weight percent of the gel phase, mineral oil constitutes 20-60 weight percent of the gel phase, and fatty acid ester constitutes 10-40 weight percent of the gel phase.  
     
     
         29 . The candle of  claim 19  wherein the resin constitutes 20-30 weight percent of the gel phase, mineral oil constitutes 30-50 weight percent of the gel phase, and fatty acid ester constitutes 20-30 weight percent of the gel phase.  
     
     
         30 . The candle of  claim 19  further comprising fragrance.  
     
     
         31 . The candle of  claim 19  further comprising at least one icon.  
     
     
         32 . The candle of  claim 19  further comprising a second, visually distinct phase.  
     
     
         33 . The candle of  claim 32  wherein the second phase comprises solvent and a gellant for the solvent.  
     
     
         34 . The candle of  claim 32  wherein the second phase comprises wax.  
     
     
         35 . A method for preparing a candle, comprising combining a low polarity liquid with a resin according to  claim 1  to provide a gel or pre-gel, and combining the gel or pre-gel with a wick.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  further comprising placing the candle in a container.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35  further comprising placing a solid coating on at least a portion of the surface of the candle.  
     
     
         38 . A method for preparing a candle, comprising combining a low polarity liquid with a resin according to  claim 19  to provide a gel or pre-gel, and combining the gel or pre-gel with a wick.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38  further comprising placing the candle in a container.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38  further comprising placing a solid coating on at least a portion of the surface of the candle.  
     
     
         41 . An article comprising a wick, flammable solvent with a flash point ranging from about —15° C. to about 300° C. and tertiary amide-terminated polyamide of formula (1)  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein, 
 n designates a number of repeating units such that terminal amide groups constitute from 10% to 50% of the total amide groups;  
 R 1  at each occurrence is independently selected from a C 1-22  hydrocarbon group;  
 R 2  at each occurrence is independently selected from a C 2-42  hydrocarbon group;  
 R 3  at each occurrence is independently selected from an organic group containing at least two carbon atoms in addition to hydrogen atoms, and optionally containing one or more oxygen and nitrogen atoms; and  
 R 3a  at each occurrence is independently selected from hydrogen, C 1-10  alkyl and a direct bond to R 3  or another R 3a  such that the N atom to which R 3  and R 3a  are both bonded is part of a heterocyclic structure defined in part by R 3a —N—R 3 .  
 
     
     
         42 . The article of  claim 41  wherein the flash point ranges from about 40° C. to about 90° C.  
     
     
         43 . The article of  claim 41  further comprising a coating overlying at least a portion of the article's surface.  
     
     
         44 . A fragrance-releasing composition comprising a gel phase, the gel phase comprising a fragrance, a gellant, and a liquid that is gelled by the gellant, the gellant comprising a tertiary amide-terminated polyamide resin of the formula (1):  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein, 
 n designates a number of repeating units such that terminal amide groups constitute from 10% to 50% of the total amide groups;  
 R 1  at each occurrence is independently selected from a C 1-22  hydrocarbon group;  
 R 2  at each occurrence is independently selected from a C 2-42  hydrocarbon group;  
 R 3  at each occurrence is independently selected from an organic group containing at least two carbon atoms in addition to hydrogen atoms, and optionally containing one or more oxygen and nitrogen atoms; and  
 R 3a  at each occurrence is independently selected from hydrogen, C 1-10  alkyl and a direct bond to R 3  or another R 3a  such that the N atom to which R 3  and R 3a  are both bonded is part of a heterocyclic structure defined in part by R 3a —N—R 3 .  
 
     
     
         45 . A fragrance-releasing composition comprising a gel phase, the gel phase comprising a fragrance material, a gellant, and a liquid that is gelled by the gellant, the gellant prepared by a method comprising reacting x equivalents of carboxylic acid from diacid or a reactive equivalent thereof, y equivalents of amine from diamine and z equivalents of a secondary amine-containing monoamine having no reactive functional groups except the secondary amine or a reactive equivalent thereof, where the monoamine is substantially the only monofunctional reactant used to form the resin, and wherein each of x, y and z is greater than 0.  
     
     
         46 . A fragrance-releasing composition comprising a gel phase, the gel phase comprising a fragrance and a gellant, where the fragrance is gelled by the gellant, the gellant comprising a tertiary amide-terminated polyamide resin of the formula (1):  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein, 
 n designates a number of repeating units such that terminal amide groups constitute from 10% to 50% of the total amide groups;  
 R 1  at each occurrence is independently selected from a C 1-22  hydrocarbon group;  
 R 2  at each occurrence is independently selected from a C 2-42  hydrocarbon group;  
 R 3  at each occurrence is independently selected from an organic group containing at least two carbon atoms in addition to hydrogen atoms, and optionally containing one or more oxygen and nitrogen atoms; and  
 R 3a  at each occurrence is independently selected from hydrogen, C 1-10  alkyl and a direct bond to R 3  or another R 3a  such that the N atom to which R 3  and R 3a  are both bonded is part of a heterocyclic structure defined in part by R 3a —N—R 3 .  
 
     
     
         47 . A fragrance-releasing composition comprising a gel phase, the gel phase comprising a fragrance material and a gellant, where the fragrance material is gelled by the gellant, the gellant prepared by a method comprising reacting x equivalents of carboxylic acid from diacid or a reactive equivalent thereof, y equivalents of amine from diamine and z equivalents of a secondary amine-containing monoamine having no reactive functional groups except the secondary amine or a reactive equivalent thereof, where the monoamine is substantially the only monofunctional reactant used to form the resin, and wherein each of x, y and z is greater than 0.  
     
     
         48 . An article of manufacture comprising a tertiary amide-terminated polyamide resin of the formula (1):  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein, 
 n designates a number of repeating units such that terminal amide groups constitute from 10% to 50% of the total amide groups;  
 R 1  at each occurrence is independently selected from a C 1-22  hydrocarbon group;  
 R 2  at each occurrence is independently selected from a C 2-42  hydrocarbon group;  
 R 3  at each occurrence is independently selected from an organic group containing at least two carbon atoms in addition to hydrogen atoms, and optionally containing one or more oxygen and nitrogen atoms; and  
 R 3a  at each occurrence is independently selected from hydrogen, C 1-10  alkyl and a direct bond to R 3  or another R 3a  such that the N atom to which R 3  and R 3a  are both bonded is part of a heterocyclic structure defined in part by R 3a —N—R 3 .  
 
     
     
         49 . An article of manufacture comprising a tertiary amide-terminated polyamide resin, the resin prepared by a method comprising reacting x equivalents of carboxylic acid from diacid or a reactive equivalent thereof, y equivalents of amine from diamine and z equivalents of a secondary amine-containing monoamine having no reactive functional groups except the secondary amine or a reactive equivalent thereof, where the monoamine is substantially the only monofunctional reactant used to form the resin, and wherein each of x, y and z is greater than 0.