Stabilizing compositions

Abstract

A water soluble dispersant extender enhances the effectiveness and stability of hydrophobic compounds applied from aqueous solution. The invention is well suited for fluorochemical compounds applied to a substrate to impart grease and oil resistance. Exemplary substrates include paper, textiles, nonwoven, carpet and the like. The invention is also useful in firefighting foams that employ hydrophobic fluorochemical fire suppressing compounds. The present stabilizer is believed to form an inclusion complex with the hydrophobic compound whereby enhanced dispersion and solubility over the surface of the substrate allows more efficient use of the hydrophobic compound so that either less compound can be used with the same efficacy or greater efficacy is seen with the same level of active ingredient.

1 . In the process of manufacturing paper with wet end processing, forming and drying stages in which a fluorochemical composition having a fluorochemical compound that can enhance grease and oil resistance characteristics in dried paper produced by the process is added to a wet end processing step, the improvement comprising: adding to said fluorochemical composition a water soluble dispersant extender having a cyclic molecular structure with relatively hydrophobic interior cavity that is attractive to said fluorochemical compound and a relatively hydrophilic exterior shell.  
   
   
       2 . In a process according to  claim 1  wherein said dispersant extender is present in said composition in an amount sufficient to enhance grease and oil resistance of said paper relative to a paper using the same fluorochemical compound but without said dispersant extender.  
   
   
       3 . In a process according to  claim 1  wherein said dispersant is used in an amount within the range from about 1 ppm to about 5 wt % based on said fluorochemical composition.  
   
   
       4 . In a process according to  claim 3  wherein said dispersant is used in an amount within the range from about 10 ppm to about 2000 ppm based on said fluorochemical composition.  
   
   
       5 . In a process according to  claim 4  wherein said dispersant is used in an amount within the range from about 25 ppm to about 1000 ppm based on said fluorochemical composition.  
   
   
       6 . In a process according to  claim 1  wherein said dispersant is selected from the group consisting of cyclic molecules that consist essentially of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen atoms.  
   
   
       7 . In a process according to  claim 6  wherein said dispersant comprises a cyclodextrin or calixarene.  
   
   
       8 . In a process according to  claim 7  wherein said dispersant comprises an alpha-cyclodextrin, a beta-cyclodextrin, a gamma-cyclodextrin, or cyclodextrin substituted by an ester, alkyl, ether, hydroxyalkylether, dihydroxyalkylether, alkoxycarbonylalkylether, carboxyalkylether, glucosyl, or maltosyl.  
   
   
       9 . In a process according to  claim 8  wherein said dispersant is beta-cyclodextrin.  
   
   
       10 . A method for providing grease and oil resistance to a substrate with an aqueous finishing solution with steps that include: treating a substrate with an aqueous finishing solution comprising (i) a fluorochemical composition having a fluorochemical compound that can enhance grease and oil resistance characteristics in said substrate upon drying and (ii) a water soluble dispersant extender having a cyclic molecular structure with relatively hydrophobic interior cavity that is attractive to said fluorochemical compound and a relatively hydrophilic exterior shell.  
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 10  wherein said substrate is paper, fiber, nonwoven, or textile.  
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 10  wherein said dispersant extender is present in said composition in an amount sufficient to enhance grease and oil resistance of said paper relative to a paper using the same fluorochemical compound but without said dispersant extender.  
   
   
       13 . In a process according to  claim 10  wherein said dispersant is used in an amount within the range from about 1 ppm to about 5 wt % based on said fluorochemical composition.  
   
   
       14 . In a process according to  claim 13  wherein said dispersant is used in an amount within the range from about 10 ppm to about 2000 ppm based on said fluorochemical composition.  
   
   
       15 . In a process according to  claim 14  wherein said dispersant is used in an amount within the range from about 25 ppm to about 1000 ppm based on said fluorochemical composition.  
   
   
       16 . In a process according to  claim 10  wherein said dispersant is selected from the group consisting of cyclic molecules that consist essentially of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen atoms.  
   
   
       17 . In a process according to  claim 16  wherein said dispersant comprises a cyclodextrin or calixarene.  
   
   
       18 . In a process according to  claim 17  wherein said dispersant comprises an alpha-cyclodextrin, a beta-cyclodextrin, a gamma-cyclodextrin, or cyclodextrin substituted by an ester, alkyl, ether, hydroxyalkylether, dihydroxyalkylether, alkoxycarbonylalkylether, carboxyalkylether, glucosyl, or maltosyl.  
   
   
       19 . In a process according to  claim 18  wherein said dispersant is beta-cyclodextrin.