Use of polyethylene glycol esters of fatty acids as lubricants for plastics

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of polyethylene glycol esters of fatty acids corresponding to the following formula: R 1 —CO—O—(CH 2 —CH 2 —O) n —OC—R 2   (I) in which R 1 and R 2 independently of one another represent alkyl groups containing 7 to 23 carbon atoms, which may be saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched, and n is a number of 2 to 50, as lubricants in the processing of thermoplastics.

1 . A lubricated thermoplastic composition comprising: 
 (a) thermoplastic polymer; and    (b) a polyethylene glycol difatty acid ester lubricant of a formula:      R 1 —CO—O—(CH 2 —CH 2 —O) n —OC—R 2    (I)    in which R 1  and R 2  independently of one another represent alkyl groups containing 7 to 23 carbon atoms, which may be saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched, and n is a number of 2 to 50.    
   
   
       2 . The lubricated thermoplastic composition of  claim 1 , wherein n is a number of 2 to 4.  
   
   
       3 . The lubricated thermoplastic composition of  claim 1 , wherein R 1  and R 2  independently of one another are saturated alkyl groups containing 7 to 23 carbon atoms.  
   
   
       4 . The thermoplastic composition of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant is an internal lubricant.  
   
   
       5 . The thermoplastic composition of  claim 1 , wherein, the lubricant comprises a lubricant combination containing (a) at least one fatty acid polyethylene glycol ester (I) and (b) at least one additional lubricant (not covered by formula (I)), with the proviso that components (a) and (b) are present in a ratio by weight of 10:90 to 90:10.  
   
   
       6 . The lubricated thermoplastic of  claim 5 , wherein (a) and (b) are present in a ratio by weight of 20:80 to 80:20.  
   
   
       7 . The thermoplastic composition of  claim 5 , wherein, the lubricant combination comprises an internal lubricant.  
   
   
       8 . The lubricated thermoplastic of  claim 1 , wherein, the thermoplastic comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of polycarbonates, polyamides, polyesters, polystyrenes, polyvinyl chloride, and copolymers thereof.  
   
   
       9 . A method of lubricating a thermoplastic which comprises: mixing with the thermoplastic a polyethylene glycol difatty acid ester lubricant of a formula:  
       R 1 —CO—O—(CH 2 CH 2 O) n —OC—R 2    (I)  
     in which R 1  and R 2  independently of one another represent alkyl groups containing 7 to 23 carbon atoms, which may be saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched, and n is a number of 2 to 50.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein, n is a member of from 2 to 4.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein, wherein R 1  and R 2  independently of one another are saturated alkyl groups containing 7 to 23 carbon atoms.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein, the lubricant is an internal lubricant.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein, the lubricant comprises: a lubricant combination containing (a) at least one fatty acid polyethylene glycol ester (I) and (b) at least one additional lubricant (not covered by formula (I)), with the proviso that components (a) and (b) are present in a ratio by weight of 10:90 to 90:10.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein, (a) and (b) are present in a ratio by weight of 20:80 to 80:20.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein, the thermoplastic comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of polycarbonates, polyamides, polyesters, polystyrenes, polyvinyl chloride, and copolymers thereof.