Preparation of an amino-functional polyorganosiloxane emulsion

1 . A process for preparing an emulsion, wherein the process comprises:

1) mixing starting materials comprising

25 weight parts to 75 weight parts of A) an amino-functional polyorganosiloxane;

2 weight parts to 10 weight parts of B) a non-ionic surfactant; and

4 weight parts to 20 weight parts of C) water;

2) mixing, with the product of step 1), a starting material comprising

0.02 weight parts to 1 weight parts of D) a water soluble salt, thereby reducing bulk viscosity of the emulsion, and

additional water; and

3) mixing starting materials comprising

E) a pH adjusting agent,

F) a preservative, and

optionally G) a freeze inhibitor;

with the proviso that the emulsion is free of cationic surfactants.

2 . The process of claim 1 , where starting material A) comprises a poly(dialkyl/alkylamino) siloxane of unit formula (R 1 2 SiO 2/2 ) a (R 1 R 2 SiO 2/2 ) b (ZO 1/2 ) d (R 1 3 SiO 1/2 ) e , where each R 1 is an independently selected alkyl group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms; each R 2 is an independently selected amino-functional alkyl group of formula ZHN—R 3 —(ZNR 4 ) c —, where R 3 is an alkylene group of 2 to 6 carbon atoms, R 4 is an alkylene group of 2 to 6 carbon atoms, and subscript c is 0 or 1; each Z is independently selected from the group consisting of H and R 1 ; subscripts a, b, d, and e represent average number, per molecule, of each unit in the unit formula, subscript a is 1 to 5, subscript b is 1 to 1000, subscript d is 0, 1 or 2; subscript e is 0, 1, or 2; and a quantity (d+e)=2.

3 . The process of claim 1 , where B) the non-ionic surfactant comprises a secondary alcohol ethoxylate.

4 . The process of claim 1 , where step 1) is performed at: a temperature of 10° C. to 70° C., a shear rate of 70 s −1 to 700 s −1 , and a pressure of 100 torr to 760 torr.

5 . The process of claim 1 , where step 1) comprises first mixing A) the amino-functional polyorganosiloxane and B) the non-ionic surfactant; and thereafter mixing C) the water with the mixture of A) and B).

6 . The process of claim 1 , where D) the salt has formula MR 5 x , where M is selected from the group consisting of Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Potassium (K), Ammonium (NH 4 ), and Sodium (Na); R 5 is selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, acetate group, a benzoate group, and a sulfate group; and subscript x is 1 or 2.

7 . The process of claim 6 , where the halogen atom is selected from the group consisting of Br, Cl, and I.

8 . The process of claim 6 , where D) the salt is selected from the group consisting of ammonium chloride, calcium bromide, calcium chloride, calcium iodide, calcium sulfate, magnesium chloride, potassium bromide, potassium chloride, sodium acetate, sodium benzoate, sodium bromide, sodium chloride, sodium iodide, and a combination of two or more thereof.

9 . The process of claim 8 , where D) the salt comprises sodium benzoate and one or more of ammonium chloride, calcium bromide, calcium chloride, calcium iodide, calcium sulfate, magnesium chloride, potassium bromide, potassium chloride, sodium acetate, sodium bromide, sodium chloride, and sodium iodide.

10 . The process of claim 1 , where step 2) and step 3) are performed at: a temperature of 10° C.-70° C., a shear rate of 7 s −1 -90 s −1 , and a pressure of 100 torr-760 torr.

11 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising one or more additional steps selected from:

adding additional water after step 1) and before step 2) and mixing;

adding additional water during or after step 2) and before step 3) and mixing; and

adding additional water during or after step 3) and mixing.

12 . The process of claim 1 , where E) the pH adjusting agent comprises acetic acid.

13 . The process of claim 1 , where F) the preservative comprises phenoxy ethanol, benzyl alcohol or a combination thereof.

14 . The process of claim 1 , where G), the freeze inhibitor is present, and where the freeze inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, and a combination thereof.

15 . An emulsion prepared by the process of claim 1 , wherein the emulsion comprises:

25-75 weight parts of A) the amino-functional polyorganosiloxane,

2-10 weight parts of B) the non-ionic surfactant,

25-75 weight parts of C) water,

0.02-1 weight part of D) the salt,

0.02-0.2 weight part of E) the pH adjusting agent,

0.3-2 weight part of F) the preservative, and

0-2 weight part of G) the freeze inhibitor.

16 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the emulsion consists essentially of starting materials A), B), C), D), E), F), and G).

17 . The process of claim 16 , wherein the emulsion consists of starting materials A), B), C), D), E), F), and G).