Composition and method for lubricating conveyor track
View Patent ↗A lubricant composition is provided for use in lubricating a conveyor track for bottles, cans, kegs and other containers for beverages and foodstuffs. The composition comprises a phosphate ester of the formula R 1 —(OCH 2 CH 2 ) n —O—P(O)(OH) 2 where n is in the range of from 0 to 10, and R 1 is a C 9 to C 20 saturated or unsaturated alkyl group or a mixture of such alkyl groups; and water. The composition has a pH of from about 1 to about 3.5. The composition optionally further comprises a biocidal agent, an acid, and a synthetic surfactant. Also disclosed is a method for lubricating a conveyor track by applying an effective amount of such a lubricating composition.
1. A stable, non-precipitating, non-soap based lubricant composition for use in lubricating a conveyor track, said composition comprising, by weight:
(a) from about 5% to about 30% by weight of a phosphate ester of the formula
R1-(OCH2CH2)n-O—P(O)(OH) 2
wherein n is from 0 to about 10, and R 1 is a C 9 to C 20 saturated or unsaturated alkyl group or a mixture of such alkyl groups;
(b) from about 40% to about 70% of water;
(c) from about 2% to about 15% of an acid selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid and C 1 -C 6 substituted or unsubstituted carboxylic acids;
(d) from about 10% to about 30% of an anionic synthetic surfactant; and
(e) from about 1% to about 5% of a sodium or potassium benzoate biocidal agent; said composition having a pH of from about 1 to about 2.0; wherein the pH of the composition when diluted with water to a concentration of from about 0.1% to about 5% is less than 3.6, and wherein said composition does not form precipitates when contacted by acidic beverages washed from or spilled from containers moving on the conveyor track.
2. A composition according to claim 1 comprising from about 10% to about 20% of the phosphate ester and from about 3% to about 10% phosphoric acid.
3. A composition according to claim 2 having a pH of from about 1.5 to about 2.0.
4. A method for lubricating a conveyor track by applying to the track an effective amount of a stable, non-precipitating, non-soap based lubricating composition comprising, by weight:
(a) from about 5% to about 30% by weight of a phosphate ester of the formula
R 1 —(OCH 2 CH 2 ) n —O—P(O)(OH) 2
wherein n is from 0 to about 10, and R 1 is a C 9 to C 20 saturated or unsaturated alkyl group or a mixture of such alkyl groups;
(b) from about 40% to about 70% of water;
(c) from about 2% to about 15% of an acid selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid and C 1 -C 6 substituted or unsubstituted carboxylic acids;
(d) from about 10% to about 30% of an anionic synthetic surfactant; and
(e) from about 1% to about 5% of a sodium or potassium benzoate biocidal agent; said composition having a pH of from about 1 to about 2.0; wherein the pH of the composition when diluted with water to a concentration of from about 0.1% to about 5% is less than 3.6, and wherein said composition does not form precipitates when contacted by acidic beverages washed from or spilled from containers moving on the conveyor track.
5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the composition has a pH of from about 1.5 to about 2.0.
6. A method according to claim 5 wherein the composition comprises phosphoric acid.
7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the anionic synthetic surfactant has a sulfate or sulfonate group.
8. A method according to claim 7 comprising from about 3% to about 10% of phosphoric acid.
9. A method according to claim 4 comprising from about 10% to about 20% of the phosphate ester.
10. A method according to claim 9 comprising about 3% to about 10% of phosphoric acid.
11. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein R 1 is a C 10 to C 15 saturated or unsaturated alkyl group.
12. A composition according to claim 1 wherein n is from 0 to about 5.
13. A composition according to claim 1 comprising from about 3% to about 10% of phosphoric acid.
14. A composition according to claim 1 comprising from about 10% to about 20% of the phosphate ester.
15. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the anionic synthetic surfactant has a hydrophobic chain containing from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms and a sulfate, sulfonate or carboxylate group.
16. A composition according to claim 15 wherein the anionic synthetic surfactant has a sulfate or sulfonate group.