Methods and compositions for use with gel dispensers
A dispensable gel composition is provided. The dispensable gel composition includes a C 1-4 alcohol, a polyacrylate thickener, and a plug-preventing additive. The dispensable gel exhibits less misdirection during dispensing from a dispensing device than gel compositions that are otherwise identical, but for the presence of the plug-preventing additive.
1. A dispensable gel composition comprising:
at least 50 wt. % of a C 1-4 alcohol, based upon the total weight of the dispensable gel composition;
from 0.01 to 10 wt. % of a polyacrylate thickener, based upon the total weight of the dispensable gel composition; and
from 0.05 to 4 wt. % of a plug-preventing additive, based upon the total weight of the dispensable gel composition, wherein said plug-preventing additive is a C 6-10 alkane diol,
wherein the frequency of mis-directed output is reduced by at least 50% during dispensing from a dispensing device as compared to another dispensable gel composition that is otherwise identical to said dispensable gel composition except that it does not include the plug-preventing additive.
2. The dispensable gel composition of claim 1 , wherein the C 1-4 alcohol is selected from the group consisting of ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, isobutanol, tertiary butanol, methanol, and mixtures thereof.
3. The dispensable gel composition of claim 2 , wherein the plug-preventing additive is 1,2-octanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,9-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,10-decanediol, or a mixture thereof.
4. The dispensable gel composition of claim 3 , wherein the polyacrylate thickener is selected from the group consisting of acrylates/C 10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymers, copolymers of acrylic acid and alkyl C5-C10 acrylate, copolymers of acrylic acid and maleic anhydride, carbomers, and mixtures thereof.
5. The dispensable gel composition of claim 1 , wherein the plug-preventing additive is 1,2-octanediol, and wherein the 1,2-octanediol is present in an amount of from 0.1 to 1 wt. %, based upon the total weight of the dispensable gel composition.
6. The dispensable gel composition of claim 1 , wherein the dispensable gel composition has a viscosity of from 1,000 to 65,000 centipoise, when measured using RV or LV spindles at 22° C.
7. The dispensable gel composition of claim 1 , wherein the C 6-10 alkane diol is present in an amount of from 0.15 to 0.7 wt. %, based upon the total weight of the dispensable gel composition.
8. The dispensable gel composition of claim 1 , wherein the C 6-10 alkane diol is present in an amount of from 0.2 to 0.6 wt. %, based upon the total weight of the dispensable gel composition.
9. The dispensable gel composition of claim 1 , wherein the C 6-10 alkane diol is 1,2-octane diol.
10. The dispensable gel composition of claim 9 , wherein the dispensable gel composition comprises at least 60 wt. % of said C 1-4 alcohol.
11. The dispensable gel composition of claim 10 , wherein the polyacrylate thickener is a carbomer.