NITROCELLULOSE FREE NAIL LACQUER COMPOSITIONS

Abstract: The invention relates to nitrocellulose free nail lacquer compositions comprising copolymers of hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers, in suitable carriers. The nail lacquer compositions may be applied to nails where they form a high gloss, well adhering waterproof film. A process for forming nitrocellulose free nail lacquer compositions is also pro­ vided.

Description: NITROCELLULOSE FREE NAIL LACQUER COMPOSITIONS Conventional nail lacquer compositions rely on nitrocellulose as the primary film former. While nitrocellulose is the film former of choice, it has numerous disadvantages. For example, nitrocellulose discolors with age, is prone to undergo sharp viscosity changes rendering nail lacquer compositions difficult to apply, and it can be difficult to dry to a hard film. Furtherrore, care must be taken to insure that nitrocellulose used in formulating nail lacquers is neutral, i.e., acid free, because the presence of free acid could cause damage to fingernails and the cuticle, as well as have a deleterious effect on colorants present in nail lacquers. Of course, those skilled in the art recognize that nitrocellulose must be produced and handled with great caution and care. The danger of explosion and fire inherent in nitrocellulose production and formulation of compositions containing nitrocellulose is responsible in large measure for the fact that there are very few domestic manufacturers of this product, and only a few domestic formulators of nail lacquers. The art has frequently sought substitutes for nitrocellulose as a film former for nail lacquers. Attempts to find substitutes for nitrocellulose have not been successful, because, despite its nany drawbacks, nitrocellulose provides nail lacquer compositions with an unusual combination of desirable properties such as toughness, durability and solvent release, and it produces waterproof and atmospherically stable films. For examples of such attempts see U.S. Patents No. 3,840,490; 3,864,294; 3,927,203; 3,298,113 and 4,240,450. Typical nitrocellulose containing nail lacquer compositions are described in U.S. Patents 4,097,589 and 4,179,304, for example. There is, therefore, a long felt need in the art for a product which can be substituted for nitrocellulose in the formulation sf hail lacquer compositions with will result in finished nail lacquers which tre the equivalent bf ni'elluloe eNnta-ihing lacquers. Sn addition to hlitateilutose film formers, conventional nail lacquer compositions include a resin, plasticizer, solvent and pigments. Plasticizers function to reduce film shrinkage with iig and to give the film flexibility. Solvents provide the lacquer with properties permitting ease of application and affect the rate of drying of the lacquer after application. Pigments or colorants provide the desired color to the nail lacquer. An object of this invention is to provide nitrocellulose free nail lacquer compositions. A further object of this invention is to provide nail lacquer compositions which do not contain nitrocellulose, but which have characteristics and properties which are equivalent to conventional nail lacquer compositions containing nitrocellulose. A still further object of the invention is to provide nitrocellulose free nail lacquer compositions which, when applied to nails, impart a durable film with high gloss characteristics, flexibility, breathability, and excellent adhesion. A still further object of the invention is to provide nitrocellulose free nail lacquer compositions which are water insoluble. The present invention relates to nitrocellulose free nail lacquer ccmpositions comprising copolynu3r,s of hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers in a suitable carrier. According to the present invention there is provided nail lacquer compositions comprising (i) copolvrrs obtained by polymerizing hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers, said copolymers being present in said compositions in an amount sufficient to form a film, (ii) a suitable carrier for said copolymers, and (iii) no nitrocellulose. The e nail lacquer compositions of this invention impart a high gloss, flexible, breathable, well adhering, waterproof film when applied to nails. The hydrophobic monomer useful in forming the nail lacquer compositions of this invention comprise esters of a-ss unsaturated carboxylic acids and alcohols of the formula: EMI4.1 wherein R may be H; CH; C2H5; Rr may be H; CH3 to C4Hg; and R" may be: (i) CII3 to C4H9 straight chain alcohols; (ii) saturated or unsaturated cyclic alcohols containing up to 20 carbon atans; (iii) C3H7 to Cl6H37 branched alkyl or C5H1l to C22H45 straight chain alkyl alcohols; and (iv) alkoxy or aryloxy alkyl alcohols. The hydrophobic monomers useful in forming the copolymers comprising the nail lacquer ccwpositions of this invention preferably coMprise a delicate and carefully balanced mixture of each of the four classes of esters described above. The hydrophobic monomers may comprise, for example, mixtures formed with from: (i) about 5 to about 48%, by weight, straight chain alcohols; (ii) about 5 to about 60%, by weight, saturated or unsaturated cyclic alcohols; (iii) about 1 to about 25%, by weight, branched alkyl or straight chain higher alkyl alcohols; and (iv) about 1 to about 30% alkoxy or aryloxy alkyl alcohols. Especially preferred nail lacquer coppositions of this invention include those wherein the hydrophobic monomers comprise mixtures of esters, comprising fran: (i) about 30%, by weight, straight chain alcohols; (ii) about 40%, by weight, saturated or unsaturated cyclic alcohols; (iii) about 15%, by weight, branched alkyl or straight chain higher alkyl alcohols; and (iv) about 10%, by weight, alkoxy or aryloxy alcohols. The esters formed with the straight chain alcohols defined above which are useful as hydrophobic monomers in forming the nail lacquer compositions of this invention include methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl acrylate, ethyl rethacrylate, propyl acrylate, propyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate or butyl methacrylate. Hydrophobic monomers of this type are thought to impart hardness to films provided by the nail lacquer compositions of this invention. Esters formed with saturated or unsaturated cyclic alcohols described above which are useful as hydrophobic monomers for preparing the nail lacquer compositions of this invention include cyclohexyl acrylate, cyclohexyl methacrylate, benzyl acrylate, benzyl methacrylate, isooornyl acrylate, isobornyl methacrylate, adamantyl acrylate, adamantyl methacrylate, furfuryl acrylate and furfuryl methacrylate. Hydrophobic monomers of this type are thought to impart gloss and hardness to films provided by the nail lacquer compositions of this invention. Esters of branched alkyl or straight chain higher alkyl alcohols described above which are useful as hydrophobic monomers for preparing the nail lacquer coppositions of this invention include 2thy1hexyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, isobutyl acrylate, isobutyl methacrylate, isooctyl acrylate, isooctyl methacrylate, dodecylacrylate, dodecyl methacrylate, octadodecyl acrylate and octadodecyl methacrylate. Hydrophobic monomers of this type are thought to impart internal plasticization, pliahility and breathability to nail lacquer compositions of this invention. Esters of alkoxy or aryloxy alkyl alcohols useful as hydrophobic monomers for preparing the nail lacquer compositions of this invention include methoxyethyl acrylate, methoxyethyl methacrylate, ethoxyethyl acrylate, ethoxyethyl methacrylate, propoxyethyl acrylate, propoxyethyl methacrylate, butoxyethyl acrylate, butoxyethyl methacrylate, phenoxyethyl acrylate, and phenoxyethyl methacrylate. Hydrophobic monomers of this type are thought to impart gloss, flexibility and adhesion to films provided by the nail lacquer compositions of this invention. While it is preferred that the hydrophobic monomers useful in forming the copolymers be comprised of a mixture of each of the four classes of esters described above, it will be appreciated that the hydrophobic monomer portion of the copolymers may be comprised of a mixture of any tz D or more of the four classes of esters. When the monomers comprising the hydrophobic portion consist of monomers from less than each of the four classes of esters described above, it is generally preferred that monomers from either of classes (i) or (ii) be present in the hydrophobic monomer portion. Hydrophilic monomers are copolymerized with the hydrophobic monomers described above in forming the nail lacquer compositions of this invention. "Hydrophilic" monomers in the context of this invention are meant to encompass those monomers which impart dual functionality to the nail lacquer compositions whereby such compositions will interact with receptor sites of human nails providing for nail lacquer films which demonstrate excellent adhesion, durability, breathability and high gloss. There are numerous hydrophilic monomers useful in the invention. Preferred hydrophilic monomers include (i) N-substituted acrylamides or methacrylamides, (ii) a-ss unsaturated carboxylic acids, and (iii) hydroxyl alkyl acrylates and methacrylates and their hcmologs. N-substituted acrylamides or methacrylamides useful as hydrophilic monomers in preparing the nail lacquer compositions of this invention include diacetone acrylamide and its homologs as described in U.S. Patent No. 3,277,056, dimethyl acrylamide, butyl acrylamide, octyl acrylamide, and isobutyl methyl acrylamide. The acrylamide hydrophilic monomers are thought to impart adhesion and breathability to films formed with the nail lacquer compositions of this invention. The a-ss unsaturated carboxylic acid hydrophilic monomers useful in forming the nail lacquer compositions of this invention include acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, crotonic acid, itaconic acid, maleic acid and fumaric acid. The hydrophilic monomers of this type are thought to impart adhesion to films formed from the nail lacquer compositions of this invention. The hydroxyalkyl acrylates and methacrylates and their monologs useful in forming the nail lacquer compositions of this invention include hydroxyethyl acrylate and methacrylate, diethylene glycol monoacrylate and monomethacrylate, triethylene glycol monoacrylate and monanethacrylate, tetraethylene glycol monoacrylate and monomethacrylate, polyethylene glycol monoacrylate and monanethacrylate of molecular weight up to 1000, linear or branched hydroxypropyl acrylate and methacrylate, dipropylene glycol monoacrylate and monomethacrylate, tripropylene glycol monoacrylate and mnonethacrylate, tetrapropylene glycol monoacrylate and rrononethacrylate, and polypropylene glycol monoacrylate and monanethacrylate of molecular weight up to 1000. Hydrophilic monomers of this type are thought to provide improved permeability to films provided by the nail lacquer compositions of the invention. The hydrophilic monomers useful in forming the nail lacquer compositions of the invention comprise mixtures of from about 50 to about 75%, preferably about 60 to about 65%, by weight, of the acrylamides described above and from about 25 to about 50%, preferably about 35 to about 40%, by weight, of the a-ss unsaturated carboxylic acids described above. Hydroxyalkyl acrylates and methacrylates and their homologs may be included in the nail lacquer compositions of the invention in a ratio of 1:1 with the other hydrophilic monomers described herein. As stated, the nitrocellulose free nail lacquer compositions of this invention comprise copolymers of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers described hereinabove in a suitable carrier. Preferably, the nail lacquer compositions of this invention are formulated so that the hydrophobic monomers comprise a major portion of the copolymer. For example, typical nail lacquer compositions of this invention are those wherein the copolymer comprises fram about 70 to about 90% hydrophobic monomers, and fram about 5 to about 30% hydrophilic monomers, said percentages being by weight, based on the weight of the copolymer compositions excluding carrier. A particularly significant aspect of the invention lies in the fact that the new nail lacquer compositions represent a balance of hydrophobic and hydrophilic characteristics which impart dual functionality to the films obtained on application of the compositions to the nails. In the course of this invention, it has been found that the dual functional nature of the copolymer systems comprising the nail lacquer compositions provides nail lacquer films which have high gloss, flexibility, excellent adhesive properties, breathability, and excellent water resistant properties. It is a particularly significant aspect of this invention that such properties are provided by nail lacquer compositions which do not contain nitrocellulose, on the one hand, but which, on the other, do contain hydrophilic monomers, a component which those skilled in the art would ordinarily expect to be incompatible with nail lacquer films demonstrating excellent water resistant properties. The nail lacquer compositions of the invention comprise (i) copolymers obtained by polymerizing the hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers described above, said copolymers being present in said compositions in an amount sufficient to form a film, and (ii) a suitable carrier whereby said nail lacquer compositions do not contain nitrocellulose and yet impart a high gloss, flexible, breathable, well adhering, waterproof film when applied to nails. Nail lacquer compositions comprising from about 10 to about 40%, by weight, based on the weight of the composition of copolymers obtained by polymerizing hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers in a suitable carrier are useful in forming highly desirable films when applied to the nails Particularly preferred nail lacquer compositions of the invention are those in which copolymers of hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers are present in an amount of from about 30 to about 40%, by weight, based on the weight of the composition. A particularly desirable attribute of the present invention lies in the fact that it is possible to incorporate colorants into the nail lacquer compositions of the invention without significant risk of explosion or fire which is found when colorants are combined with conventional nail lacquers containing nitrocellulose. Liquid carriers for the nail lacquer compositions of the invention are preferably selected fram materials which are solvents for the copolymers. Suitable solvents include ethyl acetate, alkyl acetate, butyl acetate, butyl cellosolve acetate, cellosolve acetate, methyl cellosolve acetate, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, butyl cellosolve, cellosolve, methyl cellosolve, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, butyl alcohol, toluene, and xylene. Other solvents may also be used as carriers as will be appreciated by those in the art. Suitable carriers for the nail lacquer compositions comprise any one or a mixture of any of the foregoing solvents in any proportion. A particularly preferred carrier for the nail lacquer compositions of the invention is a 1:1 mixture of butyl acetate and isopropyl alcohol. When applied to nails, primarily human nails, the nail lacquer compositions of the invention provide films which are the equivalent of conventional nitrocellulose containing nail lacquers. The nail lacquer compositions of the invention are compatible with conventional plasticizers, colorants, suspending agents, viscosity builders, additional film forming resins and fillers. Plasticizers include those well knawn in the art such as isopropyl alcohol fatty acid esters, C8 alcohol fatty acid esters, organic succinates, organic phthalates, organic adipates, camphor, and castor oil. Colorants include those well known in the art, particularly pigments, and are included in nail lacquer compositions used to impart color to the nails. Such components can be combined with nail lacquer compositions of the invention by means well known to those skilled in the art to provide colored nail lacquer compositions of any desired hue. Suspending agents are used in nail lacquer compositions containing colorants, and serve to mainta m the colorant in suspension in the nail lacquer composition. Useful viscosity builders include tetraethylene glycol dimethacrylate, trimethylol propane trimethacrylate, tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate, and al lyl methacrylate. Such components are typically incorporated in nail lacquer compositions of the invention in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 0.5%, preferably about 0.25%, by weight, based on the weight of the nail lacquer composition. Useful additional film forming resins which may be incorporated in the nail lacquer compositions of this invention include aryl sulfanamide/formaldehyde, sucrose acetate isobutyrate, sucrose benzoate and diethylene/dipropylene glycol dibenzoate which may be incorporated in an amount of from about 0% to about 20%, by weight, preferably about 5 to about 10% by weight, based on the weight of the compositions. Whether clear or colored, the nail lacquer compositions of the invention have a high solids content, and thus, provide an eminently acceptable film on nails with a one coat application. In addition to empirical comparisons of films provided by the nail lacquer compositions of the invention with those provided by conventional nitrocellulose containing nail lacquers, it is possible to compare properties of films provided by the two types of compositions by applying films of the respective nail lacquer compositions to black glass plates or slides, allowing the films to dry at ambient conditions followed by visual, mechanical or instrumental evaluations of the film properties. The invention also provides a process for production of nitrocellulose free nail lacquer compositions which comprises combining hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers in a suitable carrier, polymerizing said nomers producing copolymer nail lacquer compositions in which said copolymer is present in an amount sufficient to form a high gloss, flexible, breathable, well adhering, evaterproof film when applied to nails. Generally, the process involves mixing the hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers in a suitable solvent-carrier selected from those set forth hereinabove, to form a uniform mixture, and inducing polnerization. Polymerization may be induced by conventional initiators such as peroxides and the like, or by irradiation or redox systems. Polymerization usually occurs at temperatures between about 0 to about 1200C., and preferably at the reflux temperature of the solvent carrier. The time and temperature of polymerization may be varied in accord with techniques well knawn in the art. Polymerization results in a clear solution in which the copolymer is present in an amount of from about 10% to about 40%, by weight, based on the weight of the composition. The nail lacquer compositions of this invention offer numerous advantages over conventional, nitrocellulose containing nail lacquer compositions. For example, nitrocellulose is difficult to dissolve. Frequently, aromatic solvents including benzene and toluene are required to dissolve nitrocellulose in conventional nail lacquer formulations. The nail lacquer compositions of this invention do not require use of such potentially toxic solvents and instead, require use of simple solvents such as alcohols. Moreover, pigments and colorants may be incorporated in the nitrocellulose free nail lacquer compositions of the invention without the great fear of fire and explosion inherent when pigments are milled in nitrocellulose base nail lacquer compositions. The invention is further described by reference to the following examples which are intended to be illustrative of the invention. EXAMPLE 1 A nail lacquer composition was prepared by mixing the following ingredients in a 3 L, three neck round bottom flask equipped with a stirrer, thermometer and condenser, and heating the mixture at the reflux temperature of the solvent from about 2 to about 24 hours. AMRXflNT AVuJNT (GRPtE) Diacetone acrylamide 46.5 Isobornyl methacrylate 178.5 Ethyl methacrylate 150 Phenoxyethyl methacrylate 55 tiethacrylic acid 30 2-Ethythexyl methacrylate 65 Butyl acetate 395 Isopropanol 395 Benzoyl peroxide 2.85 The resulting copolymer was a clear, viscous liquid which when applied to nails provided a high gloss, long lasting film which was the equivalent of conventional nitrocellulose containing nail lacquers. EXAMPLE 2 Using the equipment and following the procedure of Example 1, the following ingredients were combined and polymerized. INGREDIENT AMOUNT (GRAMS) Diacetone acrylamide 93 Isobornyl methacrylate 371 ethyl methacrylate 302 Phenoxyethyl acrylate 69 2-Ethblhexyl methacrylate 174 Methacrylic acid 47 Tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate 2.5 Butyl acetate 1455 Benzoyl peroxide 5.75 The resulting copolymer was a clear, viscous liquid which provided a film when applied to nails which was the equivalent of conventional nitrocellulose containing nail lacquers. EXAMPLE 3 A nail lacquer composition was prepared by mixing the following ingredients in a 0.5 L pressure bottle and heating the mixture at about 90"C. for about 24 hours with constant agitation. INGREDIENT AM W NT (GRAMS) Diacetone acrylamide 4.25 Dimethyl acrylamide 4.25 Ethyl methacrylate 25.5 Cyclohexyl methacrylate 34 Phenoxyethyl methacrylate 8.5 Methacrylic acid 4.25 Tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate 0.2 Butyl acetate 78.5 Isopropanol 78.5 Benzoyl peroxide 2.2 The resulting copolymer was a clear, viscous liquid which provided a film when applied to nails which was the equivalent of conventional nitrocellulose containing nail lacquers. EXAMPLE 4 Using the equipment and following the procedure of Example 3, the following ingredients were combined and polymerized. INGREDIENT AMONT (GRAMS) Diacetone acrylamide 4.25 Dimethyl acrylamide 4.25 Butyl methacrylate 25.5 Cyclohexyl methacrylate 34 Phenoxyethyl methacrylate 8.5 Methacrylic acid 4.25 Tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate 0.2 Butyl acetate 78.5 Isopropanol 78.5 Benzoyl peroxide 2.2 The resulting copolymer was a clear, viscous liquid which provided a film when applied to nails which was the equivalent of conventional nitrocellulose containing nail lacquers. EXAMPLE 5 Using the equipment and following the procedure of Example 3, the following ingredients were combined and polymerized at a temperature of about 800C. INGREDIENT 0NT (GRAMS) Diacetone acrylamide 8.75 Hydroxyethyl methacrylate 8.75 Cyclohexyl methacrylate 36.75 Ethyl methacrylate 17.50 Isodecyl methacrylate 8.75 Ilethacrylic acid 7 Butyl acetate 81.25 Ethyl acetate 81.25 Benzoyl peroxide 1.75 The resulting copolymer was a clear, viscous liquid which provided a film when applied to nails which was the equivalent of conventional nitrocellulose containing nail lacquers. EXAMPLE 6 Using the equipment and following the procedure of Example 3, the following ingredients were combined and polymerized at a temperature of about 1200C. INGREDIENT AMOUNT (GRAMS) N-(iso-butoxymethyl) acrylamide 8.5 Isohornyl methacrylate 34.4 ethyl methacrylate 34.4 tSthacrylic acid 4.25 Tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate 0.17 Butyl acetate 158 t-Butyl peroctoate 1.9 ml The resulting copolymer was a clear, viscous liquid which provided a film when applied to nails which was the equivalent of conventional nitrocellulose containing nail lacquers. EXAMPLE 7 Using the equipment and following the procedure of Example 3, the following ingredients were cattined and polymerized at a temperature of about 1200C. INGREDIENT AMOUNT (GRAMS) Diacetone acrylamide 4.25 Octyl acrylamide 5.25 ethyl methacrylate 34.42 Isobornyl methacrylate 34.42 Methacrylic acid 4.25 Tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate 0.17 Butyl acetate 158 t-Butyl peroctoate 1.9 ml The resulting copolymer was a clear, viscous liquid which provided a film when applied to nails which was the equivalent of conventional nitrocellulose containing nail lacquers. EXAMPLE 8 Using the equipment and following the procedure of Example 3, the following ingredients were combined and polymerized at a temperature of about 120 C. INGREDIENT AMDUWT (GRAMS) Diacetone acrylamide 8.5 Methyl methacrylate 34.4 tSthoxvethyl methacrylate 34.4 Methacrylic acid 4.25 Tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate 0.17 Butyl acetate 158 t-Butyl peroctoate 1.9 The resulting copolymer was a clear, viscous liquid which provided a film when applied to nails which was the equivalent of conventional nitrocellulose containing lacquers. EXAMPLE 9 A nail lacquer composition was prepared by combining and mixing 65.5 parts of the base polymer solution of Example 1, 11.5 parts sucrose benzoate, 5 parts castor oil and 18 parts isopropanol until a clear, uniform composition was obtained. The presence of a plasticizer such as castor oil provides improved pliability of the film. EXAMPLE 10 A nail lacquer composition was prepared by combining and mixing 75 parts base polymer solution of Example 1, 10 parts aryl sulfonamide/formaldehyde (Santolite MHP/Monsanto), and 15 parts isopropanol until a clear, uniform composition was obtained. The composition was the equivalent of nitrocellulose nail lacquer compositions when applied to nails. EXAMPLE 11 A nail lacquer composition was prepared by combining and mixing 67.5 parts of base polymer solution of Example 1, 11.8 parts of sucrose acetate isobutynate, 18.5 parts of isopropanol, 1 part castor oil and 1 part Timiron MP-1005 (Rona Pearl, Bayonne, N.J.) pigment. Mixing continued until the pigment was uniformly dispersed and the resultant pigmented nail lacquer when applied to nails was the equivalent of conventional nitrocellulose containing nail lacquers. EXAMPLE 12 A nail lacquer composition was prepared by combining and mixing 50 parts of base polymer solution of Example 1, 5 parts of dipropylene glycol dibenzoate, 1 part isopropyl myristate and 44 parts isopropanol. The resulting compolymer was a clear, viscous liquid which provided a film when applied to nails which was the equivalent of conventional nitrocellulose containing lacquers.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. Nail lacquer composition characterized in that it comprises (i) copolymers of hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers, especially by polymerizing hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers, said copolymers being present in said compositions in an amount sufficient to form a film, (ii) a suitable carrier for said copolymers, and (iii) no nitrocellulose, and preferrably imparting a high gloss, flexible, breathable, well adhering, waterproof film when applied to nails. 2. Nail lacquer composition as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the copolymers are present in an amount of from about 10% to about 40%, preferrably from about 30 to about 40%, by weight, based on the weight of the compositions. 3. Nail lacquer composition as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the hydrophobic monomers comprise a major portion of said copolymers. 4. Nail lacquer composition as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the copolymers comprise from about 70 to about 90% hydrophobic monomers, and from about 5 to about 30% hydrophilic monomers, said percentages being by weight, based on the weight of the copolymer. 5. Nail lacquer composition as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the hydrophobic monomers comprise esters of a-B unsaturated carboxylic acids and alcohols of the formula: EMI18.1 wherein R may be H;CH3; C2H5; and R' may be H; CH3 to C4Hg; and R" may be: (i) CH3 to C4H9 straight chain alcohols; (ii) saturated or unsaturated cyclic alcohols containing up to 20 carbon arans; (iii) C3H7 to C16H37 branched alkyl or C5Hll to C22H45 straight chain alkyl alcohols; and (iv) alkoxy or aryloxy alkyl alcohols. 6. Nail lacquer composition as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the esters comprise a mixture of esters formed with from: (i) about 5 to about 48%, preferrably about 35%, by weight, of said straight chain alcohols; (ii) about 5 to about 60%, preferrably about 40%, by weight, of said saturated or unsaturated cyclic alcohols; (iii) about 1 to about 25%, preferrably about 15%, by weight, of said branched alkyl or straight chain alkyl alcohols; and (iv) about 1 to about 30%, preferrably about 10%, by weight, of said alkoxy or aryloxy alkyl alcohols. 7. Nail lacquer somposition as claimed in claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the hydrophobic monomers comprise a mixture of any two or more of the esters of classes (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) and preferrably a mixture of the esters of classes (i) and (ii). 8. Nail lacquer composition as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the hydrophilic monomers comprise mixtures of N-substituted acrylamides or methacrylamides anda-B unsaturated carboxylic acids, and preferrably in that the hydrophilic monomer mixture also contains hydroxyalkyl acrylates and methacrylates and their homologs. 9. Nail lacquer composition as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 8 characterized in that the hydrophilic monomers comprise mixtures of fram about 50 to about 75%, especially of about 75%, by weight, of said acrylamides and from about 25 to about 50%, especially of about 25%, by weight, of saida-ss unsaturated carboxylic acids. 10. Nail lacquer composition as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the carrier is a solvent for said copolymers, especially a member selected from the group consisting essentially of ethyl acetate, amyl acetate, butyl acetate, butyl cellosolve acetate, cellosolve acetate, methyl cellosolve acetate, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, butyl cellosolve, cellosolve, methyl cellosolve, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, butyl alcohol, toluene, and xylene, wherein preferrably said solvent is a 1:1 mixture of butyl acetate and isopropyl alcohol. 11. Nail lacquer composition as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises colorants, suspending agents and fillers and/or an additional film forming resin and/or plasticizer, and preferrably viscosity builders selected from the group consisting essentially of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, tetraethylene glycol dimethacrylate, trimethylol propane trimethacrylate, tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate and allyl methacrylate in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 0.5%, by weight, based on the weight of said compositions. 12. Process for production of a nail lacquer composition especially according to one of the claims 1 to 12 characterized by combining hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers in a suitable carrier, polymerizing said monomers producing copolymer nail lacquer compositions in which said copolymer is present in an amount sufficient to form a high gloss, flexible, breathable, well adhering, waterproof film when applied to nails.

Inventors: ABRUTYN, ERIC STEVEN
Applicants: WICKHEN PRODUCTS, INC.
Application year: 1983
Main classification: A61K7
IPC codes: A61K8, A61Q3