Lubricant composition and use thereof

Abstract: A lubricant composition comprising (A) (i) a polydimethylsiloxane having dimethylsilanol end-blocked groups and from 3 to 51 Si atoms, and/or (ii) a silanol of the general formula R ′ / 2CH₃SiOH wherein each R′ is selected from methyl and phenyl groups, at least one R′ being phenyl, having dissolved therein Component (B) which is a polyoxyethylene alkylphenol of the general formula R-Ph-[OCH₂CH₂) n OH, wherein R is selected from alkyl groups having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms, Ph represents a phenylene group and n has a value of from 8 to 10 is very useful as a clear spermicidal and virucidal lubricant composition, especially for use in condoms.

Description: This invention relates to lubricant compositions and is particularly concerned with lubricant compositions having spermicidal or virucidal properties. It is known that certain polyethyleneoxy alkylphenols have spermicidal properties and are thus useful for incorporation into lubricants for condoms. G.B. Patent Specification 1 043 513 describes such compositions wherein the polyethyleneoxy alkylphenol is dispersed in a water insoluble polysiloxane polyoxyalkylene copolymer. Although silicone liquids, in particular trimethylsiloxy end-blocked polydimethylsiloxanes, are known to lubricate elastomeric and plastic materials they are not compatible with certain compounds having spermicidal or virucidal activity. Combining silicone liquids and polyethyleneoxy alkylphenols have tended to lead to dispersions which are unstable and which have a milky, rather than a more desirable clear appearance. We have now found that organosilicon compounds having silicon-bonded hydroxyl groups can be used as carriers for certain polyoxyethylene alkylphenols to provide spermicidal and virucidal compositions which are both stable and clear in appearance and are effective as lubricants. According to this invention, there is provided a lubricant composition comprising an organosilicon component (A) and a polyoxyethylene alkylphenol Component (B), characterised in that Component (A) is (i) a polydimethyl siloxane of the average general formula wherein x has a value of from 3 to 51, and/or (ii) a silanol of the general formula R ' / 2CH₃SiOH wherein each R' denotes a methyl or phenyl group, at least one R' being phenyl and in that Component (B) is dissolved in Component (A) and has the general formula R-Ph-[OCH₂CH₂] n OH, wherein R represents an alkyl group having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms, Ph represents a phenylene group and n has a value of from 8 to 10. Also included in the scope of the invention is the use of said compositions as spermicidal lubricants, especially for condoms. Polydimethyl siloxanes which are useful as Component (A) (i) in the compositions of the present invention are substantially linear materials. They have silanol groups at the terminal positions of the polymer molecule. A particularly useful material is α,w-dimethylsilanol end-blocked polydimethylsiloxane. Such polymers and methods for preparing them are well known in the art of silicone technology. They may be obtained for example by the hydrolysis of dimethyldichlorosilane and, if necessary, polymerisation of the low molecular weight hydrolysis product thereof. The silanol-terminated polydimethylsiloxanes are widely employed in the silicone rubber art and differ from the so-called "silicone fluids" by the presence of terminal dimethylsilanol (-Si(CH₃)₂OH) groups rather than trimethylsilyl (-Si(CH₃)₃). Silanols (A) (ii) and methods for their manufacture are also well known in the silicone technology. The preferred polydimethyl siloxanes (A) (i) are those which have from 4 to 30 silicon atoms in the chain. It is especially preferred that they have from 5 to 15 silicon atoms present in the siloxane chain. A suitable polydimethylsiloxane has the average formula HO-[Si(CH₃)₂-O]₉-H. The polyoxyethylene alkylphenols (B), for use in the composition according to the invention, are preferably those wherein n has a value of about 9. R may be e.g. a hexyl, heptyl or octyl group, preferably a nonyl group, for example 3,5,5-trimethylhexyl. Lubricant compositions according to the invention are stable and clear in appearance. It is preferred that the compositions consist only of Components (A) and (B), although other components may be present. If other components are present they preferably include only small amounts, e.g. traces of polydimethylsiloxane which have terminal silanol groups, but which have a larger number of silicon atoms in the siloxane chain or of volatile silicones, e.g. polydimethyl cyclosiloxanes and hexamethyl disiloxane. It is, however, preferred for most spermicidal and virucidal applications that the polydimethylsiloxane (A) (i) is as pure as possible. This can be achieved e.g. by well known purification methods such as distillation or thin film evaporation in order to remove any volatile materials which may be present. The preferred silicone portion (A) of the composition comprises a polydimethylsiloxane (A) (i) or a mixture of two or more polydimethylsiloxanes (A) (i). Especially preferred are those compositions in which Component (A) consist only of the most preferred polydimethylsiloxanes (A) (i), i.e. those having from 5 to 15 silicon atoms. The amount of Component (B) used in the lubricant compositions may vary from 0.1 to about 70% by weight of the combined weight of (A) and (B), more preferably from 2 to 60%. For most applications however, no more than about 50% percent by weight of (B) is used, based on the combined weight of (A) and (B). When the silanol (A) (ii) is used clear solutions result when (A) and (B) are present in any ratio; the preferred proportions of (A) (ii) and (B) are the same as those mentioned above and also apply when Component (A) (i) is used. When Component (A) (i) is used in combination with small amounts of Component (B), e.g. less than 20% by weight based on the total weight of (A) and (B), clear solutions are obtained. If higher levels of Component (B) are to be used, such as 20% or more, best results in clarity are achieved when the preferred polydimethylsiloxanes (A) (i) are used. A more preferred range of proportions of (A) and (B) is from 2 to 25% by weight of the preferred material (B) by weight of (A) and (B) combined, most preferably from 3 to 10% by weight. The lubricant compositions according to the invention are readily prepared by mixing Components (A) and (B) in the desired proportions. It is preferred to choose the components such that the final viscosity of the composition at 25°C would be less than 500 mm²/s, as this will ease the processibility of the composition. For most applications the preferred viscosity would be in the range of from 40 to 150 mm²/s, most preferably 50 to 100 mm²/s. The compositions according to the invention are useful in applications requiring a liquid composition having spermicidal or virucidal properties. They are particularly suitable for use as lubricants for condoms and in other contraceptive applications. Alternative applications may include the treatment of surgical gloves or different pieces of surgical apparatus for specialised operations and treatments. The invention accordingly also comprises condoms which use as a lubricant those compositions which are according to the invention. The following Examples illustrate the invention. All parts and percentages are given by weight, unless otherwise indicated, and Me denotes a methyl group. Example 1 8g of polyethyleneoxy nonylphenol having 9 ethyleneoxy groups were stirred into 92g of a polydimethylsiloxane having the average formula The resulting product was a clear liquid having a viscosity of 40 mm²/s at 25°C. Example 2 64g of polyethyleneoxy nonylphenol having 9 ethyleneoxy groups were stirred into 36g of the polydimethylsiloxane employed in Example 1. The resulting product was a clear liquid having a viscosity of 120 mm²/s at 25°C. Example 3 10g of polyethyleneoxy nonylphenol having 9 ethyleneoxy groups were stirred into 90g of diphenylmethylsilanol. The resulting product was a clear liquid having a viscosity of 180 mm²/s at 25°C. Example 4 20 parts of polyethyleneoxy nonylphenol having 9 ethyleneoxy groups were stirred into 80 parts of a polydimethylsiloxane having the average formula The resulting product was a clear liquid. Example 5 60 parts of polyethyleneoxy nonylphenol having 9 ethyleneoxy groups were stirred into 40 parts of a polydimethylsiloxane having the average formula The resulting product was a clear liquid. Example 6 4 parts of polyethyleneoxy nonylphenol having 9 ethyleneoxy groups were stirred into 96 parts of a polydimethylsiloxane having the average formula The resulting product was a clear liquid. Example 6 30 parts of polyethyleneoxy nonylphenol having 9 ethyleneoxy groups were stirred into 70 parts of a mixture of the polydimethylsiloxanes used in Examples 5 and 6 respectively, in a proportion of 8/2. The resulting product was a clear liquid having a viscosity of 60 mm²/s at 24°C. Example 7 24 parts of polyethyleneoxy nonylphenol having 9 ethyleneoxy groups were stirred into 76 parts of a mixture of the polydimethylsiloxanes used in Examples 5 and 6 respectively, in a proportion of 6/4. The resulting product was a clear liquid having a viscosity of 58 mm²/s at 24°C. Example 8 15 parts of polyethyleneoxy nonylphenol having 9 ethyleneoxy groups were stirred into 85 parts of a mixture of the polydimethylsiloxanes used in Examples 5 and 6 respectively, in a proportion of 4/6. The resulting product was a clear liquid having a viscosity of 54 mm²/s at 24°C. Example 9 8 parts of polyethyleneoxy nonylphenol having 9 ethyleneoxy groups were stirred into 92 parts of a mixture of the polydimethylsiloxanes used in Examples 5 and 6 respectively, in a proportion of 8/2. The resulting product was a clear liquid having a viscosity of 51 mm²/s at 24°C.

Claims: A lubricant composition comprising an organosilicon Component (A) and a polyoxyethylene alkylphenol Component (B), characterised in that Component (A) is (i) a polydimethylsiloxane of the average general formula wherein x has a value of from 3 to 51, and/or (ii) a silanol of the general formula R ' / 2CH₃SiOH wherein each R' denotes a methyl or phenyl group, at least one R' being phenyl, and in that Component (B) is dissolved in Component (A) and has the general formula R-Ph-[OCH₂CH₂] n OH, wherein R represents an alkyl group having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms, Ph represents a phenylene group and n has a value of from 8 to 10. A composition according to Claim 1 characterised in that polydimethylsiloxane (A) (i) has from 4 to 30 silicon atoms in the chain. A composition according to Claim 1 or 2 characterised in that polydimethylsiloxane (A) (i) has from 5 to 15 silicon atoms present in the siloxane chain. A composition according to anyone of the preceding claims characterised in that in polyoxyethylene alkylphenol (B) n has the average value of 9 and R represents a nonyl group. A composition according to anyone of the preceding claims characterised in that the percentage by weight of Component (B) based on the combined weight of (A) and (B) is from 0.1 to 70%. A composition according to anyone of the preceding claims characterised in that the percentage by weight of Component (B) based on the combined weight of (A) and (B) is from 2 to 25%. A composition according to anyone of the preceding claims characterised in that the final viscosity of the composition at 25°C is less than 500mm²/s. A composition according to anyone of the preceding claims characterised in that the final viscosity of the composition at 25°C is in the range of from 50 to 100mm²/s. A method of making a lubricant compositions according to any one of the preceding claims which comprises mixing (A) (i) a polydimethyl siloxane of the average general formula wherein x has a value of from 3 to 51, and/or (ii) a silanol of the general formula R ' / 2CH₃SiOH wherein each R' denotes a methyl or phenyl group, at least one R' being phenyl, with (B) a polyoxyethylene alkylphenol of the general formula R-Ph-[OCH₂CH₂] n OH wherein R represents an alkyl group having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms, Ph represents a phenylene group and n has a value of from 8 to 10 in the desired proportions. The use of a composition according to any one of Claims 1 to 9 as a spermicidal lubricant. The use of a composition according to any one of Claims 1 to 9 as a spermicidal lubricant for condoms. The use of a composition according to any one of Claims 1 to 9 as a virucidal lubricant. A condom comprising a lubricant composition characterised in that said composition comprises (A) (i) a polydimethylsiloxane of the average general formula wherein x has a value of from 3 to 51, and/or (ii) a silanol of the general formula R ' / 2CH₃SiOH wherein each R' denotes a methyl or phenyl group, at least one R' being phenyl, having dissolved therein (B) a polyoxyethylene alkylphenol of the general formula R-Ph-[OCH₂CH₂] n OH, wherein R represents an alkyl group having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms, Ph represents a phenylene group and n has a value of from 8 to 10.

Inventors: AGUADISCH LOUIS MICHEL JACQUES, ETIENNE ALAIN, AGUADISCH, LOUIS MICHEL JACQUES, ETIENNE, ALAIN
Applicants: DOW CORNING SA, DOW CORNING FRANCE S.A.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: A61K9
IPC codes: A61K47, C08K5, C10M107, C08L71, C08L83, C10M169, A61K8, A61P31, A61K31, A61K9, A61F6