Abstract:
Improved conveyor lubricants are provided which are compatible with thermoplastic articles such as containers made of polyalkylene terephthalates. The lubricants are essentially free of oil and include a nonionic surfactant (e.g., a nonylphenol ethoxylates) dispersed in water where the surfactant has a molecular weight of at least about 1000 and contains at least about 12 ethylene oxide moieties therein. The surfactant should preferably comprise at least about 50% by weight of the non-aqueous components of lubricant concentrates and use dilutions. In use, the concentrates are diluted and sprayed or otherwise applied onto handling equipment for the thermoplastic articles. The use dilution surfactants of the invention give very advantageous lubricity ratio and crazing values, making them eminently suited for use with PET containers.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is broadly concerned with improved, nonionic surfactant-based aqueous lubricants adapted for lubricating equipment designed to handle thermoplastic articles subject to stress cracking (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containers). More particularly, the invention pertains to such lubricants in concentrate or use dilution form, and to methods for lubricating handling equipment, wherein the lubricant compositions are essentially free of oil and include a nonionic surfactant dispersed in water; the surfactant has a molecular weight of at least about 1000 and includes at least about 12 ethylene oxide moieties therein. Moreover, the surfactant makes up at least about 50% by weight of the non-aqueous components of the lubricant. Lubricants in accordance with the invention have been shown to have lubricity ratio and crazing values rendering them particularly suitable for use with conveyors and other handling equipment for PET containers. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Thermoplastic food and beverage containers are transported between cleaning, labeling, filling and packaging stations by conveyors and related equipment. In order to keep the conveyors clean and lubricated, and to facilitate handling of the containers, aqueous lubricants are conventionally sprayed onto the conveyors. Generally, the lubricants are supplied as concentrates and are diluted by the end user. In order to be successful, the aqueous lubricants must provide a lubricating function and should also facilitate cleaning and removal of food or beverage spills. Moreover, they must be compatible with tap water used as a diluent. A variety of materials have been used in the formulation of prior conveyor lubricants including fatty acid soaps (U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,521), phosphate esters (U.S. Pat. No. 4,521,321), fatty amines (U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,067) and alpha olefin sulfonates (U.S. Pat. No. 4,604,220). It is also known to incorporate ingredients such as chelating agents, alcohols and low molecular weight glycols in order to improve the physical stability and operational characteristics of the lubricants. 
     It has been found that many prior aqueous lubricants can deleteriously affect certain types of thermoplastic materials such as PET, PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), polysulfones and polycarbonates, in that bottles or other articles formed of these materials are prone to stress cracking. Such stress cracking can lead to premature failure and leaking of the containers and is therefore a significant problem for beverage and food manufacturers. In particular, certain types of surfactants, alcohols, glycols and alkaline materials are known to promote stress cracking. 
     While a number of PET-compatible surfactants have been commercialized in the past (e.g., Dicolube PL® sold by the Diversey Corporation), these are generally less than optimum owing to cost or stress cracking problems. There is accordingly a need in the art for improved, low-cost conveyor lubricant which can be used with PET or other thermoplastic containers without fear of inducing significant stress cracking problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides lubricating compositions and methods especially designed for use with equipment used in the handling of thermoplastic articles subject to stress cracking. It is preferred that the compositions of the invention be initially formulated and sold as concentrates which can be diluted on-site to give the final use lubricants. Such products can then be conventionally sprayed or otherwise applied to the appropriate conveyors and/or handling equipment. 
     Broadly speaking, the concentrates of the invention are in the form of aqueous compositions which are essentially free of mineral or vegetable oil (i.e., no more than about 2% by weight oil) and including a nonionic surfactant dispersed in water. The surfactant should have a molecular weight of at least about 1000 and moreover have at least about 12 ethylene oxide moieties therein. The surfactant should also comprise about 50% by weight of the non-aqueous components of the lubricant. The diluted use lubricant derived from concentrates of the invention should have a crazing value as herein defined of at least about 2.5, and a lubricity ratio of up to about 0.830. 
     In more preferred embodiments, the nonionic surfactant component of the concentrates should comprise at least about 60% by weight of the non-aqueous components of the concentrates, and the crazing value should be at least about 2.8 with a lubricity ratio of up to about 0.750. 
     The most preferred surfactants for use in the concentrates of the invention are selected from the group consisting of: (a) ethylene oxide-propylene oxide copolymers of the general formula EO-PO-EO or PO-EO-PO (where EO refers to ethylene oxide moieties and PC refers to propylene oxide moieties); (b) phenol ethoxylates having the following formula ##STR1## where R 1  is selected from the group consisting of straight or branched chain C 8  -C 18  alkyl groups and substituted or unsubstituted C 1  -C 18  alkylaryl groups, R 2  and R 3  are individually selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, straight or branched chain C 8  -C 18  alkyl groups and substituted or unsubstituted C 1  -C 18  alkylaryl groups, and n is from about 12-100; and (c)tetra-functional block copolymers derived from the sequential addition of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide to ethylene diamine. 
     Preferably, the surfactants should be selected from ethylene oxide-propylene oxide copolymers having a molecular weight of from about 1000-15000, and more preferably from about 6000-15000. In terms of ethylene oxide content, the copolymer should contain from about 10-90% by weight ethylene oxide, and more preferably from about 50-80% by weight ethylene oxide. The single most preferred class of copolymer surfactants are the ethylene oxide-propylene oxide copolymers. 
     Another class of useful surfactants are the dinonylphenol ethoxylates, and these should have a molecular weight of from about 1000-5000 with an ethylene oxide content of from about 60-95% by weight. Tristyrylphenol ethoxylates can also be used and would likewise have a molecular weight of from about 1000-5000 and an ethylene oxide content to from about 65-95% by weight. 
     The complete lubricant concentrates of the invention also typically include optional ingredients such as chelating agents, hydrotrope/solubilizers and preservatives. The chelating agents are particularly important where hard water is to be used a diluent with the concentrates. The chelating agents are used at a level of from about 1-10% by weight, and more preferably from about 3-7% by weight in the lubricant concentrates. Typical chelaters include ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), sodium salts of nitrilotriacetic acid, citric acid, polyacrylic acid, phosphates and complex phosphates such as sodium tripolyphosphate. 
     Hydrotrope/solubilizers are employed to enhance physical stability of the concentrates, particularly when exposed to temperature extremes. A wide variety of hydrotrope/solubilizers may be used including alcohols, glycols, ether solvents, anionic hydrotropes, low molecular weight (below about 800) surfactants and mixtures thereof. In preferred forms, it has been found that short chain acid soaps and partially neutralized alkyl or alkylaryl phosphate esters provide the best functionality without increasing stress cracking of thermoplastic containers. 
     The preservatives are normally used in very small quantities in order to improve the shelf life characteristics of the concentrate products. A wide variety of conventional preservatives can be used in this context. Additional optional ingredients may include foam boosters and/or dyes. 
     The following Table 1 sets forth the ingredients of the preferred concentrate products in accordance with the invention, and gives broad and preferred weight ranges for such components. 
     
                       TABLE 1______________________________________                       PreferredConcentrate Ingredients         Broad Range (Wt. %)                       Range (Wt. %)______________________________________Nonionic Surfactant         12-60         15-45Water         Balance       Balance*Chelating Agent          1-20          3-15*Hydrotrope/Solubilizer          3-15          5-10*Preservative 0.01-0.1      0.04-0.06*Foam Booster  1-20          1-10*Dye          0.005-0.1     0.01-0.05______________________________________ *Indicates optional ingredients 
    
     As indicated, the concentrates of the invention are diluted on-site to create final use lubricants. The dilution normally gives a final use lubricant having therein from about 0.1-2.5% by weight lubricant concentrate, with the remainder being water. More preferably, the final use dilutions contain from about 0.2-2.0% by weight lubricant concentrate therein. The following Table 2 sets forth the ingredients as well as broad and preferred ranges of use for the use dilutions. 
     
                       TABLE 2______________________________________Use Dilution Ingredients           Broad Range Preferred Range______________________________________Nonionic Surfactant (%)           0.012-1.5   0.03-0.9Water           Balance     Balance*Chelating Agent (%)           0.001-0.5   0.006-0.3*Hydrotrope/Solubilizer (%)            0.003-0.375                       0.01-0.2*Preservative (%)           0.00001-0.0025                       0.00008-0.0012*Foam Booster (%)           0.001-0.5   0.002-0.2*Dye (ppm)      0.05-25      0.2-10______________________________________ *Indicates optional ingredients 
    
     In actual practice, the use dilutions are simply sprayed or otherwise applied using conventional techniques onto the conveyor or handling equipment. Generally, the use dilutions may be sprayed continuously or intermittently as needed in order to establish the necessary lubricity for passage of the thermoplastic articles or containers. At the same time, the lubricants of the invention do not contribute significantly to stress cracking of the articles. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The single FIGURE is a perspective view of the lubricant conveyor testing apparatus used in the determination of lubricity ratios. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following examples set forth preferred lubricant concentrates and use dilutions in accordance with the invention. It is to be understood that these examples are provided by way of illustration only and nothing therein should be taken as a limitation upon the overall scope of the invention. 
     EXAMPLES 
     A series of high molecular weight nonionic surfactants were prepared as aqueous lubricant concentrates and diluted to a level of 0.2% by weight surfactant for testing of lubricity. The tendency to stress crack PET bottles was tested with a 1% aqueous dilution. A commercial fatty acid soap-based Control Lubricant product that is not PET compatible was run as a negative control. Dicolube PL®, a commercially available PET approved lubricant, was used as a positive control. The results of these tests are set forth in Table 3. 
     
                                           TABLE 3__________________________________________________________________________   Molecular         Weight %              Concentration                      Crazing                          LubricitySurfactant Type   Weight         EO   (Wt. %) Value                          Ratio__________________________________________________________________________EO-PO-EO.sup.1   13000 80   20      2.8 0.607EO-PO-EO (prill)   13000 80   15      3.1 0.628EO-PO-EO   14000 80   10      2.9 0.628EO-PO-EO (prill)   14000 80   10      3.0 0.629EO-PO-EO   12500 70   10      2.8 0.710EO-PO-EO   4600  50   25      --  0.965EO-PO-EO   6500  50   25      --  0.799EO-PO-EO   6500  50   10      2.5 0.847EO-PO-EO   1900  50   25      2.3 1.078EO-PO-EO   5000  20   10      2.6 1.053EO-PO-EO.sup.2   1950  50   25      2.8 1.332EO-PO-EO (prill)   8850  50   20      2.8 0.934NPE.sup.3   748   70   25      2.4 0.881NPE     4620  95   25      3.1 0.633DNPE.sup.4   616   64   25      2.4 --DNPE    994   66   25      2.7 0.768DNPE    1402  75   25      2.7 0.776DNPE    2376  91   25      2.8 --DNPE    &gt;4620 95   25      3.2 --TSPE.sup.5   1506  73   25      3.0 --TSPE    1100  64   25      2.7 0.841TSPE    &gt;4806 92   25      2.7 --TSPE    1286  68   25      2.5 --Tetraonic 908 ®.sup.6   25,000         80   20      --  0.703Tetronic 1107 ®.sup.6   15,000         70   20      --  0.726Control Lubricant   N/A   N/A  N/A     1.3 1.000Dicolube PL ®   N/A   N/A  N/A     2.0 0.880Dicolube PL ®   N/A   N/A  N/A     2.4 0.880__________________________________________________________________________ .sup.1 EOPE-EO is an ethylene oxidepropylene oxide block copolymer containing a central block of polypropylene oxide. .sup.2 POEO-PO is an ethylene oxidepropylene oxide copolymer containing a central block of ethylene oxide. .sup.3 NPE is a nonylphenyl ethoxylate having varying degrees of ethoxylation. .sup.4 DNPE is a dinonylphenyl ethoxylate having varying degrees of ethoxylation. .sup.5 TSPE is a tristyrylphenol ethoxylate having varying degrees of ethoxylation. .sup.6 The Tetronic surfactants are tetrafunctional block copolymers derived from the sequential addition of propylene oxide and ethylene oxid to ethylene diamine. These surfactants provide slightly cationic properties and are commercialized by BASF. 
    
     The crazing value test results were obtained using the following analytical method. Apparatus and Reagents: balance, 2000 mL beaker, 1000 mL cylinder, 18×150 mm test tubes, Kitchen Aid® style mixer, 2 liter one-piece PET bottles with screw cap top, humidity oven, anhydrous citric acid, sodium bicarbonate and tap water. 
     Procedure: 
     1. The PET bottles were carbonated by filling each with 1850 mL of tap water and 30 g citric acid. Thirty grams of sodium bicarbonate powder were weighed out and placed into 18×150 mm test tubes, and a filled tube was floated in each filled 2 liter PET bottle. Each bottle (the bottles employed were standard and commercially available from Johnson Control, Inc. or Constar International™) was capped and slowly inverted (3-4 times) to dissolve the solids. Each bottle was then shaken to dissolve the powder, wearing a face shield. The filled bottles were then allowed to equilibrate overnight at room temperature. 
     2. A use solution of each test lubricant was prepared at a level of 2% by weight. 
     3. Three hundred mL of each use dilution was placed into the mixer and mixed for at least 3 minutes until a stiff lather was obtained. 
     4. Forty grams of each lather were placed in a two liter beaker. 
     5. The pre-carbonated 2 liter PET bottles were then placed into respective lather-filled beakers and allowed to sit for 4-5 hours in order to allow the foam to evaporate. At least 4 PET bottles were tested for each test lubricant. 
     6. The beakers with the bottles therein were then placed into a humidity oven (38°-40° C. 85% relative humidity) for 14 days with periodic checking to insure that at least 30 mL of the liquid use dilution remained at the bottom of each beaker at all times. 
     7. Each bottle was checked each day for leaks, and a record was made of the number of leakers per day and the number of days into the test when the leaking occurred. After 14 days, the average crazing value was recorded for each lubricant tested, following the guidelines below and with special attention being paid to crazing at the bottom of the bottles. 
     8. Crazing Value: 4=no sign of crazing, to infrequent, small, shallow crazes; 3=small, frequent, shallow to infrequent, medium depth crazes which can be felt with a fingernail; 2=frequent medium depth to infrequent deep crazes; 1=leakers (cracked). Therefore, a higher crazing value indicates better performance. 
     The lubricity ratio data was obtained using the following analytical method. 
     Apparatus and Reagents: Lubricant Conveyor Testing Apparatus, Model AD-4321 weighing indicator, lubricant testing program (the program in Basic Language is set forth in an appendix), a Control Lubricant: PET sled with weights, tap water and soft water. 
     Referring to the FIGURE, the Lubricant Conveyor Testing Apparatus 10 includes an upstanding frame 12 carrying an metallic conveyor assembly 14 and conveyor motor 16. The conveyor assembly 14 includes a pair of sidewalls 17, 18 and front and rear end walls 20, 22. An endless Delrin conveyor 24 is disposed between sidewalls 17, 18 as shown. The apparatus 10 further includes a conventional load cell 26 (Model RL20000A-100, Rice Lake Weighing Systems) coupled via cable 28 to Model AD-4321 weighing indicator 29, the latter being connected to IBM PC computer 30. Three spaced apart lubricant spray heads 31 are positioned adjacent wall 22 below load cell 26, and are connected via conduit 32 to a controller 34. A secondary conduit 36 extends from controller 34 to a supply of lubricant (not shown) or alternately to a source of tap water. The controller 34 is operable to control the amount and timing of conveyor lubricant directed to the heads 31 for application to conveyor 24. The controller 34 includes a fluid pump (Knight Model PMP-560 having a capacity of about 5 gal/hr.). 
     The overall apparatus 20 further includes a wooden test sled 38 sized to fit on the Delrin conveyor 24 between sidewalls 17, 18. A sheet 40 of PET material is secured to the underside of pallet 38 and directly engages the moving conveyor 24 during testing. A pair of plastic boxes 42, 44 rest atop pallet 38 as shown and are adapted to hold a constant weight in the form of containers of water. The weight chosen is approximately 90 pounds. A chain 46 extends around the weight boxes 42, 44 and is operatively connected to load cell 26. The weighing indicator 29 is operatively coupled to the load cell 26 and gives a reading in terms of pounds of load. Data is read by the computer 30 and is conventionally displayed. 
     Procedure: 
     1. The conveyor is turned on and the system is flushed with tap water until the weighing indicator reaches a substantially constant baseline (readings between 19.0-24.0 pounds). 
     2. Ten gallons of the Control Lubricant are prepared at the use dilution. The Control Lubricant was initially prepared as a concentrate consisting of the following ingredients on a percent by weight basis: caustic potash (45%), 3.95%, Dowicil® 75 (a water soluble preservative having 1-(3-chloroallyl)-3,5,7-triaza-1-azoniaadamantane chloride as the active ingredient, 0.05%, hexylene glycol, 5.00%, Igepal CO-720® (a polyethoxylated surfactant sold by GAF), 2%, isopropanol (99%), 2.00%, Latol® (a high purity grade tall oil fatty acid), 13.50%, Ninol 11CM® (a modified coconut diethanolamide surfactant sold by Stepan, Inc.), 13.50%, Pluronic L-62® (Poloxamer 182, a polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block polymer sold by BASF), 4.00%, propylene glycol USP, 4.00%, Versene® (a tetrasodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid sold by Dow Chemical Company), 15.00%, soft water, 13.00%. This concentrate was diluted to achieve a final use Control Lubricant made up of 0.2% by weight of the concentrate in water. 
     3. With the conveyor at its baseline, the lubricant testing program is initiated. After the initial reading, the conveyor pump is switched from tap water to the Control Lubricant. The Control Lubricant should be run for at least 2 hours in order to reach its equilibrium point at which a substantially constant reading is obtained. 
     4. Once the equilibrium point is reached, the lubricant testing program is ended and the pump is switched from the Control Lubricant to tap water to flush the system until the weighing indicator returns to the baseline. 
     5. Prepare 10 gallons of the test lubricant at 0.2% by weight lubricant composition in water. 
     6. With the conveyor at its baseline, the lubricant testing program is initiated. After the initial reading, the conveyor pump is switched from tap water to the test lubricant. The test lubricant is run for at least 2 hours in order to reach its equilibrium point. 
     7. The lubricity ratio is determined as the ratio of the test lubricant reading at equilibrium divided by the Control Lubricant reading at equilibrium. Therefore, a lower lubricity ratio represents better performance. 
     As used herein, the &#34;crazing value&#34; for a particular lubricant is determined as set forth above; likewise, as used herein the &#34;lubricity ratio&#34; is determined by the foregoing procedure. 
     As can be seen from the results of Table 3, the high molecular weight nonionic surfactant lubricants tend to give improved lubricity ratio and crazing value results, as compared with both PET-approved and non-PET-approved commercial lubricants. These results also indicate that within each type of surfactant the lubricity ratio tends to increase with molecular weight and ethylene oxide content, while the crazing value tends to decrease. 
     In another series of tests, three fully formulated conveyor lubricant concentrates were prepared containing chelating agents, preservatives and hydrotrope/solubilizers in addition to the surfactant lubricating ingredient. The concentrate compositions were prepared using the following ingredients, diluted to a level of 0.2% by weight in water, and tested for lubricity ratio. Crazing values were determined at 2% concentration. 
     
                       TABLE 4______________________________________Ingredients (% By Wt.)        Lubricant A                   Lubricant B                             Lubricant C______________________________________Pluronic F-108 ®.sup.1        20.0       20.0      20.0EDTA (39%)   5          5         5Dowicil 75 ®.sup.2        0.05       0.05      0.05Monotrope 1250 ®.sup.3        10         --        --Rhodafac RA-600 ®.sup.4        --         5         --Monotax 1214 ®.sup.5        --         --        5Water        64.95      69.95     69.95Test ResultsCrazing Value        2.9        2.7       2.9Lubricity Ratio        0.638      0.656     0.616______________________________________ .sup.1 Pluronic F108 ® is an ethylene oxidepropylene oxide block copolymer containing a central block of polypropylene oxide; it has a molecular weight of 600 and a pour point of 57° C., and is sold by BASF, Inc. Further details about this material can be obtained from a product brochure entitled &#34;Pluronic and Tetronic Surfactants&#34; published b the manufacturer, which is incorporated by reference herein. .sup.2 Dowicil 75 ® is a preservative commercialized by the Dow Chemical Company having the active ingredient 1(3-chloroallyl)-3,5,7-triaza-1-azoniaadamantane chloride. .sup.3 Monotrope 1250 ® is a sodium isononanoate commercialized by Mona Industries, Inc.; further details about this composition can be obtained from a brochure entitled &#34;Monotrope 1250&#34; published by the manufacturer and which is incorporated by reference herein. .sup.4 Rhodafac RA600 ® is a phosphate ester hydrotrope commercialize by RhonePoulenc; further details about this composition can be obtained from a brochure entitied &#34;Rhodafac&#34; published by the manufacturer and which is incorporated by reference herein. .sup.5 Monofax 1214 ® is an anionic deceth4 phosphate material used a a detergent, foamer, dispersant and wetting agent; further details about this composition can be obtained from a brochure entitled &#34;Monotax 1214&#34; published by the manufacturer and which is incorporated by reference herein. 
    
     The tests results of Table 4 demonstrate that the lubricants of the invention show a marked superiority over the commercially available PET-approved lubricant Dicolube PL®, which had a crazing value of 2.0-2.4 and a lubricity ratio of 0.880 (see Table 3). 
     
         __________________________________________________________________________100   REM SOFTWARE FOR MODEL AD-4321/A WEIGHING INDICATOR110   REM WEST AGRO INC.120   REM CHRIS FORET OCTOBER 1992130   REM AA=AVERAGE WEIGHT READING140   REM A1(I)=INDIVIDUAL WEIGHT READING150   REM AM=MAXIMUM WEIGHT READING160   REM AL=LOWEST WEIGHT READING170   REM AT=AVERAGE WEIGHT READING180   REM N1$=NA$=CONCENTRATION OF LUBE190   REM N2$=NB$=NAME OF LUBE200   REM N3$=NC$=LOAD WEIGHT210   REM N4$=ND$=CONVAYER SPEED220   REM N5$=NE$=SOIL TYPE AND CONCENTRATION230   REM T=CURRENT TIME240   REM T0=STARTING TIME250   REM TC=CURRENT TIME RELATIVE TO STARTING TIME IN HOURS260   REM X$=MENU CHOICE270   CLEAR280   DIM A1(100)290   OPEN &#34;I&#34;, #1, &#34;/lubedata/NAMES&#34;300   INPUT #1, NA$,NB$,NC$,ND$,NE$,NF$310   CLOSE #1320   PRINT &#34;MODEL AD-4321/A WEIGHING INDICATOR&#34;330   PRINT &#34;LUBRICANT TESTING APPARATUS&#34;340   PRINT350   PRINT360   PRINT &#34; 1 - ENTER INFORMATION AND COLLECT DATA FOR A LUBRICANT&#34;370   PRINT &#34; 2 - PRINT OUT RESULTS TO THE SCREEN&#34;380   PRINT &#34; 3 - PRINT OUT RESULTS TO A PRINTER&#34;390   PRINT &#34; 4 - PRINT OUT A LIST OF DATA FILES&#34;400   PRINT &#34; 5 - EXIT PROGRAM&#34;410   PRINT420   PRINT &#34;TYPE IN THE YOUR SELECTION (1-5) = ?&#34;;430   INPUT X$440   X=VAL(X$)450   X=ABS(X)460   IF X&lt;l OR X&gt;5 THEN 320470   ON X GOTO 480,600,610,620,1440480   GOSUB 630490   T0=TIMER500   GOTO 550510   T1=TIMER520   IF (T1-T)/3600&gt;.1 THEN 550530   ON KEY 81 GOSUB 1390540   GOTO 510550   GOSUB 1070560   TC=(T-T0) /3600570   GOSUB 1320580   PRINT &#34;HOURS=&#34;;TC;&#34; AVERAGE=&#34;;AA;&#34; MAX=&#34;;AM;&#34; LOW=&#34;;AL;&#34; PRESS Q TO   QUIT&#34;590   GOTO 510600   GOTO 1440610   GOTO 1440620   GOTO 1440630   REM SUBROUTINE TO RECORD INFORMATION ABOUT RUN640   REM XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX650   REM XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX660   PRINT &#34;CONCENTRATION OF LUBE BEING TESTED (&#34;;NA$;&#34;)? &#34;;670   INPUT N1$680   IF N1$&lt;&gt;&#34;&#34;THEN 700690   N1$=NA$700   NA$=N1$710   PRINT &#34;TYPE IN THE NAME OF THE PRODUCT BEING TESTED (&#34;;NB$;&#34;)? &#34;;720   INPUT N2$730   IF N2$&lt;&gt;&#34;&#34;THEN 750740   N2$=NB$750   NB$=N2$760   PRINT &#34;LOAD WEIGHT (&#34;;NC$;&#34;)? &#34;;770   INPUT N3$780   IF N3$&lt;&gt;&#34;&#34;THEN 800790   N3$=NC$800   NC$=N3$810   PRINT &#34;CONVAYER SPEED (&#34;;ND$;&#34;)? &#34;;820   INPUT N4$830   IF N4$&lt;&gt;&#34;&#34;THEN 850840   N4$=ND$850   ND$=N4$860   PRINT &#34;SOIL TYPE AND CONCENTRATION (&#34;;NE$;&#34;)? &#34;;870   INPUT N5$880   IF N5$&lt;:&gt;&#34;&#34;THEN 900890   N5$=NE$900   NE$=N5$910   PRINT &#34;TODAYS DATE (&#34;;NF$;&#34;)? &#34;;920   INPUT N6$930   IF N6$&lt;&gt;&#34;&#34;THEN 950940   N6$=NF$950   NF$=N6$960   OPEN &#34;O&#34;,#1,&#34;/LUBEDATA/NAMES&#34;970   PRINT #1, NA$;&#34;,&#34;;NB$;&#34;,&#34;;NC$;&#34;,&#34;;ND$;&#34;,&#34;;NE$;&#34;,&#34;;NF$980   CLOSE 1990   PRINT &#34;TYPE IN A FILE NAME FOR THE DATA&#34;1000   PRINT &#34;USE EIGHT LETTERS OR NUMBERS FOR THE FILE NAME&#34;1010   PRINT &#34;FILE NAME = ?&#34;;1020   INPUT F$1030   IF LEN(F$)&lt;&gt;8 THEN 9901040   PRINT &#34;PRESS RETURN TO START COLLECTING DATA&#34;1050   INPUT X$1060   RETURN1070   REM SUBROUTINE TO COLLECT DATA1080   REM XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX1090   REM XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX1100   T=TIMER1110   PRINT T1120   AM=01130   AT=01140   AL=100001150   OPEN &#34;COM2:2400,E,7,1&#34; AS #11160   PRINT #1, &#34;CLEAR&#34;+CHR$(13)+CHR$(10);1170   FOR I=1 TO 4001180   NEXT I1190   FOR K=1 TO 1001200   PRINT #1, &#34;READ&#34;+CHR$(13)+CHR$(10);1210   INPUT #1, A$, B$, C$, D$1220   A1 (K)=VAL(C$1230   NEXT K1240   FOR K = 1 TO 1001250   AT = AT+A1 (K)1260   IF AM&lt;A1 (K) THEN AM=A1 (K)1270   IF AL&gt;A1 (K) THEN AL=A1 (K)1280   NEXT K1290   AA=AT/1001300   PRINT &#34;Average = &#34;;AA, AM, AL1310   CLOSE #11320   REM SUBROUTINE TO STORE DATA IN A FILE1330   REM XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX1340   REM XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX1350   OPEN &#34;/LUBEDATA/&#34;;F$ FOR APPEND AS #11360   PRINT #1,TC;AA;AM;AL1370   CLOSE 11380   RETURN1390   REM RESTART ROUTINE1400   REM XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX1410   REM XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX1420   GOTO 3201430   RETURN1440   END__________________________________________________________________________