US2894928A - Simulated snow composition containing mineral filler - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent SIMULATED SNOW COMPOSITION CONTAINING MINERAL FILLER Jack T. Hohnstine, Short Hills, John A. Versocki, South Plainfield, and Frank L. Steckhahn, East Orange, N.J., assignors, by mesne assignments, to American Home Products Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application March 23, 1953 Serial No. 344,247

2 Claims. (Cl. 260-333) This inventionrelates to an improved simulated snow, especially an improved-simulated snow adapted to be applied from an aerosol bomb.

Simulated snow has recently achieved great popularity fordecorative purposes, for example, for application to Chrismas trees, to windows. and the like during Christmas holidays. The snow is usually applied from an aerosol bomb with a conventional propellant such as the Freons (du Pont), Genetrons (General Chemical) or the like. The snow is usually a synthetic resin of the acrylic type, which, on the evaporation of the propellant, leaves a more or less white deposit in the form of flakes, festoons or the like.

Such a simulated snow should be brilliantly White, opaque and scintillating, and should have suflicient adherence to the surfaces to which applied so that it is not dislodged by accidental vibrations but should not have suificient adherence to make it difiicult to remove when its presence is no more desired. The resin-propellant combination should be of such a character that it does not build up an undue deposit on the outer nozzle orifice of the bomb nor have a tendency to run down the side of the bomb during application.

The simulated snows now on the market suffer from several defects: they tend to be gray in color rather than clear white; they tend to lack opacity and hence lack brilliance by reduction of percentage of light reflected; they tend to adhere too tenaciously to surfaces to which they are applied, thus making removal diflicult, e.g. from window panes, rugs, table covers and the like; they tend to build up on the outer nozzle orifice of the bomb and to run down the side of the bomb during application.

Among the objects of our invention are to provide simulated snow that- Is brilliantly white and opaque,

Dries rapidly on contact with the surfaces to which it is applied and hence is easy to remove,

Has a minimum tendency to build up on the outer nozzle orifice of the bomb,

Has no tendency to run down the side of the bomb, and

May be produced at a reduced cost.

Furthermore, in case it isdesired to color the simulated snow for decorative purposes, our snow produces with the same dyes or pigments more brilliant results than is the case with simulated snow now available. Of these objects we consider the most important one to be the provision of simulated snow that dries practically instantaneously on application and hence is readily removable, and the next most important object is the provision of a simulated snow of exceptional brilliance. Other objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following disclosure.

According to our invention these and other advantageous results are achieved by combining with the resin base a finely comminuted mineral filler such as talc, mica and the like. We have found that fillers of a flaky crystal ice habit, such as micaceous talc and mica, produce particularly good results. Although desirable, it is not essential that the filler in coarse or lump form should be white in color, since when finelycomminuted, as required for this use, most relatively light colored mineral fillers appear white. Although it is not essential in the practice of our invention, the, filler may contain dyes or finely ground pigments such as titanium dioxide, ferric oxide, chromates, sulfides and the like. The pigments may or may not be fluorescent or phosphorescent. The lubricity of micaceous talc makes it particularly desirable for our purpose by aiding the ease of removal of the material when its presence is no longer desired.

We may use a filler having particles of a considerable range of size, e.g. from those passing a 325-mesh sieve (44 microns) to those passing a 100-mesh sieve (149 microns), but we prefer to use a micaceous talc passing 100 percent through a 325-mesh sieve.

The valve of the aerosol bomb suitable for our invention is a conventional valve having an orifice with an internal diameter of 0.015 inch, although this size is not critical and may vary from 0.002 inch to 0.05 inch. Suitable pressures for application of our improved simulated snow are those permitted by I.C.C. regulations for the low pressure type of bomb, and are not over 55 lbs. per square inch absolute at 70 F. and may advantagously be in the range 30-55 lbs. absolute. However, our product may, if desired, be applied at somewhat higher or lower pressures with suitable equipment.

We have found it essential to use a resin which is relatively free of'disagreeable odor, and which is soluble in the propellant mixture. This latter characteristic is necessitated by the requirement of smooth and even distribution during application and a flufliy appearance when applied. We have had best results with acrylic resins suchas Acryloids (produced by the Resinous Products Division of Rohm and Haas, Philadelphia) and Hypalons (produced by E. I. du Pont de Nemours Company, Wilmington, Del.) which are also pure soluble phenolformaldehyde resins such as the Beckacites (produced by Reichold Chemical Co., Elizabeth, NJ)

As propellants, various mixtures of fluorochloro hydrocarbons may be used; these halogenated methanes or ethanes having low boiling points and high vapor pressure such as Freons (du Pont), Genetrons (General Chemical), etc. In the halogenated propellants described, certain volatile organic solvents may be incorporated provided the necessary limits as to non-inflammability and toxicity are observed. Among such solvents are dimethyl ether, acetone, methylethyl lcetone, diethyl ketone, methylene chloride and the like. One mixture which we found satisfactory consisted of:

Percent Freon 11 60 Freon l2 25 Dimethyl ether 15 Another satisfactory mixture consisted of:

Percent Genetron 101 Freon l1 8.5 Freon 12 16.5

Still another-satisfactory mixture consisted of:

Percent Freon 11 44 Freon l2 45 Freon 21 ll Other useable propellant formulations are disclosed below.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art that the composition of such mixtures can be varied within wide limits .a reflux condenser and an agitator.

provided they have the desired characteristics of non-infiammability, non-toxicity, suitable vapor pressure and solvent power for the resin base of our mixture. In the following table the chemical compositions and physical characteristics of a number of suitable propellant constituents are given:

TABLE Propellant constztuents Vapor Pressure (Pounds Boiling Trade N ame Formula per square Point,

inch 0. absolute at 70 F.)

Freon 11 CO1 F 13.8 23. 77 Freon" 12 0012B, 84 --29. 80 Freon 21 CHCIZF 23 8. 92 Freon" 22---- OHCIF; 137. 2 40. 80 Genetron 100 OHQ'CHFZ 77. 2 24. 7 "Genetron 101 OHQ'OOIFQ 44.9 -9.2

75% G 101 Genetron 102-1.--" 16%% F 12 50. 7 14. 3

near 1: n D

Genetron 102P 25% G 100 101 34. 9 Dimethyl ether CH -OOH 73 24. 8 Acetone CH3-OO-CH3 3. 5 56. 5 Methylethyl ketone- OH -OO-C2H5 1. B 79. 6 Diethyl ketone Call -000 11 0. 3 102. 7 Methylpropyl ketone 011 0 O- (CHz):CHa 0. 3 101. 7 Methylene chloride... CHgOl: 6. 7 40. 1

G Genetron. F=Freon.

In formulating one embodiment of our invention we prefer to prepare a mixture containing aproximately 10% solids by weight to 90% propellant. Of the solids 6.5% may advantageously be resin and 3.5% filler. These percentages, however, may vary substantially, and the solids content may be in the range from 5% to 50%, of which the filler would constitute 0.5% to 42%all percentages being by Weight on the basis of the total composition.

One of the advantages of our invention is that it permits the use of a batch process in filling containers. For example, We may provide a jacketed kettle equipped with The jacket is com nected with cooling and heating media. We charge the kettle with a propellant constituent in which the resin is readily soluble, e. g. Freon 11, add the dry solid ingredients, and stir until the resin is dissolved and the filler is homogeneously dispersed. During this step the temperature is maintained near the boiling point of the Freon to speed the solution of the resin. When the resin is all dissolved, the mix is cooled and filled into the bombs with a conventional cam-filling machine. The remaining propellant constituents are then added and the bombs sealed.

The following examples disclose embodiments of our invention but these examples are intended to be illustrative only and not to limit our invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

EXAMPLE III Percent Ingredient: by wt.

Freon 11 65.0 Freon 12 25.0 00.0% Freon 22 10. 0 Beckacite resin 30. 0 Acryloid resin 40.0 10. 0% Tale 30. 0

EXAMPLE IV Percent Ingredient: by wt.

Freon 11 1 8. Freon 12 1 16. 5 90.0% ;Genlet30n 101 1 cry 0 resin Talc. 35.0

EXAMPLE V Percent Ingredient: by wt.

"Freon 11 55.8 07 ZGenetaon02-P. 0

or 01 res Tal 35.0 0%

EXAMPLE VI Percent Ingredient: by wt. Freon" 11 53. 15 Genetron" 102-1 41. 40 89. 9% Acetone. 5. 45 du Pont 011 Blue A 1. 0 Acryloid resin 64. 4 10. 1% Talc 34. 6

EXAMPLE VII [Very fine snow efiect] Percent Ingredient: by

Freon 11 80. 1)} gtFreoln 22. a

a on 5 TZii- 75.0 110% EXAMPLE VIII Percent Ingredient: by wt. Freon 11 62. 3 Freon 12 29. 1 S3. 4% Freon 22 8. 6 Pigment mixture- 63.8 Beekacite resin 18.1 16. 6% Talc 18. 1

Pigment mixture consists of: Percent Acryloid resin 37. 5 du Pont Alizarine lake (RT-332-P) 12. 5 Acetone- 50. 0

We claim:

1. In a quick-drying simulated snow composition comprising a liquid propellant having a superatmospheric vapor pressure at room temperature and a solid organic snow-simulating material, said composition being adapted, when sprayed on a solid surface, to leave a deposit of discrete snow-simulating particles, the improvement which consists in the inclusion in said composition of 05-42 percent of a comminuted mineral filler passing a -mesh sieve and selected from the class consisting of talc, micaceous talc, mica and mixtures thereof.

2. A simulated snow composition as defined in claim 1 in which 100 percent of the mineral filter passes a 325- mesh sieve and constitutes 3-9 percent of the composition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,515,250 McIntire July 18, 1950 2,617,780 Lutz Nov. 11, 1952 V FOREIGN PATENTS 811,418 France Ian. 14, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N00 2,894,928 July 14, 1959 Jack To Eichristineet al0 It is hereb certified that error appears in the-printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

001mm 1, line 29, for "UMiBIflEB" read m Christmas column 2, line 26, for ".advantagously" read advantageously line 39, after "are" insert m resins oi the polymerized acrylic ester type; same column 2', lines 39 and 4G, strike out "soluble phanel formaldeihyde" and insert instead phenelic' line 43, after "these" insert are column 3, line 32', for "aproximataly" read approximately mu Signed and sealed this. 8th day of December 1959.,

(SEAL) Attcst:

KARL Ho AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting ()fficer Commissioner of Patents

Claims (1)

1. IN A QUICK-DRYING SIMULATED SNOW COMPOSTION COMPRISING A LIQUID PROPELLANT HAVING A SUPERATMOSPHERIC VAPOR PRESSURE AT ROOM TEMPERATURE AND A SOLID ORGANIC SNOW-SIMULATING MATERIAL, SAID COMPOSITION BEING ADAPTED, WHEN SPRAYED ON A SOLID SURFACE, TO LEAVE A DEPOSIT OF DISCRETE SNOW-SIMULATING PARTICLES, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH CONSISTS IN THE INCLUSION IN SAID COMPOSTION OF 0.5-42 PERCENT OF A COMMINUTED MINERAL FILLER PASSING A 100-MESH SIEVE AND SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF TALC, MICACEOUS TALC, MICA AND MIXTURES THEREOF.