This invention relates to a method for producing a vehicle for delivering fragrances and controlling their release.

Use of polymers as vehicles for fragrance delivery is known. For example,

CN102504385A discloses polymer resins used for this purpose, including ethylene-octene copolymer. However, this reference does not disclose the composition described herein.

The problem solved by this invention is the need for improved vehicles for delivery of fragrances.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

The present invention provides a fragrance release composition; said composition comprising: (a) a polyolefin comprising 40 to 85 wt% polymerized units of ethylene and 15 to 60 wt% polymerized units at least one C4-C12 alkene; and (b) a fragrance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Percentages are weight percentages (wt%) and temperatures are in °C, unless specified otherwise. Operations were performed at room temperature (20-25°C), unless specified otherwise. An "alkene" is an unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon. Preferably, alkenes have only one double bond. Alkenes may be linear or branched, preferably linear.

A "fragrance" includes any hydrophobic component which provides a pleasant scent. Examples include scents that are floral, ambery, woody, leather, chypre, fougere, musk, vanilla, fruit, and/or citrus. Fragrance oils are obtained by extraction of natural substances or synthetically produced. Fragrances produced may be simple (one essence) or complex (a melange of essences). Often, the fragrance oils are accompanied by auxiliary materials, such as fixatives, extenders, stabilizers and solvents.

Preferably, the polyolefin comprises polymerized units of ethylene and at least one C ₆ -Cio alkene, preferably a Cs alkene, preferably 1-octene. The polyolefin comprises 40 to 85 wt% polymerized units of ethylene and 15 to 60 wt% polymerized units of the alkene; preferably at least 20 wt% alkene, preferably at least 25 wt% alkene, preferably at least 30 wt% alkene; preferably no more than 55 wt% alkene, preferably no more than 50 wt% alkene; preferably at least 45wt% ethylene, preferably at least 50 wt% ethylene, preferably at least 55 wt% ethylene, preferably at least 60 wt% ethylene, preferably at least 65 wt% ethylene, preferably at least 70 wt% ethylene; preferably no more than 80 wt% ethylene, preferably no more than 75 wt% ethylene, preferably no more than 70 wt% ethylene. Preferably, the polyolefin has a density (g/cm ³ ) from 0.80 to 0.92, a Melt Index (g/10 min as measured at 2.16 kg @ 190 °C) from 0.3 to 35 and a DSC Melting Peak (°C, Rate 10 °C/min) from 30 to 100. Preferably, density is at least 0.85; preferably no more than 0.91, preferably no more than 0.90, preferably no more than 0.89, preferably no more than 0.88. Preferably, Melt Index is at least 0.5, preferably at least 0.7; preferably no more than 30, preferably no more than 15, preferably no more than 10, preferable no more than 5, preferably no more than 3, preferably no more than 2. Preferably, the DSC Melting Peak is no more than 90, preferably no more than 85, preferably no more than 75; preferably at least 35.

Preferably, the weight- average molecular weight (M _w ) of the polyolefin is from

35,000 to 200,000; preferably at least 40,000, preferably at least 70,000, preferably at least 80,000, preferably at least 90,000, preferably at least 100,000; preferably no more than 170,000, preferably no more than 150,000, preferably no more than 130,000.

The polyolefin may be a random copolymer or a block copolymer. Preferably, the polyolefin is a random copolymer.

Preferably, the fragrance may be delivered to the polyolefin beads using glycol ethers and/or surfactants. Surfactants and glycol ethers may be used to solubilize the fragrance compositions to enhance the delivery to the polyolefin bead. Preferably, glycol ethers useful have the following composition:

wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C12 aliphatic group, a substituted or unsubstituted C6-C12 aryl group, a group of or a group of the formula— C(=0)CH ₃ , n is 2 to 4, z is 1 to 4, and X is— H,— CH ₃ ,— C(=0)CH ₃ , or—

Preferably, R is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C10 aliphatic group, preferably an unsubstituted C2-C10 alkyl group, more specifically an unsubstituted C2-C6 alkyl group. In a preferred embodiment, n is 2 to 4, z is 1 to 3, and X is— H. Representative examples of the glycol ether compounds include tripropylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether, tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol n-propyl ether, dipropylene glycol phenyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether acetate, propylene glycol n-propyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol n-butyl ether, diethylene glycol monohexyl ether, diethylene glycol hexyl ether, or a combination thereof. Other examples of the second compound may include dipropylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol methyl ether acetate, dipropylene glycol methyl ether acetate, or propylene glycol diacetate The surfactants may be a nonionic, cationic, or anionic material, and it may be a blend of surfactants. Non-limiting examples of surfactants known in the art that may suitably be used include those described in U.S. Pre-Grant publication 2002/0045559. Combinations of surfactants and glycol ethers may be used to enhance the delivery of the fragrance compositions to the polyolefin bead.

Preferably, the amount of fragrance in the fragrance release composition is from 9 to 50 wt% based on the total weight of the composition, preferably at least 10 wt%, preferably at least 12 wt%, preferably at least 15 wt%, preferably at least 20 wt%; preferably no more than 40 wt%, preferably no more than 30 wt%.

Examples

Fragrances:

Fragrance 1 (Fl): Orange Oil is a product of Sigma Aldrich Corporation, St Louis, Missouri, and U.S.A. CAS # 8008-57-9

Fragrance 2 (F2): Tropical Breeze is a product of Givaudan Flavor Corporation, East Hanover, NJ, U.S.A.

Table 1 : Properties Of Polymers

DSC

% alkene in Melt Melting Tg, °c ethylene- Dens., Index Peak, °C DSC alkene g/cm ³ (dg/ Rate infleccopolymer, Approx. ASTM min, 10°C / tion

No. wt% Mw* D792 190C) min(4) point(4)

Material Description

Polyolefin Elastomers PI 45 115K 0.857 1 38 -58

Ethylene 1-Octene Grades P2 38 115 K 0.87 1 60 -52

P7 28 115 K 0.885 1 77 -46

P3 38 45 K 0.87 30 65 -54

P8 18 45 K 0.902 30 96 -36

P9 28 45 K 0.885 30 80 -47

P10 42 140 K 0.863 0.5 47 -55

ELITE™ Enhanced

Polyethylene Resins Pll NA 0.964 0.85 134

ATTAN E™ Ultra Low

Density PE Resin P12 NA 0.906 8.0 124

AFFIN ITY™ Polyolefin

Plastomers and Polyolefin

Elastomers P4 35 100K 0.875 3 68

(ethylene-octene) P5 38 10K 0.87 1000 * 68

P13 18 50K 0.902 7.5 98

P14 12 115 K 0.909 1 106

P6 38 15K 0.874 500 * 70

PRI MACOR™ (20.5%

Acrylic Acid) P15 NA 7.5K 0.958 300 77

(9.7% Acrylic Acid) P16 NA 65K 0.938 10 98

(20% Acrylic Acid) P17 NA 5.5K 0.955 1300 75

DOW LDPE P18 NA 35K 0.923 55 110

AM PLI FY™ Ethylene-EA P19

copolymer NA 110K 0.932 1.3 99

Aldrich PE Ma leic P20

Anhydride NA

Aldrich Ethylene-VA P21 NA

ELVAX™, Ethylene-VA P22

(32% VA) 150 NA 32K 0.957 43 63

ELVAX™, Ethylene-VA P23

(28% VA ) 210W NA 6K 0.951 400 65

ELVAX™, Ethylene-VA P24

(28% VA) 220W NA 15K 0.951 150 70

ELVAX™, Ethylene-VA P25

(28% VA )240W NA 32K 0.951 43 74

ELVAX™, Ethylene-VA P26

(18% VA )420 NA 15K 0.937 150 73

ELVAX™, Ethylene-VA P27

(18% VA )450 NA 52K 0.941 8 86

VA=vinyl acetate; EA=ethyl acrylate; PE=polyethylene

MI estimates based on viscosity ENGAGE™ Polyolefin Elastomers ; "ELITE™ Enhanced Polyethylene Resins"; "ATTANE™ Ultra Low Density Polymers"; "AMPLIFY™ functional polymers " and AFFINITY™ Polyolefin Plastomers are products of the Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Michigan, U.S.A. "Polyolefin Elastomers-ethylene 1-octene grades" where obtained from Aldrich products from Sigma-Aldrich Corporation". "PRIMACOR™ copolymers" are products of SK Global Chemical Co. LTD., Seoul, Korea; "EL VAX™ copolymer resins are products from DuPont Company, Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.

Melt Index measured at (2.16 kg @ 190°C) ASTM D1238

K=1,000, i.e., "115K"=115,000 g/mole

Table 2: Bead Integrity In Presence Of Fragrance Oil Each vial has 1 gram of beads. Fragrances; 0.1 mls= 100 μΐ pipetted equivalent to Dosage wt% of 9.1 ; 0.5 mls= 500 μΐ pipetted equivalent to Dosage wt% 33.3; 1.0 mls= 1000 μΐ pipetted equivalent to Dosage wt% 50 in Table 2 below.

Performance Bead integrity Index Fl Fl Fl F2 F2 F2 after fragrance

P14 2.71 5 3 3 4 3 ¹ 0

P6 3.14 5 5 5 3 3 ¹ 0

P15 3.14 5 4 2 4 3 ¹ 3

P16 2.86 5 4 1 4 2 ¹ 3

P17 3.43 5 5 2 5 3 ¹ 3

PI 8 3 5 3 1 3 3 ¹ 5

P19 3.14 5 4 2 4 3 ¹ 3

P20 3 5 3 1 5 3 ¹ 3

P21 3.86 5 5 5 3 3 3

P22 3.71 5 4 4 5 4 ¹ 3

P23 3.86 5 4 4 5 3 3

P24 3.86 5 4 4 5 3 ¹ 5

P25 3.86 5 4 4 5 3 ¹ 5

P26 3.86 5 5 4 4 3 ¹ 5

P27 3.71 5 5 4 5 1 ¹ 5

Performance Rating Assessment

Assessment

Fragrance adsorbed Rating

M= most >75% no fluid fragrance observed 5

P= partial 25-75% slight/minor fragrance fluid

observed

N= none < 25% most fragrance fluid observed and not

adsorbed

Integrity

OK = beads appear unchanged in shape or size 5

SW= Swollen beads 3

D= Dissolved 1

A= Agglomerated or sticking together 0 Performance Index is average of Numerical Assessment Ratings for Fragrance Adsorbed and Integrity.

The assessment ratings were based on qualitative determinations by skilled laboratory personnel.

The substrates chosen to measure fragrance release and fragrance longevity were chosen based on Performance Index ratings >4.

Table 3 Formulations Of Polyolefin Beads With Fragrance 1

Methodology for preparation of polyolefin beads for GC/MS and Headspace analysis.

1 gram of each type of Polyolefin were placed into a 1 ounce vial and weighed. An equivalent weight of fragrance (1 gram), in this case Orange oil (limonene) was added to each vial, so typically the fragrance oil was adsorbed, and the POE beads adsorbed between 46- 53% fragrance oil based on weight.

Two vials of each polyolefin was used for the GC/MS and 2 vials were used for the headspace analysis, resulting in 4 vials, each containing 1 gram for every incremental time analysis to be run. The average values in the table were for the 4 vials per time increment, and represent the average amount of fragrance adsorbed per vial and include the standard deviation. So for the initial evaluation there were 4 sets of 1 gram beads/fragrance, at 7 days there were 4 sets of 5 beads/fragrance, at 14 days there were 4 sets of 1 gram beads/fragrance, etc. There were a total of 6 Polyolefin beads examined and were weighed out for:

measurements occurring at Initial, 7 days, 14 days, 21 Days, and 28 days.

Methodology preparation and analysis for fragrance using GC-MS (Table 4).

A 1% standard mix of the fragrance was prepared in toluene.

The standard mix was diluted in toluene to make the following concentrations: 10,000 andlOOO, 500, 100, 10, and lppm.

Each standard were injected into a microvial in a TDU (tiiermal desorption tube), directly into the TDU.

A calibration curve was made for the fragrance.

Sample size: 5 grams.

Analysis by headspace GC-MS:

33°C for 0.5 min of heating prior to introduction into GC-MS (to understand VOCs that might contribute to odor.

Column: DB-Wax (30m x 0.25mm x 0.50μιη).

Column: Rtx-5MS (30m x 0.25mm x 0.25μιη). Units are ppm, vol/vol.

Table 4

Headspace GC-MS Analysis Average of two runs Parts per million of fragrance detected in the headspace

T=Time

Lowest density (least crystalline) and lowest melt peak as well as most elastic Polyolefin PI bead demonstrated best performance regarding fragrance release.

Examples 1-4 show higher fragrance release at 28 days (parts per million fragrance measured in headspace between 692 - 779.5 ppm) compared to the Comparative 5 and Comparative 6 (>600 ppm). Example 1 (polymer PI) showed the best fragrance longevity using Headspace GC and Extraction performed in Hexanes and averaged over 5 beads/per measurement in duplicate.

Methodology for Evaluation of Fragrance for BULK Analysis (Table 5).

• The bulk levels of the fragrance was also tested at T = 0 and T = 56 Days by HS-GC- MS.

• Bulk samples were prepared by dissolving each bead 20-fold in Hexanes.

• The headspace and bulk levels of the fragrance was quantitated using a calibration curve of fragrance in Hexanes (1 - 1000 ppm).

BULK Data (beads dissolved and extracting fragrance from bead) (Parts per million in substrate), Concentration, wt/wt

Table 5

Example 1, PI had slower fragrance release comparatively, therefore longer fragrance longevity with bead integrity.

Information in Table 5 demonstrates fragrance retained in beads....and then the release from the beads. Example 1 based on PI allows fragrance (Limonene) to last up to 56 days.

Examples 1 - 4 show higher fragrance retained at 56 days (parts per million fragrance measured in bead) compared to the Comparative 5 and Comparative 6.