WO2003085057A1

WO2003085057A1 - Compositions and supports for preservation of nacre

Info

Publication number: WO2003085057A1
Application number: PCT/FR2003/001067
Authority: WO
Inventors: Benoît BERNARD; Pierre Goffinet; Jean-Claude Rossard
Original assignee: Bernard Benoit; Pierre Goffinet; Jean-Claude Rossard
Priority date: 2002-04-05
Filing date: 2003-04-04
Publication date: 2003-10-16
Also published as: FR2838126A1; AU2003246778A1

Abstract

The invention concerns compositions and supports designed for preservation of nacre, in particular pearl nacre. The invention concerns a composition designed to be applied on the nacre to constitute thereon, in normal use conditions of the nacre, a stable barrier capable of limiting loss of water contained in said nacre and in insulating said nacre from ambient conditions.

Description

Compositions and supports intended for the maintenance of mother-of-pearl.

The present invention essentially relates to a composition intended for the maintenance of mother-of-pearl, very particularly suitable for the maintenance of the pearl layer.

More specifically, the present invention essentially relates to a nacre maintenance composition comprising a protective agent in combination or not with a hydrating agent.

The present invention also relates to the use of this composition for the maintenance of mother-of-pearl.

The present invention also relates to the use of a polysiloxane, modified or not, for the maintenance of mother-of-pearl.

The present invention also relates to the use of a polysiloxane, modified or not, for the manufacture of a composition intended for the maintenance of mother-of-pearl.

STATE OF THE ART

Usually, it is not recommended to maintain the mother-of-pearl with any existing cleaning products. Indeed, especially for pearls, it is not recommended to maintain these pearls with the cleaning products known to date, which are considered to be relatively aggressive towards them.

It is however commonly recognized that mother-of-pearl, in particular mother-of-pearl, is liable to tarnish and then to crumble when said pearls are not worn, in particular when they are left in a box. The term "the pearl dies" is usually used to describe this phenomenon of tarnishing and crumbling.

However, mother-of-pearl is also sensitive to acidity. Thus, when a pearl is worn, the acidity of the sweat is likely to alter it. In addition, mother-of-pearl is fragile and very sensitive to scratches.

In the pearl industry, it is notably known that the black pearl is more sensitive, more fragile than the white pearl, in particular by the fact that the black color lets stripes and tarnish appear more easily. In this context, the invention aims to provide a pioneering, effective, non-aggressive maintenance product for mother-of-pearl, and in particular for pearls, in particular black pearls.

GOALS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to provide a new maintenance composition for mother-of-pearl, particularly suitable for the maintenance of the pearl layer.

The present invention aims to provide a maintenance composition for nacre, characterized in that it comprises a protective agent in combination, advantageously, with a hydrating agent and / or a diluent, allowing the nacre, which is fragile, to 'be protected.

The present invention also aims to provide a support, in particular a wipe, suitable for applying this maintenance product to the mother-of-pearl.

The present invention also relates to the use of a composition comprising a protective agent in combination, advantageously, with a hydrating agent and / or a diluent, for the maintenance of mother-of-pearl.

The present invention also relates to the use of a polysiloxane, modified or not, for the preparation of a composition intended for the maintenance of mother-of-pearl.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a composition intended to be applied to mother-of-pearl in order to constitute, under normal conditions of use of said mother-of-pearl, a stable barrier capable, on the one hand, of limiting the loss of water that said mother-of-pearl contains and on the other hand to isolate said mother-of-pearl from ambient conditions.

To date, such compositions are not offered, which, without being aggressive, ensure the two functions set out above. According to a preferred embodiment, the composition comprises or consists of a polysiloxane, modified or not.

Advantageously, said polysiloxane, modified or not, is chosen from the group consisting of polysiloxanes, in particular polydimethylsiloxanes; amino-functional polysiloxanes, in particular amino-functional polydimethylsiloxanes; polysiloxanes grafted with at least one group, advantageously chosen from the group of alkyls, alkylaryls, alkenyls, polyethers, alkylpolyethers, alkylamines, alkylamine betaines, optionally interrupted by at least one group such as ether, ester, amide, substituted or unsubstituted; their copolymers and their mixtures.

The term polysiloxane includes polysiloxanes, optionally grafted with an alkyl side chain, for example of formula 1 below, where R is an alkyl radical. Generally, alkyl is understood to mean a linear or branched alkyl comprising from 1 to 18 carbon atoms.

The term “modified polysiloxane” means any polysiloxane, the basic structure of which comprises functional groups (at least one), which modify its surface activity in order to improve its wetting and spreading properties. Advantageously, the surface tension at 25 ° C of said "modified polysiloxane" is less than or equal to 30 mN / m. Such functional groups can in particular be chosen, as indicated above from alkyl, alkylaryl, alkenyl, polyether, alkylpolyether, alkylamine, alkylamine betaine groups, optionally interrupted by at least one group such as ether, ester, amide, substituted or unsubstituted . Generally meant by alkyl, a linear or branched alkyl comprising 1 to 18 carbon atoms and by alkylaryl a phenyl alkyl substituted or unsubstituted at the phenyl ring. In general, hydrophilic functional groups are preferred, very particularly polyether, alkylpolyether, alkylamine and alkylamine betaine groups, as indicated above.

Advantageously, said polysiloxane, modified or not, is a polysiloxane having a molecular weight by weight (Mw) of between 100 and 20,000, preferably between 1,000 and 10,000. Advantageously, this modified polysiloxane is chosen from the group of compounds having the formula 1, 2, or 3 defined below: - Formula 1:

Formula 2

R being for formulas 1 and 2: alkyl, alkylaryl, alkenyl, polyether (generally, polyethylene oxide or of propylene), alkyl polyether, alkylamine, alkylamine betaine, optionally interrupted by a group such as ether, ester, amide, substituted or not .

When the modified polysiloxane is a copolymer of polysiloxane-polysilane type, it can in particular be chosen from the compounds of formula 3 below: - Formula 3:

The indices, m and n of formulas 1 and 2 and m, n, p and q of formula 3, above are independently of whole numbers giving these compounds a molecular weight by weight between 100 and 20000, advantageously, included between 1000 and 10000. In particular, in compositions of the invention, the intervention of the following commercial products is recommended:

- TEGO® Polish Additiv C 3191 of formula 3;

- TEGOPREN® 5840, 5842 and 6801 of formula 2;

- TEGOPREN® 6920 of formula 1; manufactured and marketed by the company GOLDSCHMIDT (DE).

Advantageously, the composition comprises a diluting agent. Advantageously, said diluting agent is chosen from the group consisting of aqueous solvents, non-aqueous solvents and their mixtures; said composition being in the form of a solution, an emulsion, or a microemulsion, optionally encapsulated, in the case of modified polysiloxanes, and being in the form of an emulsion, optionally encapsulated, in the case of polysiloxanes.

As regards these microcapsules, they can be obtained by any technique known from the prior art, such as: interfacial polymerization, coacervation, micellar association, techniques for preparing liposomes, or interstitial structures in multiple layers , etc.

The material constituting the membrane of the microcapsules must obviously be impermeable to the spontaneous permeation of its content. As nonlimiting examples, one can use: gelatin, urea-formaldehyde condensates (by coacervation), polyamides, polyacrylates (interfacial condensation), phospholipids and derivatives of sterols, etc. The average diameter of these microcapsules is generally between 2 and 140 microns, and preferably between 10 and 30 microns. Advantageously, said diluting agent is chosen from the group consisting of alcoholic solvents, water and their mixtures.

In the case where the composition consists solely of the polysiloxane modified or not, the proportion of said polysiloxane modified or not is obviously 100%. In the case where a diluting agent is involved, the proportion of said polysiloxane, modified or not, is generally between 0.5 and 20% by weight of the composition, preferably between 1 and 10% by weight, more preferably between 2 and 6 % by weight of the composition. Advantageously, the composition also comprises an effective amount of at least one hydrating agent.

This hydrating agent makes the composition all the more effective as it absorbs and conserves water, which will be retained by the barrier effect of the protective agent. This water accumulates to that initially present in the mother-of-pearl.

Advantageously, said hydrating agent is chosen from polyols, in particular from glycols, sugars reduced or not, propylene glycol derivatives, polyvinyl alcohols.

Advantageously, the composition comprises at least one moisturizing agent, which is a reduced sugar having a carbon chain of 4 to 8 carbon atoms, and which is especially chosen from xylitol, sorbitol, pentaerythritol.

Advantageously, the composition comprises a hydrating agent which is fructose. Advantageously, the composition comprises at least one moisturizing agent which is a polyvinyl alcohol, which has a molecular weight by weight (Mw) of between 200 and 100,000, preferably between 1,500 and 20,000.

Advantageously, the composition also comprises an effective amount of at least one surfactant.

Advantageously, said surfactant is an anionic or nonionic surfactant.

Advantageously, said surfactant has a critical micellar concentration of less than 35 mN / m. Advantageously, the composition also comprises an effective amount of at least one antistatic agent.

Advantageously, said antistatic agent is chosen from ethoxylated fatty amines, in particular those whose general formula is as follows:

R representing an alkyl or alkenyl chain comprising 12 to 18 carbon atoms, m being between 0 and 2 inclusive and n being between 0 and 3 inclusive. Advantageously, said antistatic agent is trilaureth-4 phosphate.

Advantageously, the composition also comprises an effective amount of at least one bacteriostatic agent. Advantageously, the composition also comprises an effective amount of at least one emulsifying agent.

Advantageously, said emulsifying agent is chosen from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants, in particular ethoxylated hydrogenated castor oil, the ethoxylated chain of which comprises from 5 to 40 ethylene oxide units. Advantageously, this emulsifying agent is chosen from surfactants having an HLB greater than 8.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a support comprising a composition as described above.

Advantageously, said support is chosen from the group consisting of textile articles (woven, non-woven, knitwear), paper and sponges, the latter being natural, artificial or synthetic. This support is impregnated with said composition, at a rate sufficient for the release or partial transfer of the composition, during its use.

According to a third aspect, the invention relates to the use of a polysiloxane, modified or not, for the maintenance of mother-of-pearl.

According to a fourth aspect, the invention relates to the use of a polysiloxane, modified or not, for the preparation of a nacre maintenance product.

Said polysiloxane is advantageously of the type defined above with reference to the composition, according to the first aspect of the invention. According to a fifth aspect, the invention relates to the use of any composition or of a support as defined above, for the maintenance of mother-of-pearl.

According to a sixth aspect, the use of a composition or a support as defined above, allows the preparation of a mother-of-pearl maintenance product.

Advantageously, the use of any composition as defined above allows the preparation of a nacre maintenance product. Advantageously, said mother-of-pearl is the mother-of-pearl of a pearl.

Advantageously, said mother-of-pearl is the mother-of-pearl of a black pearl.

Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the light of the explanatory description which follows, given with reference to several examples of the composition of this maintenance product, given simply by way of illustration, and which cannot in any way limit the scope of the invention.

In the examples, any characteristic, which will appear to be new with respect to any state of the art, forms an integral part of the present invention, and protection is sought in its function and its generality.

EXAMPLE 1

Non-aqueous solution: protective agent + diluting agent

The composition for the maintenance of mother-of-pearl is obtained by mixing a protective agent and a diluting agent to obtain a composition the proportions of which are those indicated in the summary table below. EXAMPLE 2

Aqueous solution: protective agent + moisturizing agent + surfactant

+ diluting agent

The composition for the maintenance of mother-of-pearl is obtained by mixing a protective agent, a hydrating agent, a surfactant and a diluting agent to obtain a composition whose proportions are those indicated in the summary table. below.

EXAMPLE 3

Aqueous solution: protective agent + hydrating agent + surfactant + diluting agent

EXAMPLE 4 Aqueous solution: protective agent + hydrating agent + surfactant + diluting agent + bacteriostatic agent

The composition for the maintenance of mother-of-pearl is obtained by mixing a protective agent, a hydrating agent, a surfactant, a diluting agent and a bacteriostatic agent to obtain a composition whose proportions are those indicated in the summary table below. EXAMPLE 5

Aqueous solution: protective agent + moisturizing agent + surfactant

+ diluting agent + bacteriostatic agent + antistatic agent

The composition for the maintenance of mother-of-pearl is obtained by mixing a protective agent, a hydrating agent, a surfactant, a diluting agent, a bacteriostatic agent and an antistatic agent to obtain a composition whose proportions are those indicated in the summary table below.

EXAMPLE 6

Aqueous emulsion: protective agent + emulsifying agent + surfactant + diluting agent

The composition for the maintenance of mother-of-pearl is obtained by mixing a protective agent, an emulsifying agent, a surfactant and a diluting agent to obtain a composition whose proportions are those indicated in the summary table. below.

EXAMPLE 7

Aqueous dispersion: microencapsulated protective agent + hydrating agent + emulsifying agent + surfactant + diluting agent + bacteriostatic agent + antistatic agent

The composition for the maintenance of mother-of-pearl is obtained by mixing a microencapsulated protective agent, a hydrating agent, an emulsifying agent, a surfactant, a diluting agent, a bacteriostatic agent and an antistatic agent to obtain a composition, the proportions of which are those indicated in the summary table below.

- The units of the data in the table are% by weight with reference to the weight of the total composition.

Claims

1. Composition intended to be applied to mother-of-pearl to constitute there, under normal conditions of use of said mother-of-pearl, a stable barrier capable, on the one hand of limiting the loss of water that said mother-of-pearl contains and on the other hand part in isolating said mother-of-pearl from ambient conditions, said composition comprising or consisting of a polysiloxane modified or not, said polysiloxane modified or not having a molecular mass by weight (Mw) of between 100 and 20,000, preferably between 1,000 and 10,000.

2. Composition according to claim 1, in which said polysiloxane, modified or not, is chosen from the group consisting of polysiloxanes, in particular polydimethylsiloxanes; amino-functional polysiloxanes, in particular amino-functional polydimethylsiloxanes; the polysiloxanes grafted with at least one group, this group being advantageously chosen from the group of alkyls, alkylaryls, alkenyl polyethers, alkylpolyethers, alkylamines, alkylaminebetaines, optionally interrupted by at least one group such as ether, ester, amide, substituted or unsubstituted ; their copolymers and their mixtures.

3. Composition according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a polysiloxane chosen from the following: - those of Formula 1:

those of Formula 2

R being for formulas 1 and 2: alkyl, alkylaryl, alkenyl, polyether, alkylpolyether, alkylamine, alkylaminebetaine, optionally interrupted by a group such as ether, ester, amide, substituted or not.

- those of Formula 3

the indices, m and n of formulas 1 and 2 and m, n, p and q of formula 3, above are independently of whole numbers giving these compounds a molecular mass of between 100 and 20000, advantageously between 1000 and 10000.

4. Composition according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a diluting agent.

5. Composition according to claim 4, in which the diluting agent is chosen from the group consisting of aqueous solvents, non-aqueous solvents and their mixtures; said composition being in the form of a solution, an emulsion or a micro-emulsion, optionally encapsulated, in the case of modified polysiloxanes, and being in the form of an emulsion, optionally encapsulated, in the case polysiloxanes.

6. Composition according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the proportion of said modified or unmodified polysiloxane is between 0.5 and 20% by weight of the composition, preferably between 1 and 10% by weight, more preferably between 2 and 6% by weight of the composition.

7. Composition according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an effective amount of at least one hydrating agent.

8. Composition according to claim 7, in which said hydrating agent is chosen from polyols, in particular from glycols, reduced sugars, in particular having a carbon chain of 4 to 8 carbon atoms, and in particular xylitol, sorbitol, pentaerythritol. , unreduced sugars, in particular fructose, propylene glycol derivatives, polyvinyl alcohols, in particular polyvinyl alcohols having a molecular weight by weight (Mw) of between 200 and 100,000, preferably between 1,500 and 20,000.

9. Composition according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an effective amount of at least one surfactant and / or at least one antistatic agent and / or at least one bacteriostatic agent and / or at least one emulsifying agent.

10. Support comprising a composition according to any one of the preceding claims.

11. Support according to claim 10, chosen from the group consisting of textile articles, papers and sponges.

12. Use of a polysiloxane, modified or not, for the preparation of a nacre maintenance product.

13. Use of a composition, supported or not, as defined in any one of claims 1 to 9, for the maintenance of mother-of-pearl.

14. Use of a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 9, for the preparation of a nacre maintenance product, supported or not.

15. Use according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that said mother-of-pearl is the mother-of-pearl.

16. Use according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that said mother-of-pearl is the mother-of-pearl of a black pearl.

17. Pearl comprising mother-of-pearl, characterized in that it is coated with a composition as defined in claims 1 to 9.

18. Pearl according to claim 17 characterized in that it is a black pearl.