Lubricants for spinning combed wool slivers and methods of using the same

Abstract

Lubrication of wool fibers for combed wool sliver production, via contacting of the wool fibers with a lubrication composition including a mixture of C 6-22 fatty acid methyl esters based on fatty acids selected from the group consisting of coconut fatty acids, palm kernel fatty acids, palm oil fatty acids, and mixtures thereof, is disclosed.

1 - 10 . (Canceled)  
     
     
         11 . A process for lubricating wool for combed wool sliver production, said process comprising: 
 (a) providing wool fiber to be lubricated;    (b) providing a lubricant composition comprising a mixture of C 6-22  fatty acid methyl esters based on fatty acids selected from the group consisting of coconut fatty acids, palm kernel fatty acids, palm oil fatty acids, and mixtures thereof; and    (c) contacting the wool fiber with the lubricant composition.    
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 11 , wherein the lubricant composition comprises from 50 to 95% by weight of the mixture of C 6-22  fatty acid methyl esters.  
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 11 , wherein the lubricant composition comprises from 60 to 80% by weight of the mixture of C 6-22  fatty acid methyl esters.  
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 11 , wherein the mixture of C 6-22  fatty acid methyl esters comprises a mixture of coconut fatty acid methyl esters.  
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 14 , wherein the mixture of coconut fatty acid methyl esters comprises lauric acid methyl esters and myristic acid methyl esters.  
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 15 , wherein the lauric acid methyl esters are present in an amount of from 45 to 51% by weight, and the myristic acid methyl esters are present in an amount of from 16.5 to 18.5% by weight.  
     
     
         17 . The process according to  claim 11 , wherein the mixture of C 6-22  fatty acid methyl esters comprises a mixture of palm kernel fatty acid methyl esters.  
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein the mixture of palm kernel fatty acid methyl esters comprises lauric acid methyl esters, myristic acid methyl esters and oleic acid methyl esters.  
     
     
         19 . The process according to  claim 18 , wherein the lauric acid methyl esters are present in an amount of about 50% by weight.  
     
     
         20 . The process according to  claim 11 , wherein the mixture of C 6-22  fatty acid methyl esters comprises a mixture of palm oil fatty acid methyl esters.  
     
     
         21 . The process according to  claim 20 , wherein the mixture of palm oil fatty acid methyl esters comprises palmitic acid methyl esters, oleic acid methyl esters and linoleic acid methyl esters.  
     
     
         22 . The process according to  claim 21 , wherein the palmitic acid methyl esters and the oleic acid methyl esters are each present in an amount of from about 41 to about 42% by weight.  
     
     
         23 . The process according to  claim 11 , wherein the mixture of C 6-22  fatty acid methyl esters comprises a mixture of coconut fatty acid methyl esters, palm kernel fatty acid methyl esters, and palm oil fatty acid methyl esters.  
     
     
         24 . The process according to  claim 23 , wherein the coconut fatty acid methyl esters, the palm kernel fatty acid methyl esters, and the palm oil fatty acid methyl esters are present in a ratio by weight of 1:1:1.  
     
     
         25 . A lubricant composition for wool fiber comprising: a mixture of C 6-22  fatty acid methyl esters consisting essentially of esters derived from fatty acids selected from the group consisting of coconut fatty acids, palm kernel fatty acids, palm oil fatty acids, and mixtures thereof; and emulsifiers.  
     
     
         26 . The lubricant composition according to  claim 25 , wherein the mixture of C 6-22  fatty acid methyl esters is present in an amount of from 60 to 80% by weight, based on the composition.  
     
     
         27 . The lubricant composition according to  claim 25 , wherein the mixture of C 6-22  fatty acid methyl esters consists essentially of a mixture of coconut fatty acid methyl esters, palm kernel fatty acid methyl esters, and palm oil fatty acid methyl esters.  
     
     
         28 . The lubricant composition according to  claim 27 , wherein the coconut fatty acid methyl esters, the palm kernel fatty acid methyl esters, and the palm oil fatty acid methyl esters are present in a ratio by weight of 1:1:1.