Transparent candle and method of making

Abstract

Provided is a transparent candle comprised substantially of tetraesters of di(trimethylolpropane)

1 . A transparent candle comprising an ester of formula I  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         Wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  are, independently, a linear or branched alkyl group having from about 9 to about 29 carbon atoms.  
       
     
     
         2 . The transparent candle of  claim 1  wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  are, independently a linear C 13 , C 15 , or C 17  alkyl group.  
     
     
         3 . The transparent candle of  claim 2  wherein about 10% by weight of all R groups, combined, are linear C 17  alkyl groups; about 35% by weight of all R groups, combined, are linear C 13  alkyl groups; and about 55% by weight of all R groups, combined, are linear C 15  alkyl groups.  
     
     
         4 . The transparent candle of  claim 2  having a burn pool temperature of about 55° C. to 60° C.  
     
     
         5 . The transparent candle of  claim 2  having an optical transparency of at least 80%  
     
     
         6 . The transparent candle of  claim 2  having a color number of about −1 on the Gardner scale.  
     
     
         7 . The transparent candle of  claim 2  having a burn rate of about 3.0 to about 50 grams per hour.  
     
     
         8 . The transparent candle of  claim 2  further comprising at least one synthetic wax, paraffin wax, or hydrogenated oil.  
     
     
         9 . The transparent candle of  claim 8  further comprising at least one additive selected from the group consisting of: fragrances, coloring agents, insect repellants, and tack-reducing agent.  
     
     
         10 . A method of making an ester of structure I  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 , group is, independently, a linear or branched alky group having from about 9 to about 19 carbon atoms comprising the steps of: 
 a) combining a molar quantity of di(trimethylolpropane), an esterification catalyst, and a molar quantity equal to at least about four times the molar quantity of di(trimethylolpropane) of at least one fatty acid of formula RCOOH, wherein R is a linear or branched alkyl group having about 9 to about 29 carbon atoms,  
 b) heating the combination to a reaction temperature for a reaction time, during which reaction time a molar quantity of water equal to about four times the molar quantity of di(trimethylyolpropane) combined is distilled-off, and  
 c) isolating the ester of structure I.  
 
       
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the esterification catalyst is selected from the group consisting of dibutyltin oxide, tetraisopropyl titanate, tosic acid, methanesulfonic acid, zinc chloride, boron trifluoride, tannic acid, and sodium hydrogen sulfate.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the esterification catalyst is tetraisopropyl titanate.  
     
     
         13 . A transparent candle comprising an ester made according to the method of  claim 11 .  
     
     
         14 . A transparent candle comprising: 
 a) an ester of structure I                           wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 is, independently a linear C 13 , C 15 , or C 17  alkyl group, with the proviso that about 35% by weight of all R groups, combined, are linear C 13  alkyl groups; about 55% by weight of all R groups, combined, are linear C 15  alkyl groups; and about 10% by weight of all R groups, combined, are C 17  alkyl groups;    b) a surface tack reducing agent,    c) a suppressing agent, and    d) a synthetic wax or a paraffin wax.    
     
     
         15 . The transparent candle of  claim 14  further comprising at least one additive that is selected from the group consisting of fragrances and coloring agents.  
     
     
         16 . The transparent candle of  claim 14  further comprising a wick.