Underwater biocidal wax composition and preparation thereof

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The wax compositions of this invention comprise several types of waxes: paraffin waxes, microcrystalline, and chlorinated waxes.
Each type contributes a needed property to the final wax coating or its application.
Unlike the wax composition of U.
S.
Pat.
No.
4,293,339, which has extremely hydrophobic fluorinated compounds, these waxes also must be optimized for underwater application and compatibility to prevent separation over the operational temperature range.
A paraffin wax refers to the waxes derived from the wax-distillate fraction of crude petroleum and has a molecular weight from about 260 to about 460 and a melting point from about 49.
degree.
C.
to about 60.
degree.
C.
Paraffin waxes improve spreadability, but are not durable.
The principle purpose of a paraffin wax in the subject wax compositions is to be a solvent for the polymer in the biocidal gel.
The preferred paraffin waxes have a melting point from 55.
degree.
C.
to 60.
degree.
C.
and a molecular weight from 260 to 350.
Microcrystalline waxes are derived from the heavy lubricating-oil fractions of the petroleum distillate.
A microcrystalline wax has an average molecular weight from about 400 to about 700, has from about 40 to about 50 carbon atoms, and a melting point above about 65.
degree.
C.
A microcrystalline wax is generally tough but difficult to spread.
The presence of a paraffin wax, for example, would compensate for the low plasticity of a microcrystalline wax.
Petrolatum is a two-phase colloidal system or gel consisting of high molecular weight hydrocarbon oils dispersed in microcrystalline waxes.
Composition and physical properties vary considerably and so petrolatum is described by its physical properties.
Chlorinated waxes (chlorowaxes) are short-chain chlorinated aliphatic saturated hydrocarbons.
The properties of a particular commercial chlorinated wax depend on the nature of the starting paraffin, the chlorine content and the manufacturing process.
The chlorinated waxes of this invention have, on an average, from about 10 to about 30 carbon atoms and a chlorine content from about 40 to about 70 percent