Cross-linked gel modeling composition

• US 4,735,660 A
• Filed: 06/26/1987
• Issued: 04/05/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Cane, Albert
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Theodore
• Application Number:
  US07/067,520
• Time in Patent Office: 284 Days
• Field of Search: 106/163.1, 106/209, 106/208, 106/203
• US Class Current: 106/162.5
• CPC Class Codes: C08B 37/0096 Guar, guar gum, guar flour, guaran, i.e. (beta-1,4) linked D-mannose units in the main chain branched with D-galactose units in (alpha-1,6), e.g. from Cyamopsis Tetragonolobus; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/02 Organic macromolecular compounds, natural resins, waxes or and bituminous materials
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 5/14 Hemicellulose; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 97/02 Lignocellulosic material, e.g. wood, straw or bagasse manufacture of articles made from lignocellulosic material by dry processes B27N

Abstract

A cross-linked gel modeling composition of various colors that is cohesively strong but pliable and ductile which results from the addition of wood flour to a waterbased gel using cross-linkable guar gum as a gellant.

Claims

1. A cross-linked gel modeling composition which is cohesively strong yet ductile and pliable comprising water, a buffer system to control the pH range for hydration and cross-linking polygalactomannan, a cross-linking agent for polygalactomannan and wood flour, wherein the polygalactomannan and cross-linking agent are present in the amount ranging from about 1% to about 10% and wood flour is present in the amount ranging from about 5% to about 25%, and water is present in a major amount, said percentages being based on the total weight of the composition.

2. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the pH buffer system includes monobasic sodium phosphate and dibasic sodium phosphate.

3. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the cross-linking agent is of the boron oxide type.

4. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the wood flour particle size ranges from 40 to 200 mesh.

5. The composition according to claim 4 wherein the wood flour is white pine.

6. The composition according to claim 1 including at least one preservative which includes zinc borate, methyl p-hydroxybenzoate, prophyl p-hydroxybenzoate, edetic acid, and mixtures thereof.

7. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the polygalactomannan and cross-linking agent are about 4% by weight of the composition.

8. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the wood flour is about 13% by weight of the composition.

9. A process for making a cohesively strong yet ductile and pliable modeling composition comprising the steps of mixing a buffer component on the acid side, water, wood flour, guar gum, and a cross-linking agent for the guar gum of the boron oxide type until complete hydration of the guar gum occurs, and then combining with additional water which is premixed with a buffer component on the basic side until cross-linking of the guar gum occurs.

10. A process according to claim 9 including the step of adding a preservative.

11. A process according to claim 9 including the step of adding a colorant.