[0001] This invention relates to lubricants used with refrigerants, and more particularly
to lubricants suitable for use in the compression of refrigerants containing no chlorine
such as hydroflorocarbons (HFC), preferably HFC-134a (1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane) and
the like.
[0002] Heretofore, compounds containing fluorine and chlorine as a constituent element such
as R-11 (trichloromonofluoromethane), R-12 (dichlorodifluoromethane) as a chlorofluorocarbon
(CFC), R-22 (monochlorodifluoromethane) as a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) and the
like have been used as a refrigerant for freezers, air conditioners, refrigerators
and the like. In connection with recent problem on breakage of ozone layer, new refrigerants
containing no chlorine such as HFC-134a and so on are proposed as a possible replacement
for R-12, causing no breakage of ozone layer.
[0003] As a refrigeration lubricant, there are known many mineral-series and synthetic oils.
However, it has been confirmed that these oils are very poor in the compatibility
with HFC-134a and can not be applied thereto. Therefore, it is important to take a
countermeasure on this problem at the present. Furthermore, the lubricity, electric
insulating property, energy saving property, anti-wear performance, sealability, thermal
stability, prevention of sludge formation and the like are mentioned as performances
required in the refrigeration lubricant, so that they are required to be considered
in the development of the above countermeasure.
[0004] Incidentally, there have hitherto been known polyether series synthetic lubricants
as a synthetic oil, which are reported in Journal of the Oil Chemistry, vol. 29, No.
9, pp 336-343 (1980) and Journal of the Petroleum Technology, vol. 8, No. 6, pp 562-566
(1985). Furthermore, Japanese Patent laid open No. 61-281199 describes a mixture of
polyglycol represented by a general formula of R₁[O-(R₂O)
m-R₃]
n, an alkylbenzene and the like, and Japanese Patent laid open No. 57-63395 describes
an oil obtained by mixing a polyether such as high molecular weight polyoxypropylene
monobutyl ether with an epoxycycloalkyl compound, and Japanese Patent laid open No.
59-117590 describes a high viscosity mixed oil of a polyether compound and a paraffinic
or naphthanic mineral oil.
[0005] However, the conventional synthetic lubricants as mentioned above can not be a refrigeration
lubricant using HFC-134a as a refrigerant from a viewpoint of compatibility and the
like.
[0006] In US Patent No. 4,755,316, polyoxyalkylene glycol (hereinafter abbreviated as PAG)
having hydroxyl groups (-OH) at both terminals is reported as a refrigeration lubricant
using HFC-134a. Further, it is described that PAG is dissolved in HFC-134a within
a wide temperature range as compared with general PAG containing hydroxyl group and
alkyl group at its terminals, whereby the recycle of the lubricant into a compressor
is improved in the refrigeration system and the seizuring in the actuation of the
compressor at high temperature is prevented. Moreover, the temperature range compatible
with HFC-134a is described to be between -40°C and +50°C.
[0007] On the contrary, HFC-134a is a replacing refrigerant of R-12 and is mainly expected
for use in a car air conditioner, a refrigerator and the like. In case of the refrigerator,
it is required to have a good compatibility between lubricant and refrigerant, and
further the lubricant itself is necessary to have an electric insulating property
because the motor is substantially existent in the refrigeration system. However,
the conventional compounds examined as a lubricant for HFC-134a refrigerant inclusive
of PAG disclosed in US Patent No. 4,755,316 are remarkably poor in the electric insulating
property as compared with the conventional refrigeration mineral oil and high in the
hygroscopicity.
[0008] It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a refrigeration lubricant
having an excellent compatibility with a new refrigerant such as HFC-134a or the like
within a wide temperature range, a high electric insulating property and a low hygroscopicity.
[0009] At the present, a part of commercially available esters is used in systems using
refrigerants R-12, R-22 and the like, but is incompatible with HFC-134a as a new refrigerant
or is very narrow in the compatible range therewith. In this connection, the inventors
have aimed at the fact that the ester has a high electric insulating property, a low
hygroscopicity, a good lubricity and a high stability as compared with PAG and made
various studies with respect to the molecule design of the ester showing a wide range
of compatibility with HFC-134a, and found that only esters having a considerably restricted
structure can be used in the HFC-134a refrigeration system, and as a result, the invention
has been accomplished.
[0010] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is the provision of a lubricant
for hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant such as HFC-134a and the like comprising as a main
component an ester comprised of neopentyl glycol and at least one straight or branched-chain
monovalent fatty acid having a carbon number of 3-18.
[0011] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is the provision of a lubricant
for hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant such as HFC-134a and the like comprising as a main
component an ester comprised of at least one of pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol
and tripentaerythritol represented by the following general formula (I):

(in which n is 1, 2 or 3), and at least one straight or branched-chain monovalent
fatty acid having a carbon number of 2-18.
[0012] According to a third aspect of the invention, there is the provision of a lubricant
for hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant such as HFC-134a and the like comprising as a main
component an ester comprised of a polyvalent alcohol represented by the following
general formula (II):

(in which R is an alkyl group having a carbon number of not more than 3), at least
one straight or branched-chain monovalent fatty acid having a carbon number of 2-18,
and not more than 25 mol% per total fatty acid of at least one polybasic acid having
a carbon number of 4-36.
[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant is
1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a).
[0014] The refrigeration lubricant for refrigerant HFC-134a and the like according to the
first invention comprises an ester obtained by esterifying neopentyl glycol with at
least one straight or branched-chain monovalent fatty acid having a carbon number
of 3-18 as a main component.
[0015] In the first invention, the reason why the carbon number of the monovalent fatty
acid is limited to 3-18 is due to the fact that when the carbon number is less than
3, the viscosity is too low, while when it exceeds 18, the resulting ester becomes
cloudy or becomes very poor in the compatibility with the refrigerant HFC-134a and
the like.
[0016] As the monovalent fatty acid, mention may be made of propionic acid, isopropionic
acid, butanoic acid, isobutanoic acid, pentanoic acid, isopentanoic acid, hexanoic
acid, heptanoic acid, isoheptanoic acid, octanoic acid, 2-ethyl hexanoic acid, nonanoic
acid, 3,5,5-trimethyl hexanoic acid, decanoic acid, undecanoic acid, lauric acid,
myristic acid, palmitic acid, palmitooleic acid, stearic acid, isostearic acid, oleic
acid, and the like.
[0017] In the first invention, at least one of these monovalent fatty acids is properly
mixed and esterified with neopentyl glycol to obtain an ester satisfying desirable
physical properties required for various refrigerators.
[0018] In order to obtain a sufficiently satisfactory compatibility with the refrigerant
HFC-134a and the like, it is preferable to use a mixture of straight chain fatty acid
having a carbon number of 3-11, preferably 5-10 and a branched-chain fatty acid having
a carbon number of 3-14, preferably 7-9 as the monovalent fatty acid. In this case,
the amount of the straight or branched-chain fatty acid used is preferable to be not
less than 50 mol% per the total monovalent fatty acid used.
[0019] According to the invention, in order to give a proper viscosity to the resulting
ester, at least one polybasic acid having a carbon number of 4-36 may be esterified
with neopentyl glycol in an amount of not more than 80 mol% per total fatty acid.
Among the polybasic acids, considering the more compatibility with the refrigerant
HFC-134a and the like and the physical properties of the resulting ester, a polybasic
acid having a carbon number of 4-10 is preferable.
[0020] Concretely, the polybasic acid includes succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid,
pimelic acid, suberic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid, phthalic acid, maleic acid,
trimellitic acid and so on. Moreover, the polybasic acid having a carbon number of
not more than 3 is a special product and is difficult to be cheaply available and
is poor in the stability of the ester after the synthesis. While, when the carbon
number exceeds 36, the compatibility of the resulting ester with HFC-134a and the
like is largely lowered. In the invention, the reason why the amount of the polybasic
acid added is limited to not more than 80 mol% per the total fatty acid is due to
the fact that when it exceeds 80 mol%, the gelation may be caused and it is difficult
to obtain desirable physical properties.
[0021] The ester compounds according to the first invention can be obtained by the esterification
reaction through dehydration reaction between the specified polyvalent alcohol and
the specified fatty acid as mentioned above, or the general esterification reaction
through an acid anhydride, an acid chloride or the like as a derivative of the fatty
acid.
[0022] Since the ester according to the invention can be obtained by the above method, the
remaining acid value and hydroxyl value are not particularly critical. However, when
the acid value exceeds 3, there may be caused an unfavorable phenomenon that the metal
soap is formed and precipitated by the reaction with a metal used inside the refrigerator,
so that the acid value is preferable to be not more than 3. Furthermore, when the
hydroxyl value exceeds 50, there may be caused an unfavorable phenomenon that the
resulting ester becomes cloudy, so that the hydroxyl value is preferable to be not
more than 50.
[0023] The lubricant for refrigerant HFC-134a and the like according to the second invention
comprises an ester obtained by esterifying at least one of pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol
and tripentaerythritol represented by the aforementioned general formula (I) with
at least one straight or branched-chain monovalent fatty acid having a carbon number
of 2-18 as a main component.
[0024] In the condensate of pentaerythritol, the polymerization degree may be determined
in accordance with the viscosity required in the resulting synthesized ester.
[0025] In the second invention, the carbon number of the monovalent fatty acid is limited
to 2-18 because when it exceeds 18, the resulting ester becomes cloudy or becomes
very poor in the compatibility with the refrigerant HFC-134a and the like.
[0026] As the monovalent fatty acid, mention may be made of acetic acid, propionic acid,
isopropionic acid, butanoic acid, isobutanoic acid, pentanoic acid, isopentanoic acid,
hexanoic acid, heptanoic acid, isoheptanoic acid, octanoic acid, 2-ethyl hexanoic
acid, nonanoic acid, 3,5,5-trimethyl hexanoic acid, decanoic acid, undecanoic acid,
lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, palmitooleic acid, stearic acid, isostearic
acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid and the like.
[0027] In the second invention, at least one of these monovalent fatty acids is properly
mixed and esterified with pentaerythritol or its condensate to obtain an ester satisfying
desirable physical properties required for various refrigerators.
[0028] In order to obtain a sufficiently satisfactory compatibility with the refrigerant
HFC-134a and the like, it is preferable to use a mixture of straight chain fatty acid
having a carbon number of 3-11, preferably 5-10 and a branched-chain fatty acid having
a carbon number of 3-14, preferably 7-9 as the monovalent fatty acid. In this case,
the amount of the straight or branched-chain fatty acid used is preferable to be not
less than 50 mol% per the total monovalent fatty acid used.
[0029] On the other hand, in order to give a proper viscosity to the resulting ester, at
least one polybasic acid having a carbon number of 4-36 may be esterified with at
least one of pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol and tripentaerythritol in an amount
of not more than 80 mol% per total fatty acid. In this case, the same polybasic acids
as described in the first invention are used in the same manner as in the first invention.
[0030] The ester compounds according to the second invention can be obtained by the same
method as in the first invention.
[0031] In the esters according to the second invention, the acid value is preferable to
be not more than 3 and the hydroxyl value is preferable to be not more than 50 likewise
the case of the first invention.
[0032] The lubricant for refrigerant HFC-134a and the like according to the third invention
comprises an ester obtained by esterifying a polyvalent alcohol represented by the
aforementioned general formula (II) with at least one straight or branched-chain monovalent
fatty acid having a carbon number of 2-18 and not more than 25 mol% per total fatty
acid of at least one polybasic acid having a carbon number of 4-36 as a main component.
[0033] When the carbon number of R in the general formula (II) is not less than 4, the compatibility
of the resulting ester with HFC-134a and the like is largely lowered. As the polyvalent
alcohol, mention may be made of trimethylol ethane, trimethylol propane, trimethylol
butane and the like.
[0034] In the third invention, when the carbon number of the monovalent fatty acid is more
than 18, it becomes very poor in the compatibility of the resulting synthesized ester
with HFC-134a and the like. Particularly, the straight or branched-chain monovalent
fatty acids having a carbon number of 3-10 are preferable. As the monovalent fatty
acid, mention may be made of the same compounds as described in the second invention.
[0035] As to the polybasic acid, the polybasic acid having a carbon number of not more than
3 is a special product and is difficult to be cheaply available and is poor in the
stability of the ester after the synthesis. While, when the carbon number exceeds
36, the compatibility of the resulting ester with HFC-134a and the like is largely
lowered. Therefore, the carbon number of the polybasic acid is preferable to be 4-36,
and particularly the carbon number of 4-10 is favorable for ensuring the compatibility
with HFC-134a at a wide range. As the polybasic acid, mention may be made of adipic
acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid and so on. Preferably, the monovalent fatty acid
is 2-ethylhexanoic acid, and the polybasic acid is adipic acid.
[0036] Moreover, the reason why the amount of the polybasic acid added in the invention
is limited to not more than 25 mol% per the total fatty acid is due to the fact that
when it exceeds 25 mol%, the gelation may be caused and it is difficult to obtain
desirable physical properties.
[0037] The ester compounds according to the third invention can be obtained by the same
method as in the first and second inventions. In any case, it is desirable that the
ester does not contain carboxyl group.
[0038] The esters according to the invention exhibit a good compatibility with the refrigerant
HFC-134a and the like over a wide range of from low temperature to high temperature
as a lubricant for use in a refrigerator using HFC-134a as a refrigerant, whereby
the lubricity and thermal stability of the refrigeration lubricant can be considerably
improved. Furthermore, they are high in the electric insulating property and small
in the hygroscopicity as compared with PAG conventionally examined as a refrigeration
lubricant for HFC-134a. Therefore, the refrigeration lubricants comprising the ester
according to the invention as a main component can solve the problems on the compatibility
with HFC-134a and the hygroscopicity, which have never been solved in the conventional
technique, and can further enhance the electric insulating property, which comes into
problem when HFC-134a is used in a compressor for a refrigerator.
[0039] Moreover, additives usually used in the lubricant such as antioxidant, anti-wear
agent, epoxy compound and the like may properly be added to the refrigeration lubricant
according to the invention.
[0040] The following examples are given in illustration of the invention and are not intended
as limitations thereof.
Examples 1-8, Comparative Examples 1-5
[0041] The performances as a refrigeration lubricant using HFC-134a as a refrigerant were
evaluated with respect to eight esters A-1 - A-8 shown in the following Table 1 (all
of which esters were not commercially available but were prepared according to the
first invention). For the comparison, the same evaluation as mentioned above was made
with respect to commercially available PAG (B-1 - B-3, made by Asahi Denka Co., Ltd.)
and esters (C-1 - C-2, made by Nippon Oil and Fats Co., Ltd.) as a refrigeration lubricant
shown in the following Table 2.
[0042] The lubricity, compatibility, thermal stability, electric insulating property and
hygroscopicity as performances of the refrigeration lubricant for the compressor shown
in Tables 1 and 2 were evaluated under the following conditions.
Lubricity
[0043] Seizuring load (Falex load-carrying capacity) was measured according to ASTM D-3233-73
under a controlled atmosphere of HFC-134a blown.
Compatibility
[0044] After 0.6 g of the test lubricant and 2.4 g of the refrigerant (HFC-134a) were sealed
in a glass tube, the cooling at 1°C/min and the heating were carried out, during which
a temperature causing two-phase separation was measured.
Thermal stability
[0045] After 1 g of the test lubricant, 1 g of the refrigerant (HFC-134a or R-12) and a
catalyst (wire of iron, copper or aluminum) were sealed in a glass tube, the mixture
was heated to 175°C, and a color of the lubricant after 10 days was judged by ASTM
color system according to ANSI/ASHRAE 97-1983.
Electric insulating property
[0046] It was evaluated by a dielectric constant at 80°C according to JIS C-2101.
Hygroscopicity
[0047] Into a beaker of 100 mℓ was charged 60 g of the test lubricant, which was left to
stand at a temperature of 25°C and a humidity of 70% for 3 hours and then the water
concentration was measured.
[0049] As seen from Table 3, when the esters according to the invention are compared with
the conventional PGA (B-1 - B-3), the electric insulating property represented by
the dielectric constant is 100,000 times or more and the two-phase separation at a
high temperature is not caused. Furthermore, the seizuring load is excellent and the
hygroscopicity is low. The thermal stability is equal in case of the HFC-134a system,
but is considerably excellent in case of the R-12 system. This is very advantageous
in practical use because the mixing of HFC-134a and R-12 is not avoided at a stage
of replacing the refrigerant from R-12 to HFC-134a.
[0050] On the other hand, when the esters according to the invention are compared with the
commercially available esters (C-1 - C-2), the two-phase separation temperature is
extremely different and the conventional esters are insoluble in HFC-134a. In this
point, the molecule designed esters according to the invention have a great merit.
[0051] As seen from the above, the esters according to the invention are fairly excellent
in the performances as a lubricant as compared with Comparative Examples.
Examples 9-17
[0052] The performances as a refrigeration lubricant using HFC-134a as a refrigerant were
evaluated with respect to nine esters A-9 - A-17 shown in the following Table 4 (all
of which esters were not commercially available but were prepared according to the
second invention). The same evaluation as in Example 1 was made to obtain results
as shown in the following Table 5.

[0053] As seen from Table 5, when the esters according to the invention are compared with
the conventional PGA (B-1 - B-3) shown in Tables 2 and 3, the electric insulating
property represented by the dielectric constant is 100,000 times or more and the two-phase
separation at a high temperature is not caused. Furthermore, the seizuring load is
excellent and the hygroscopicity is low. The thermal stability is equal in case of
the HFC-134a system, but is considerably excellent in case of the R-12 system. This
is very advantageous in practical use because the mixing of HFC-134a and R-12 is not
avoided at a stage of replacing the refrigerant from R-12 to HFC-134a.
[0054] On the other hand, when the esters according to the invention are compared with the
commercially available esters (C-1 - C-2) shown in Tables 2 and 3, the two-phase separation
temperature is extremely different and the conventional esters are insoluble in HFC-134a.
In this point, the molecule designed esters according to the invention have a great
merit.
[0055] As seen from the above, the esters according to the invention are fairly excellent
in the performances as a lubricant as compared with Comparative Examples.
[0056] The HFC-134a has been mentioned as a possible replacement for R-12 and is used for
car air conditioner, refrigerator and the like. Particularly, in case of the car air
conditioner, the compressor is driven in summer season, so that the compatibility
between oil and refrigerant at high temperature becomes important. When the two-phase
separation between oil and refrigerant is caused in the compressor during the driving,
the refrigerant having a larger specific gravity remains in the lower portion of the
compressor, resulting in the occurrence of compressor seizuring.
[0057] In case of the refrigerator, the motor is included in the compressor, so that leakage
of electricity comes into problem. In this connection, the esters according to the
invention have a dielectric constant higher by 100,000 times or more than that of
the conventional PAG and are excellent in the electric insulating property, so that
they can be said to be a refrigeration lubricant for the refrigerator.
[0058] Concretely, lubricants having a dynamic viscosity of 10-50 cSt at 40°C are used as
a lubricant for the refrigerator requiring a two-phase separation temperature of not
higher than -40°C, so that the esters A-10, A-11 and A-12 are particularly suitable
therefor. On the other hand, lubricants having a dynamic viscosity of 80-150 cSt at
40°C are used as a lubricant for the car air conditioner requiring a two-phase separation
temperature of not higher than -20°C, so that the esters A-9, A-13, A-14, A-16 and
A-17 are particularly suitable therefor.
Examples 18-25
[0059] The performances as a refrigeration lubricant using HFC-134a as a refrigerant were
evaluated with respect to eight esters A-18 - A-25 shown in the following Table 6
(all of which esters were not commercially available but were prepared according to
the third invention). The same evaluation as in Example 1 was made to obtain results
as shown in the following Table 7.

[0060] As seen from Table 7, when the esters according to the invention are compared with
the conventional PGA (B-1 - B-3) shown in Tables 2 and 3, the electric insulating
property represented by the dielectric constant is 100,000 times or more and the two-phase
separation at a high temperature is not caused. Furthermore, the seizuring load is
excellent and the hygroscopicity is low. The thermal stability is equal in case of
the HFC-134a system, but is considerably excellent in case of the R-12 system.
[0061] Recently, HFC-134a causing substantially no breakage of ozone layer is closed up
instead of R-12 widely used as a refrigerant in order to cope with the breakage of
ozone layer through chlorofluorocarbon and hydrochlorofluorocarbon being a greatest
problem in world-wide scale, but is poor in the compatibility with the conventional
refrigeration lubricant, which is a bar for the development of replacement system.
However, the refrigeration lubricants according to the invention have a sufficient
compatibility with HFC-134a as a refrigerant and a high electric insulating property
and also are excellent in the total performances, so that they have an effect that
the conventional systems can be used as they are even when HFC-134a is used instead
of the conventional R-12 and R-22 as a refrigerant.
1. Use of a lubricant for compressors using a hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant containing
no chlorine, comprising as a main component an ester(s) obtained by reacting (a) at
least one polyvalent alcohol selected from the group consisting of trimethylol ethane,
trimethylol propane and trimethylol butane with (b) at least one straight chain or
branched-chain monovalent saturated fatty acid having a carbon number of 2-18.
2. Use of a lubricant for compressors using a hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant containing
no chlorine, comprising as a main component an ester(s) obtained by reacting (a) at
least one polyvalent alcohol selected from the group consisting of trimethylol ethane,
trimethylol propane and trimethylol butane with (b) at least one straight chain or
branched-chain monovalent saturated fatty acid having a carbon number of 3-18 and
(c) at least one saturated polybasic acid having a carbon number of 4-10 in which
an amount of said saturated polybasic acid is not more than 25 mol% per total of said
monovalent saturated fatty acid and said saturated polybasic acid used.
3. The use according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said monovalent saturated fatty acid
is a straight chain monovalent saturated fatty acid and/or a branched-chain monovalent
saturated fatty acid having a carbon number of 3-10.
4. The use according to claim 3, wherein said monovalent saturated fatty acid is selected
from the group consisting of pentanoic acid, hexanoic acid, heptanoic acid, octanoic
acid, nonanoic acid, decanoic acid, isoheptanoic acid, 2-methylhexanoic acid, 2,2-dimethylpentanoic
acid, 2-ethylpentanoic acid, 3-ethylpentanoic acid, 3-methylhexanoic acid, 4-methylhexanoic
acid, 5-methylhexanoic acid, isooctanoic acid, 2-methylheptanoic acid, 3-methylheptanoic
acid, 4-methylheptanoic acid, 2-ethylhexanoic acid, 2-propylpentanoic acid, 2,2-dimethylhexanoic
acid, 2,4-dimethylhexanoic acid, 3,5-dimethylhexanoic acid, 2,2,4-trimethylpentanoic
acid, isononanoic acid, 2-methyloctanoic acid, 3-methyloctanoic acid, 2,2-dimethylheptanoic
acid, 2-ethylheptanoic acid and 3,5,5-trimethylhexanoic acid.
5. The use according to anyone of claims 1 to 4, wherein said ester has a hydroxyl value
of not more than 50, a dielectric constant at 80°C of not less than 10¹² Ω · cm and
a two-phase separation temperature at low temperature side of not higher than -25°C
in the coexistence with said hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant.
6. The use according to anyone of claims 1 to 5, wherein said hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant
is 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane.
7. The use according to claim 2, wherein said saturated polybasic acid is selected from
the group consisting of succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, suberic acid, pimelic
acid, azelaic acid and sebacic acid.
8. A lubricant for compressors using a hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant containing no chlorine,
comprising as a main component an ester(s) obtained by reacting (a) at least one polyvalent
alcohol selected from the group consisting of trimethylol ethane, trimethylol propane
and trimethylol butane with (b) at least one straight chain or branched-chain monovalent
saturated fatty acid having a carbon number of 2-18.
9. A lubricant for compressors using a hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant containing no chlorine,
comprising as a main component an ester(s) obtained by reacting (a) at least one polyvalent
alcohol selected from the group consisting of trimethylol ethane, trimethylol propane
and trimethylol butane with (b) at least one straight chain or branched-chain monovalent
saturated fatty acid having a carbon number of 3-18 and (c) at least one saturated
polybasic acid having a carbon number of 4-10 in which an amount of said saturated
polybasic acid is not more than 25 mol% per total of said monovalent saturated fatty
acid and said saturated polybasic acid used.