Low viscosity quaternary ammonium ethosulfate compositions and methods

Quaternary ammonium ethosalts are prepared by reacting an amine of the general formula R1R2R3N with diethyl sulphate in the presence of at least 2%, by weight of the amine R1R2R3N, of a trialkanolamine in which each alkanol group contains up to 6 carbon atoms, R1 and R2 being alkyl groups containing 1-6 carbon atoms and R3 being an alkyl or alkenyl group containing 10-22 carbon atoms. The reaction products are believed to be of the general formula (R1R2R3(C2H5)N)+(C2H5 SO4)-. The amine and diethyl sulphate are preferably used in substantially stoichiometric proportions. The reaction temperature is preferably in the range of 91-104 DEG C. and is preferably maintained in this range by controlling the rate at which the diethyl sulphate is added to a heated mixture of the amine and the trialkanolamine. The reaction product may be diluted with water to give a composition which preferably contains water as the major component by weight. Specified amines are dimethyl lauryl amine, dimethyl cetyl amine and dimethyl soya amine. The example describes the reaction of dimethyl soya amine with diethyl sulphate in the presence of triethanolamine.ALSO:Quaternary ammonium ethosalts, believed to be of the general formula prepared by reacting an amine of the general formula R1R2R3N with diethyl sulphate in the presence of a trialkanolamine, are used as components of detergent lubricating oils such as compounded mineral lubricating oils. The groups R1 and R2 are alkyl groups containing 1-6 carbon atoms and R3 is an alkyl or alkenyl group containing 10-22 carbon atoms. The trialkanolamine is used in an amount of at least 2% by weight of the amine and each alkanol group of the trialkanolamine contains up to 6 carbon atoms.