3,155,624

United States Patent Office Patented Nov. 3, 1964

2
In accordance with the present invention these poor
3,155,624 characteristics of Superfatted soap bars are eliminated
S8AP-MAKENG PERCCESS AND PRODUCT and Superfatted transparent soap bars are obtained with
Williana A. Keilly, Teataeck, N.S., assign or to Lever all the desirable properties of the highest quality milled
Brother's Coapa Bay, New York, N.Y., a corporation of 5 Soap. This is achieved by the addition to a superfatted
Maine
No Drawing. Fied Jan. 26, 1960, Ser. No. 4,626
Soap of a polyhydric alcohol, such as glycerine, sorbitol,
6 Claias. (Ci. 252-22)
Sugar and pentaerythritol. The presence of a polyhydric
alcohol in superfatted soap toughens it so that it can be
This invention is concerned with a novel process for milled and plodded in the normal manner. In most cases
the manufacture of superfatted transparent soap and with 10 "transparent'bars
Superfatted made with polyhydric alcohol are more
the products obtained by the process which also possess Superfat, with than bars made of the same base without
or without polyhydric alcohols. This is
all the desirable properties of the highest quality milled
Soap. -
Surprising since at room temperature stearic acid is a
Although it has been appreciated that soaps ordinarily white opaque solid and most solids with these physical
identified as milled soap have some small degree of trans 5 properties would opacify the bar. -
The amount of free fatty acid that can be added is de
lucency, they have no transparency and are not considered pendent on the amount of polyhydric alcohol used. When
by those skilled in the soap art as transparent soaps. the free fatty acid content is increased, the polyhydric
Soaps are known in the art as transparent soaps, however, alcohol content must also be increased. For best results
and some have enjoyed for many years a limited com
mercial appeal. Such soaps, however, are expensive due 20 the quantities of each should be about equal, but the pres
to the method of making them, and those so-called trans ence of more polyhydric alcohol than free fatty acid will
not generally hurt the transparency. On the other hand,
parent soaps which attempted to use cheaper methods of if much more free fatty acid than polyhydric alcohol is
production are no longer found to be acceptable by pres
ent day commercial standards. present in the soap bar, it tends to become soft and loses
One method used in the production of the more accept transparency. The free fatty acid content should not be
able type of transparent soap is to prepare a soap base more than 1% greater than the polyhydric alcohol con
of reduced moisture content and then dissolve the soap For tent, both amounts being by weight of the finished bar.
in alcohol, removing the saline impurities by decantation. example, if a bar contains 3% free fatty acid, it will
Alcohol is recovered from the soap by distillation. The 30 isnotpresent be transparent unless at least 2% polyhydric alcohol
in the bar. In general the superfatted trans
soap mass is then cooled to solidify and mold. This
method is expensive, time consuming, and involves the parent bars will contain from about 1% to about 5% by
use of a high cost solvent. weight of free fatty acid, and polyhydric alcohol in an
A cheaper method for manufacturing a transparent amount up to about 10% by weight.
soap used the well known cold process technique. Tallow The salt and moisture limits to obtain transparency of
which is low in free acid, coconut oil and rosin are sa 35 the superfatted bars are not as critical as for non-super
ponified with caustic soda in the presence of alcohol or fatted bars. In general the moisture content of the fin
alcohol and glycerine or in the presence of a sugar solu ished bars will be in the range from about 17% to about
22.5% by weight and the salt content thereof will be from
tion, and the soap mass recovered and molded. amount up to about 10% by weight.
Another method involves the semi-boiled process and
includes crutching the initial oils and fats at approxi 40 is The primary advantage of the method of this invention
that it makes possible the economical production of a
mately 140 F., saponifying with caustic, then adding superfatted transparent soap having excellent lathering
lye, and stirring until the soap has reached a desired con properties, firmness and a smooth appearance and waxy
sistency. This is followed by adding sugar dissolved in feel. The superfatted transparent soap can be produced
water, or alcohol and glycerine or combinations thereof.
The mass is again crutched at about 160 F., and desired without waste or time loss and with minimum cost.
perfume and dyestuff added. The soap mass is molded by There is no solvent used which must be recovered. No
unusual equipment not available in ordinary soap making
framing, then slabbed, cut and pressed. It is well known
that neither the cold process nor the semi-boiled process is The required.
superfatted transparent soap produced by the
-
produced soaps of high quality.
Prior art processes for the production of transparent 50 present invention has a pleasing firm yet velvety texture.
During washing it does not form a mushy coating on its
soap are discussed by F. W. Wells in “Soap and Chemical surface, and does not mar the appearance of the soap
Specialties,” volume XXXI, No. 6 and No. 7, June and
July 1955. As is mentioned in these articles, a transparent dish. It does not tend to form unsightly cracks, as is the
soap should be sufficiently transparent to permit bold case with many milled soaps. If the soap of the present
faced type of about 14 point size to be read easily invention is maintained for considerable lengths of time
through a thickness of a quarter inch. It is with refer in contact with water, as happens occasionally when an
ence to this standard that the term “transparent” is used incompletely dry soap dish is used, it may become cloudy
in this application in describing products of the present as to that contacted portion, but the soap, upon removal
process. from such contact, will return to its original firmness and
The incorporation of free fatty acid, such as palmitic, 60 transparency. Furthermore, and most surprisingly, bars
of soap made by the process of this invention have the
stearic acid, and others into a transparent soap bar to at very desirable and unique advantage that they may be
tempt to form a Superfatted transparent soap bar would be
desirable in that it eliminates free alkali, lowers the pH used even though worn to wafer thinness. Waste is
and generally makes the soap milder. It also improves 65 therefore - Soaps may avoided.
range from opaqueness through a trans
the lathering characteristics of the bar. The addition of
free fatty acid to the soap bar, however, has a major dis lucency into true transparency, depending upon the method
advantage in that it softens the bar usually to such an of manufacture. Various methods have been used to
extent that the moisture content must be lowered to make evaluate the translucency, and more specifically the trans
the bar commercially acceptable. Moreover, the presence 70 parency of soaps. A method for accurately measuring
of free fatty acids makes it difficult to process the bar dur this property of a bar of soap is by the use of the fol
ing plodding and stamping and destroys the transparency. lowing apparatus developed for this purpose. A bar of
 3,155,624
soap is placed, in a completely darkened room, on top a temperature above 180° F., and preferably above 205 F.
of a cone section surrounding a light source of variable The crutched kettle soap, which has a moisture content of
voltage. The cone section has a diameter of /2 inch from about 28% to 34%, usually approximately 30% to
at the top and 2% inches at the base, which surrounds 32%, is next subjected to a drying step. The drying is car
the face of the light; the top of the cone section is 9%. 5. ried out to an extent which permits the desired moisture
inches above the face of the lamp, and the lamp is a range to be obtained in the finished bar. The drying step
microscope lamp with a 120-volt, 15-watt bulb having a can be carried out by any of the conventional drying meth
blue ground-glass filter. The voltage across the lamp ods, for example, ordinary cabinet drying. It is, however,
bulb is adjusted until the light from the top of the cone preferred to use the method commonly known as flash
section shines through a bar having a thickness of 2.75 10 drying or, most preferably, the method of tubular drying
cm. and forms a barely perceptible circular outline. The as is described in U.S. Patent No. 2,710,057 of Bassett
voltage across the bulb is used as a measure of trans and Packard. When either flash drying or tubular drying.
lucency, which is independent of color and is termed has been used, the soap at the end of the operation will
“Translucency. Voltage” or "TV.” Thus, the lower the be in the molten state. It is then chilled and solidified,
. TV is, the more translucent the bar. It is possible to 5 preferably into flakes or chips, before the mixing. There
measure readily the TV at other bar thicknesses and inter are some advantages, although not critical, in conducting . . .
polate to the standard of 2.75 cm. used herein. This the chilling operation rapidly. When ordinary cabinet
method of determining translucency is believed to be drying is used, the soap will be in solid flaky or chip form
superior to a reflectance test. described in the art, be after the drying.
cause it is relatively unaffected by soap color and gloss 20 While the free fatty acid is generally added in the
and avoids the difficulty of cutting a soap bar to a re-: crutcher, the polyhydric alcohol and salt may be added
quired thickness of only 46 of an inch. either in the crutcher or in the chip mixer discussed
For purposes of comparison, an ordinary milled toilet below. -"
soap of good quality, even in the absence of pigments such The next operation is conveniently that of mixing the
as titanium dioxide which makes it opaque, has a TV of soap flakes. The polyhydric alcohol and salt may be
greater than 110, i.e., it is too opaque to be measured on added to the soap in the chip mixer. It is also a con
the apparatus described. This is despite the fact that it venient time to adjust the water content and the salt con
has the sheen and glossiness which are commonly referred tent. The condition of the soap mass at the time of the
to as the translucency of milled soap, to distinguish it mixing operation preferably should be one in which it will
from the dull nature of frame soaps. The products of 30 permit a working and shearing of the mass to be per
the present invention, on the other hand, have a TV of formed. For example, the soap mass should not be so
35 or less, generally 30 or less, when freshly made. A hot that it is too soft or fluid to resist the operation of
bar of soap with a TV of 30 or less meets the standard the mixer. For this reason, the temperature of the soap
required to be called transparent. In general, with the at the beginning of the mixing step should be below about
soaps of this invention there is an improvement in trans 35 90 F., and preferably should be in the range of from
parency upon aging of about six days or more, and in 80 to 85 F. During the mixing of stocks of usual types
particular it is possible to practice our invention and and with usual mechanical equipment and time, the tem
produce a soap which, when fresh, may have a TV of perature should not rise above about 110 F., and prefer
more than 30, even as high as about 35, which soap, 40 ably not above 104 F.
when aged, will acquire the transparent properties of a At some point, preferably before the end of the mixing
... soap of a TV of about 30 or less. The difference be step, the moisture content and the salt content must be
tween a bar of soap having a TV of 25 and one having a adjusted so that in the finished product, they will be within
TV of 35 is quite obvious to the unaided eye. - the limits discussed above. During the mixing step, small
The most convenient starting material for the present 45 amounts of various optional ingredients are added when
process is soap initially containing from about 28% to desired. These include such substances as perfume, color
- about 34%, usually approximately 30% to 32%, mois ing materials, lanolin, resin, and preservatives. The pres
ture, e.g., a neat kettle soap. The precise composition of ence or absence of any, some, or all of these optional in
the initial stock used to prepare the soap is not critical gredients is not controlling to the production of a super
as long as the composition does not differ materially from fatted transparent soap bar having the desired character
those ordinarily employed in the manufacture of milled 50 istics of a high grade milled soap.
toilet soaps. Thus, for example, the relative propor Neat kettle soap is a convenient example of the soap
tions of fatty acids from tallow and from coconut oil, stock used. It is, however, not necessary that this be the
and the relative effects of such ingredients on the physical starting material. What is required is simply a soap mass,
characteristics of milled toilet soap produced therefrom, ... 55 however prepared, which is capable of having its moisture
are Well known to soap makers, and this knowledge is and Salt contents adjusted to the levels disclosed herein
applicable in the formulation of the soap stock used in and to which can be added the free fatty acids and poly
the present invention. Tests conducted in developing the hydric alcohols. The drying of neat kettle soap is only
invention have indicated generally, for example, that the one of the possible ways of obtaining such a soap and wa
percentage of tallow soap in the soap portion of the final termixture. An alternative method of obtaining the soap
product preferably should be in the range of about 70% 60 mass, is, for example, the reaction between free fatty acids
to 90%, the remainder being coconut oil soap or equi and alkali, to which reaction mixture water is added or re
Valent materials. A soap within this range of ratios moved as required in order to obtain a moisture content
has good use properties. The ratio of about 75% tallow within the required range. . .
Soap to about 25% coconut oil soap is particularly good. Particularly in the case of neat kettle soap which has
. Other oils which may be used in place of coconut oil 65 been dried by the tubular or flash method and subse
are babassu, cohune, murumuru, ouricury, palm kernel quently chilled rapidly, a satisfactory. degree of trans
and tucuna. -. . .. .. . - parency is obtainable as early as during the mixing step.
When neat kettle soap, which is in the liquid state, is To accomplish this, the amount of soap in the mixer and
used as the starting material, it is first subjected to ordi the type of mixer blades employed must be such that the
nary crutching, during which the free fatty acids are added 70 soap offers a high degree of resistance to the motion of
in order to eliminate, the free alkali, lower the pH and the blades; because of this resistance, the mechanical
form a superfatted soap. This crutching operation is not energy of the mixer blades is converted into heat energy,
a critical feature of the invention and may be conducted and the desired temperature of the mixture thereby ob.
by any conventional crutching method. The mixture dur. tained without addition of heat from an external source.
ing crutching is, as is conventional, in the liquid phase, at 75 To obtain high degrees of transparency during the
 3,155,624
5 6
mixing, the mixing is conducted for periods of time of
about a half hour, the temperature thereby being raised
to between 100 to 110 F., preferably to between
100 F. and 104 F. Generally in commercial produc
tion it is not convenient to spend this amount of time in
mixing, since the desired transparency is more conven
iently obtained during the subsequent milling, which need
be no more than a nominal amount. The time of mixing
generally employed is therefore about 15 minutes, al theWhen
though as little as about 4 minutes is enough to obtain 0
satisfactory blending in of the polyhydric alcohol, salt,
and other added materials, such as perfume or dye. The
amount of working required will vary somewhat depend soap-compatible
ing upon the particular soap stock and the particular work
ing device used. The mixing times mentioned above are 5 allThroughout
those for a Barbour-Stockwell mixer with thick counter
rotating blades. It is, however, a matter of routine test
ing to find the preferred conditions when other types of
working are used.
It should be understood, however, that it is not critical 20 out departing from the spirit or scope thereof.
to the process of preparing a superfatted soap bar of
satisfactory transparency that any particular type of mixer
be used, or that there be any mixing step at all. Rather,
the type of mixer is of consequence only in those cases
where it is desired to obtain a high degree of transparency
during the mixing stage rather than at a different stage.
It should also be understood that in order to obtain a
high degree of transparency during the mixing, it is nec
essary that the mechanical energy of the moving mixer
blades be taken up by the soap in the form of heat energy.
Thus, a high degree of transparency will not be obtained
during the mixing when a mixer with blades which pass
through the Soap without encountering much resistance
is used along with heat supplied externally.
It is detrimental to the obtainment of transparency, not
only during the mixing but at any subsequent stage, to
allow the temperature of the soap mass to be above about
110 F. Preferably, the temperature is kept below
104 F. - -
The working effect of mixing is preferably amplified by
Subjecting the Soap mass to milling. A single pass over
two five-roll mills is normally sufficient. In order to ob
tain a satisfactory degree of transparency, it is critical that
as the Soap mass emerges from the miil it be at a tempera
ture of from 100 F. to about 110° F., preferably from
100 F. to 104 F. Soap not already transparent becomes
So during milling, provided it has the correct free fatty
acid, polyhydric alcohol salt and moisture content, and
provided suitable critical temperatures have been main
tained. It is to be understood that a refiner of the type 50
described in Patent No. 2,005,333 may be substituted for
the usual mill rolls and mixer, assuming always that the
Same Suitable conditions are maintained relative to the
Soap stock used. It is thus seen that what is required to
make transparent soap by the process of the present in 55
Vention is that a soap mass having the specified propor
tions of free fatty acid, polyhydric alcohol, salt and water
be subjected to working, its temperature raised to within
the range of 100°-110° F., preferably 100° F-104° F.,
and subsequently formed into bars. The working may 60
take place during a mixing and/or a milling operation.
One of the functions of the milling operation is that the
Soap emerges from the mill in the form of verythin, flaky
layers suitable for compacting by plodding into a bar
form. The remaining steps in the conversion into bar
form are not critical features, and are successfully ac
complished by any conventional means. There is, how
ever, an advantage to the use of vacuum plodding, since
it most conveniently prevents air from becoming entrapped
in the soap bar and thereby impeding translucency. It is
advantageous that the soap leave the plodder at a tempera
ture of from 98 to 110 F., preferably from 100 F. to
104 F. After the plodding, the soap is cut into indi
vidual cakes by usual means.
As has been mentioned above, it is critical to the proc
ess of this invention that, at least before the end of the
working, the free fatty acid, polyhydric alcohol, water and
salt contents be adjusted so that the finished soap has a
content thereof within the range specified above. Dur
ing the milling and plodding operation, a certain portion
of the water, usually an amount sufficient to reduce its
percentage in the mixture by about 2 to 3, may be lost by
evaporation, and this loss must be borne in mind when
water content is adjusted.
in the specification and the claims the term "salt”
is employed, particular reference is made to sodium chlo
ride, but it is alsoelectrolytes
intended tosuch
include other water-soluble,
and sodium sulfate.
as potassium chloride
the entire specification and in the claims,
percentages are percentages by weight.
The following examples are given solely for the pur
pose of illustration and not to be deemed limitations of
this invention, many variations of which are possible with
EXAMPLE 1
Kettle soap having a base stock of 85% sodium tallow
Soap, 15% sodium coconut oil soap and containing about
32% water was charged to a crutcher. Sufficient stearic
acid was added so that when the soap was dried and
finished at 20% moisture it would contain 2% free stearic
acid. The batch was heated to 210 F. and then dried to
about 20% moisture by tubular drying. The soap was
cooled and formed into chips on a chill roll and then
30
placed in a chip mixer. Glycerine (2% of finished bar),
dispersible pigments, perfume, salt to total 0.6% in the
finished bar, Ianolin (1% of finished bar) and about 2%
water (dependent on the soap chip moisture) were added
to the soap and the batch mixed for about 2 hour. The
35
Soap was milled by passing it over two 5 roll mills and
then vacuum plodded. The temperature off the mills and
out of the plodder was about 100 F. The bar was high
ly transparent and possessed good milled soap properties.
40 EXAMPLE 2
For this test the final product had the same composi
tion as in Example #1 except no lanolin was added.
Soap, glycerine, and stearic acid were mixed together and
dried in the molten condition using a steam heated, open
Paterson mixer. The dried chips were processed by pass
ing the soap over a three roll mill, five times, and then
vacuum plodding. The bar was highly transparent, tough
and Waxy.
EXAMPLE 3
A bar was made as in Example #2 but no glycerine was
added. This comparative bar was very soft and had poor
translucency, thereby illustrating the importance of hav
ing a polyhydric alcohol present in the bars of the inven
tion.
EXAMPLE 4.
Kettle Soap (85% sodium tallow soap), 15% sodium
coconut oil soap, 32% H2O, glycerine (2% on finished
bar), Stearic acid (2% on finished bar) were mixed in a
crutcher at 210 F. and tubular dried to 22% HO. There
was no Salt in this mixture. A series of bars were made
by the finishing process as in Example #2 at various salt
contents. The results were as follows: All bars contained
65 1% lanolin.
Bar No. Percent T.V. H2O
NaCl
.. 6
.. 4
18
20
19.6
8.8
.. O
.. 8
145
8
18, 4.
8.4
1.0 20.5 19, 0
75
 3,155,624
Bar. No. 3 illustrates the importance of the salt content The moisture content of the finished bar was 22.0%; its
in the superfatted transparent bars of the invention. salt content was 0.45%; its TV was 20.
EXAMPLE 5. EXAMPLE 10.
A batch of soap was processed as in Example #2,
then milled and plodded into bars. Samples were saved s vention
. A bar was made according to the process of this in
from a soap having a base stock of 70%. sodium
- and then the soap was remilled and again plodded to lower tallow soap and 30% coconut oil soap: Sufficient stearic
the moisture content; this was repeated to obtain a mois acid and glycerine were added so that the finished bar
ture range. The NaCl content was 0.47%. The free fatty. contained 2% stearic acid and 3% glycerine. The mois
acid was 2.91%, and the glycerine 2.25%. The results 10. ture content of the finished bar was 18.2%; its salt con
were as follows. tent was 0.37%; its TV was 23. -
H2O, percent EXAMPLE 11
17 --------------------------------------- 22.3 Using an arm immersion technique, bars containing
14---------------------------------- ----- 21.4 15:2% free stearic acid and 2% glycerine were judged signifi
14-------------------------- ------------- 18.0 cantly milder and caused significantly less burning sensa
20 ------- r m -
tion than Ivory soap, a product having a reputation of
- - - - - - - - a - r - - ------------ ... 17.4
EXAMPLE 6 mildness, in this test the subjects immersed their arms
An attemp to make a bar with 4% stearic acid and . indaily1%forsolutions of the products being tested, three times
15 minute intervals. The temperature of the
only 2% glycerine was a failure. The soap was soft, 20 solution was maintained at 105 F. The test was con
mushy and opaque. This connparative test demonstrates. tinued until irritation developed on the subjects' arms.
that the free fatty acid content must not be more than Mildness
1% greater than the polyhydric compound content, based number ofinthe the arm immersion test was expressed as the
immersions for moderate irritation to de
on the final bar composition. - - - velop. In the test the subjective reactions to the solutions
EXAMPLE 7 regarding burning or smarting were also recorded. The
A bar containing 4% glycerine and 4% stearic acid . data recorded in the following table indicate that soap
produced according to the method of the present inven
was made by this process. (TV-18 transparent). The tion is significantly milder than Ivory from the standpoint
bar was tough, waxy and transparent. H.O=20.0%. of subjective reactions and development of irritation.
Mildness Comparison
TRANSPARENT.ATSUPEREATTED. s.9APys. Ivory BAR
1% CONCENTRATION
Arn Immersion Rating Burning Sensation
Transparent Super Ivory - - Trans- Trans
fatted Soap 1 - Bar No. of Equal parent . Ivory - parent No Diff
Subjects Mild- Super- Milder Ivory Super- ereilge
ness fatted Soap - fatted ,-
E. Milder 'Soap "...:
1. . .3 7 10 0
3. 10 8 0 3 O 0
O 4. 5 9 . O
9 7. 2 O 9 0 0
43 : 24 17 2 41 2 0

1 All the bars contained 15% coconut oil soap, 85% tallow Soap, 2% Emersol 132 and 2% glycerine. In
addition bars 2 and 4 containedi, anoin.
EXAMPLE 8 - What is claimed is:
The following bars were made by the process described 50 1. A process for making a superfatted transparent
in this application. The results are listed below to further soap having a Translucency Voltage of no greater than
show the scope of the invention. about 35, said process comprising working below about
Bar Base Stock Free Polyhydricc NaCl HO | TV
No. Fatty Acid Alcohol - - .

------------ 85% sodium tallow 2% stearic----- 2% Sorbitol---- .65 21.0 14

... soap; 15% sodi- ---
un coconut Soap - ..
... 2.----------------do...---- - - - -- - - - - -do--------- 2%. Sugar------ .65 9.7 - 22
5%, stearic 5% glycerine. .65 18.5 5.
-3% stearic d .48 19. 6- . 14
4%, stearic . 48 18.0 26
5% stearic 1% glycer . . . 48 20. 6. (1)
4% stearic '4% Sorbitol.--- 48 9. 6- . 19.
... .2% Stearic----. 10%. Sugar-...-- ... 48. 18.0 19
1 Opaque. -- - - . . .
Bar No. 6 illustrates the undesirable results obtained 110 F., a toilet soap mass containing from about 1.0%
when the free fatty acid content exceeds the polyhydric to about 5.0% free soap-forming fatty acid and a poly
compound content by more than 1% based on the final hydric alcohol which overcomes the adverse softening
bar composition. -- . . . ..
effect of the fatty acid but does not deleteriously affect
70 the transparency
A bar was made according to the process of this in bar in an amountandupprocessing characteristics of the
. EXAMPLE 9 - -- - - v - .. . .

to about 10.0%, the quantity

vention from a soap having a base stock of 80% sodium of said free fatty acid being at most 1% greater
tallow soap and 20% coconut oil soap. Sufficient stearic than the polyhydric alcohol content based on the final bar
acid and pentaerythritol were added so that the finished composition, wherein the mechanical energy is converted
bar contained 2% stearic acid and 1% pentaerythritol. 75 into heat energy by working to an extent great enough
 3,155,624
9 1)
to cause the mixture to rise in temperature to within a
range of from about 100 F. to about 110 F., the mois
ture and water-soluble soap-compatible, alkali metal
neutral salt content having been adjusted prior to the
end of the working step to lie within the range from
about 17.0% to about 22.5% moisture and an amount
of said salt from about 0.2% to about 1%, and plodding
the soap mass into bar form.
2. A process for making a superfatted transparent
Soap through which mass one-fourth inch thick, a 14
point boldface type is readable, said process comprising
working at a temperature above 90° F. and below 110
F., a toilet soap mass containing from about 1.0% to
about 5.0% free soap-forming fatty acid and polyhydric
alcohol which overcomes the adverse softening effect of
the fatty acid but does not deleteriously affect the trans
parency and processing characteristics of the bar in
an amount up to about 10%, the quantity of said
free fatty acid being at most 1% greater than the
polyhydric alcohol content based on the final bar compo
sition, whereby heat is generated throughout said mass
by Such working, reducing said mass at a temperature
between 100' F., and 110 F. to a form suitable for
plodding, plodding said soap mass into a bar form, the
moisture and water-soluble, soap-compatible, alkali metal
neutral salt content having been adjusted prior to plodding
to the range of from about 17.0% to about 22.5% mois
ture and an amount of said salt from about 0.2% to
about 1%.
3. A process for making a superfatted transparent
Soap having a Translucency Voltage of less than 35,
said value being based upon the voltage required to
ransmit sufficient light from a 15-watt, 120-volt micro
Scope lamp through a blue ground-glass filter at a dis
tance of 9/2 inches, to penetrate a 2.75 cm. thickness
of said soap and for a circular outline therein, said pro
cess comprising working a toilet soap mass containing
from about 1.0% to about 5.0% free soap-forming fatty
acid and polyhydric alcohol which overcomes the adverse
softening effect of the fatty acid but does not deleteriously
affect the transparency and processing characteristics
of the bar in an amount up to about 10%, the quan
tity of said free fatty acid being at most 1% great
er than the polyhydric compound content based on
the final bar composition, said soap mass having a
moisture content of from 17.0% to about 22.5% and an
amount of water-soluble, soap-compatible, alkali metal
neutral salt from about 0.2% to about 1%, whereby the
temperature rises to not more than 110 F., reducing the
mass to a ploddable form, and plodding into bars while
maintaining the temperature substantially uniform, where
by a waxy textured, transparent, isotropic, microcrystalline
soap is obtained.
4. A superfatted transparent soap bar made from a
0. toilet soap mixture, containing from about 1% to about
5% free soap-forming fatty acid and in which the final
soap bar contains an amount of polyhydric alcohol which
overcomes the adverse softening effect of the fatty acid
but does not deleteriously affect the transparency and
5 processing characteristics of the bar up to about
10%, from about 17.0% to about 22.5% water and
from about 0.2% to about 1% water-soluble, soap
compatible, alkali metal neutral salt, the quantity of free
fatty acid being at most 1% greater than the polyhydric
20 alcohol content, which is worked within a temperature
range of about 100 F. to about 110° F.
5. A superfatted transparent soap bar according to
claim 4 which contains from about 1% to about 3% lano
lin.
25 6. A superfatted transparent soap bar made from a
toilet soap mixture, containing about 2% free soap
forming fatty acid and in which the final soap bar con
tains about 2% glycerine, about 0.6% water-soluble, soap
compatible, alkali metal neutral salt and about 20%
moisture, the quantity of said free fatty acid being at
most 1% greater than the polyhydric alcohol content,
which has been formed by working at a temperature from
about 100 F. to about 104 F.
References Cited in the file of this patent
UNITED STATES PATENTS
78, 182 Brown ---------------- May 26, 1868
2,298,019 Myers ------------------ Oct. 6, 1942
2,686,761 Ferguson et al.---------- Aug. 17, 1954
40 2,781,321 Mayhew et al. ---------- Feb. 12, 1957
2,970,116 Kelley et al. ------------ Jan. 31, 1961
FOREIGN PATENTS
664,484 Great Britain ------------ Jan. 9, 1952
45 783,658 Great Britain ----------- Sept. 25, 1957
 m- - ------- --

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
Patent No. 3 l55 624 November 3, 1964
William A. Kelly
It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered pat
ent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as
corrected below.
Column 2 line 39 strike out "amount up to about 10%"
and insert instead -- about O. 2% to about 1% --.

Signed and sealed this l6th day of March 1965.

(SEAL)
Attest:
ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER
Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents