Film-forming compositions containing a cis unsaturated fatty acid amide

Compositions of matter comprise a high molecular weight film-forming thermoplastic substance and a compound of formula RCONHCH2CHOHCH2OH where RCO is the acyl group of an unsaturated fatty acid of 12-24 carbon atoms and having a cis configuration at at least one ethylenic double bond, R containing C and H only, or mixtures of these, with or without the corresponding saturated compounds. The composition is preferably in the form of a film or sheet having the amide incorporated therein or as a layer thereon. The thermoplastic substance may be a cellulose ester, polycarbonate, polyester, polyamide, polyolefine or other ethylenic polymer, e.g. derived from acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, styrene, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, vinyl acetate, N-isopropylacrylamide, ethylene, propylene, butene, butadiene or isoprene, or propylene-butene copolymers. The compositions of the invention have improved antifogging and antistatic properties, and may be used as films for packaging, e.g. food, or moulded or cast, e.g. into sideboards.ALSO:Compounds of the formula RCONHCH2CHOHCH2OH where RCO is the acyl group of an unsaturated fatty acid of 12-24 carbon atoms and having a cis configuration at at least one ethylenic double bond, R containing C and H only, or mixtures of these, with or without the corresponding saturated compounds, are prepared by reacting NH2CH2CHOHCH2OH with RCOOH or esters or triglycerides thereof, e.g. natural products; or by reacting RCOCl with 5-chloromethyl-2-phenyloxazolidone, hydrolysing with HCl, heating with water, and treating with KOH solution. The products are used in plastic compositions (see Division C3).ALSO:Moist food such as meat is packed in foil prepared from a high-molecular weight film-forming thermoplastic substance containing, or coated with, a compound of formula RCONHCH2 CHOHCH2 OH, where RCO is the acyl group of an unsaturated fatty acid of 12-24 carbon atoms and having a cis configuration at at least one ethylenic double bond, R containing C and H only, or mixtures of these, and with or without the corresponding saturated compounds (see Division C3).ALSO:A high-molecular weight thermoplastic film e.g. of polycarbonate, polyester, polyamide, cellulose ester, polyolefin or other poly-ethylenic compound is coated, e.g. from methanol solution, with at least one compound RCONHCH2 CHOH CH2 OH, where RCO is the acyl group of an unsaturated fatty acid of 12-24 carbon atoms and having an cis-configuration at at least one ethylenic double bond, R containing C and H only; corresponding saturated compounds may also be present.