CA1315636C

CA1315636C - Hard surface cleaning composition

Info

Publication number: CA1315636C
Application number: CA000567602A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Pierre Fonsny; Nicole Andries
Original assignee: Colgate Palmolive Co
Current assignee: Colgate Palmolive Co
Priority date: 1987-05-28
Filing date: 1988-05-25
Publication date: 1993-04-06
Anticipated expiration: 2010-04-06
Also published as: DK293188A; EP0292910B1; NO882339D0; EP0292910A3; NO172592C; DE3852571T2; NO172592B; DE3852571D1; AU1666788A; DK293188D0; EP0292910A2; AU609482B2; NO882339L

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure Physically stable, liquid, aqueous non-scratching hard surface cleaning compositions are provided and include a fatty acid or fatty acid soap, a non-soap anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, electrolyte, and, as an Abrasive, polymer particles having a hardness not greater than homopolymeric methyl methacrylate, and a particle size ranging from about 10 to 150 microns, These compositions can be safely used to clean, without scratching or damaging, all types of hard surfaces, including glass, plastics, enamels, and the like.

Description

~ 131563h Background of the Invention (l) Field of Invention This invention relates to liquid, aqueou~, ~table, effective, safe, non-6cratching hard surface cleanin~ composi~ions commonly referred to ~s scouring clean~ers. The compositions are physically stable, do not separate, whereby the u6er is assured of the ~ptimum performance to be expected from the various components and ~heir amounts and ratios wi~h respect to one another, are safe and do not ~crstch the usual ~urfaces to be cleaned, nuch as glass, porcelain, ceramic, plas~ic, metal, wood, psinted wood (enamelled and lacquered).

(2) Prior Art Dlscussion The art i~, of course, replete with liquid ~couring compositions alleged to perform in a safe and effective manner, others stated to be physically and chemically stsble and so on.
Some examples of prior art scouring composition~ include U.S. Pstent 4,005,027 which describes compositions which include clay and insoluble ~brasive. Only inorganic abrasive~ ~re shown. The compositions include surfsctants which are blesch stable. Nonionic~ are not used. Tt iR slleged tha~ the product6 are physically st~ble and also do not "appreciably run along vertical~urfnces" (column 10, line~ 45-47). Such s~ability is a m~nifeststion of a false body fluid formed when using the smectite and ~ttapulgite clay~ necessary in such composi-tlon~. ~In U.S. Patent 4,116,849 the compo~itlons ~re very 1 3 1 5 6 3 ~) 62301-1477 slmilar to those in U.S. Patent 4,005,027. In addition, U.S~
Patent 4,116,849 dlscloses thickenlng agents lnstead of the preferred smectlte and attapulylte clays, such as colloldal sllica, polystyrenes, sul~onated polystyrenes, polyethylene, oxidized polyethylenes, polypropylene, copolymers of styrene witll methacryllc acld, methyl or e~hyl acrylate, vlnyl acetate, among others; patentee states that "...ethoxylated nonlonlc surfactants are to be avolded.~ Neither of these two patents disclose soaps or fatty acids as suitable materials as well.
U.S. Patent 4,240,919 descrlbes composltions of multivalent stearate soap, wa~er and water-lnsoluble abraslve. Varlous abrasives are dlsclosed and among the "organic" types are "melamine, urea formaldehyde reslns, ground rlgid polymeric materials, such as polyurethane foam...~' (column 3, lineo.
10-12). Optlonally, there may be present "substantlally any surfactant materlals whlch are compatible wlth the other components in the composition of the present inventlon...."
These include water-soluble anlonlc, nonionic, amphoteric, cationic and zwitterionlc surfactants." (column 3, llnes 57-62). Further reference is made to U.S. Patents 4,051,056 (expanded perlite as abrasive), 4,457,856 (polyacrylate abraslve), German 1,9S6,616 (polyvinyl chloride as abrasive), 3,645,904 (skin cleanser containing polymer abraslve materlal) and 4,302,347.
A composition manifesting the optlmum desiderata for a non-scratchlng, stable, effective and safe a~ueou~ scourlng cleanser has eluded the art. The abllity to remove most stalns from all normally encountered hard surfaces and partlcularly plastlc surfaces without damaging such delicate plastlc materl-als as one mlght flnd a , for example, kitchen counter tops, antl-stlck coatlngs on metal pots, polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate, -~ .

6~301-1477 polyvinyl chloride, ny:Lon, polyester (e.g. fibergla~s) and the like articles in the major thrust of this inverltion. In addition, to removing stains, the composition should have good degreasing characteristics as well. Physical stability as demonstrated by the prior art cited above is a major prob]em and for good consumer acceptability is a must.
Accordingly, the present invention seeks to provide liquid, aqueous, stable, abrasive-containing cleaning composition.
This invention also seeks to provide a liquid, aqueous abrasive-containing cleaning composition which is safe and also substantially non-scratching on most encountered surfaces, including plastic surfaces.
The invention further seeks to provide stable, liquid, aqueous polymer abrasive-containing cleaning compositions which are safe, effective and non-scratching.
The invention also seeks to provide method for making the compositions o~ the invention.
Descriptlon of the Invention This invention is provided in accordance wlth the following description wherein the liquid non-scratching, a~ueous, scouring cleansing composition comprises a fatty acid and~or fatty aaid soap, non-soap anionlc surfactant, nonionlc surfactant, electrolyte and particulate abrasive.
The fatty acld componen~ may be any fatty acid having a carbon chain of from about C6-C30 with C8-C20 preferred.
Most preferred are C10-Cl8 and typically, naturally occurring materials, such as coconut oil, palm kernel oil, and animal tallow, s~rve admirably as sources for the fatty aclds. A
particularly preferred range of fatty acids is C12-C18 as one would find ln coconut oll. A typical coconut oil ~atty acid ~' composition conta.ins about 50% C12; 20~ C1~; 8-5% C16; and 10% C18 the balance other acid and even perhaps some neutral material, and is a liquid a~ 40C. While the most convenient sources are natural oils or ~ats yielded, mixed aclds, of course, the individual specific acids, and indeed any mixture of any number and chain length of acids within the parameter of Cs-C30 may be used. The soaps used are the alkali metal and ammonium salts with sodium and potassium preferred. The fatty acid may comprise from about 0 5 to 15% by weight and preferably 1 to 10% and, more preferably 1 to 7% of the composition, particularly 1 to 5% of the composition.
The non-soap anionic may be chosen from any of the conventional anionics, such as the alkyl benzene sulfonates, the alkyl sulfates, alcohol sulfates, the alcohol ether sulfates, olefln sulfonates, paraffin sulfonates, fatty acid monoglyceride sulfates, sarcosides, taurides and the like and their salts, such as alkali, alkaline, earth and ammonium salts. Of these, the sulfates and sulfonates are preferred.
The preferred non-soap anionic surfactants are the paraffin sulfonates (C10-C20); the linear alkyl benzene sulfonates, the alcohol and the alcohol ether sulfates.
The most preferred anionics (non-soap) are the C12-C18 paraffin sulfonates in the form of their alkali metal or ammonium salts; C8-C20 alkyl benzene sulfonates with C12-C16 belng most highly preferred; the alkyl (i.e. alcohol) sulfates of C12-C18 and the corresponding ether sulfates with 3 to 50 (e.g. 3, S, 10, 20, 30 or 50) moles of condensed ethylene oxide. The most preferred salt formi.ng ca~ion is sodium.
The amount of the non-soap anionlc may range from 1 to 15% by weight, preferably 1 to 10~ and more preferably 1 to 5% by weight.

:' `` ' ~, , . ' 1 ~ 5636 6~301-1477 Some speclflc examples of sultable anlonlcs are sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium paraffin (Cl~-C17) sulfonates, ~odium decyl sulfate, sodium tridecyl sulfonate, sodium tallow alkyl sulfate, sodium coconut alkyl sulfate, sodium oxotridecyl(triethoxyl) [sulfate (sulfated - 3 E.O. condensa~e with oxotridecyl alcohol], sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate, sodium tridecyl benzene sulfonate, sodium tetradecyl benzene sulfonate and sodium (C15) olefin sulfonate.
The nonionic surfactants whlch are usable herein are generally characterized by a long chain hydrophobe and a poly(ethylene oxide) hydrophilic chain containing from 1 to 8 ethylene oxide groups in the chain. The hydrophobe may and preferablY is from an alcohol (C6-C30, preferablY C10-C20~ more preferably c8-cl8; most preferably C10~C16~ typically a C13 alcohol, such as linear tridecyl alcohol~, or a polypropylene backbone. Other hydrophobes, such as thioalcohols, acids, amines and the like, may also be used. The preferred alcohol is a C10-C16 alcohol with 1 to Ies~ than S moles of ethylene oxide and most preferably 2 to 4 moles of ethylene oxide, typically 3 moles of ethylene oxide. The level of nonionic in the formulation may vary from about 0.5% to about 15% by weight with preferred levels ranging from 1 to 10% and most preferred from about 3.5 to 6.5% typically and most highly preferred is 5%.
The electrolyte used herein is typically an alkaline, builder-type inorganic or organic salt. The usual salts comprise the aIkali metal bicarbonates, borates, carbonates, phosphaee~s, polyphosphates and slllcates among the inorganlcg and the polycarboxylates, such as polyacetates, tartrates, citrates, maleates, oxydiacetates, alkenyl succinates, carboxy-methyloxy succinates, oxydisucclnate5 and the like, amony r.~
,,1~,~, ,1 I . .

, ` ' 1 3 ~ 5 6 3 6 62301-1477 the organics. Polymeric builder salts, such as the ~,7ater-soluble sal~s of polymers of maleic acid, itaconic acid and the like, may be used as well as copolymers and interpolymers thereof with polymerizable a,~-e~hylenically unsa~urated compounds, such as vinyl ethers, esters, alkyl alcohol, acrylic and methacrylic acid and esters thereof, etc.
The electrolyte may vary over a considerable range from as little as 0.5% or, preferably, 1% to 25% or more. A
preferred range is from abou~ 2% to 15%; typically a mixture of carbonate and phosphate may total 5 to 10%; other convenient and pre~erred mixtures may comprise carbonate, polyphosphate and optionally some silicate in amounts of from 5 to 10% as well.
Specific electrolytes include sodium and potassium carbonate, sodium and potassium bicarbonate, sodium and potassium sesquicarbonate, sodium and potassium orthophosphates, pyrophosphates, tripolyphosphate and hexametaphosphates, sodlum and potassium tetraborate anhydrous, pentahydrate, decahydrate, sodium silicate (.e.g sodium metasilicate or other silicates with the Na20 to SiO2 ratio ranglng from 3.5 to 1 to 1:1) as illustrative of the inorganics and eth~Ienediamine tetraacetic acid tetrasodium or potassium salt, trisodium nitrilotriacetate, disodium polymaleate, and the like, as merely illustrative of ~he organics.
The abrasive may be any material derived from a polymerizable composition, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, . . .
: . ~ ,,.. - ' . ., ' '.: . ' ' ~ 1 31 5636 -polymethyl methacrylate and various copolymer~ and in~erpolymers of the foregoing, The criteria for suitability are ~hat the material doe~ not scratch polymethyl methacrylate and ~hat the average particle size ranges from about 10 to 150 microns and pre~erably from 25 to 100 microns and most preferably from 30 to 75 microns, e.g. 60 microns. For optimum performance it ls most desirable to utilize a polyvinyl chloride abrasive powder whose average particle size iB sbout 60 microns, with 8 major amount being within the range of 30 to 75 microns.
The molecular weight range6 of the polymeric abrasives may vary widely just so long as the phy~ical properties set out above are met. Generally, milecular weight~ will range from several thousand (e.~. 2,000; 5,000; 20,000) to sever&l hundred thousand (e,g. 125~000; 250,000; 400,000) and upwarda of several million (e.g. 1,000,000; 2,000,000; 4,000,000; 6,000,000).
The amount of sbrasive may range from about 2% to 30% or more (e,g, 40%; 50%). A preferred range in the preferred formulations is from S to 25% and more preferred iB a range of 5 to 15%, such ss 7~/O; 10%; or 12%.
A large variety of optional ingredients may be included in the formulations of this invention. Some are even preferred, such a~ inorganic viscosity modlfiers (e.g. montmorillonite clays, such as bentonite; attapulgites, etc.); organic ones, such as methylcellulo~e, carboxyl methylcellulose, hydroxy propylmethylcellulose. Such materials are particularly advan~
tageous for a "cream" scouring cleanser where a "thickened"
type of materisl is desired by the con6umer. For such products it may be desirable to have vlsco~ities r~nging from several hundred (250 Cp8; 400 CpS; 500 Cp~) to ~ever~l thousand (e.g.
1,100 cps; 1,500 Cpfi; 2,000 cps, etc.).

~- ~

It i~ extre~ely significant that the formula~ions of this invention exhibit unugual stability (i.e. lack of or minimum phase separation) in the abgence of the viscosity "elevators," their major function a~ mentioned above ~o merely thicken. The amount of the viscosity modifier may r~nge from sbout 0,1 to S to 10%; u6ually 0.5 ~o 3%. Other optional but, again, preferred additive~ include a hydrocsrbon materisl, particularly a terpene, such ~B d-limonene. Such terpene~
are resdily available in msny perfume msterials which are generally added to most con~umer cleaning products, The amo~nt of the hydrocarbon may v~ry from 0.05 to 5% snd preferably from 0.1 to 2 to 3%, Other additive~which may be used incl~de bleaches (liquid and solid hypochlorite~, availsble, e.g. as NaOCl solution or c~lcium hypochlorlte powder; chloramines, chlorinated di- and trisodium phosphates, sodium and potass1um dichlorisoeyanurate, trichlorocyanuric acid, and so forth);
buffers, caustic soda; caustic potash; ~uds boosters; enzymes;
preservatives; disinfectants; colorant~; frsgrsnce6 snd the like, may be used where desired and compatible, Generally, minor amounts of such auxiliary materisls sre employed, e.~.
0.01 to 10% and often O.1% to 5%.
The compositions of this invention are slkaline and generally have a pH from about 10 to 12. It i8 generally preferred to add ln the formulations the fatty scid in free acid form and neutralize in BitU with eaustic soda (NaOH3 or caustic potash (KOH), at the same time adjusting the pH to the desired level~ A typical, preferred pH 11~0.5.
The composition~ of thi~ invention are generally prepared by sdding to the formuls weight of hot water with ~tirring iD a suit~ble mixer ~nd homogenizer ~at a tt~pe.a~ure of a~out ~ 1 31 5636 50 to 80C, e.g. 60C) the fol lowing composition in the order given: fatty acid, nonionic, viscosity modifier (if u6ed), abrasive polymer par~icles, and alkali for neutr~lization of fatty acid; at this poin~ the temperature of the mixture is lowered to about room temper~ture and then the electrolyte (e.g. builder salts) is added followed by the non-soap anionic and finally the perfume (also as a source of hydrocarbon where desired), where no hydrocarbon is to be used one may, obviously, use a non-hydrocarbon containing fragrsnce the use, however, of a hydrocarbon material has proven desirable for incre~sed grease removal char~cteristics.
The following examples will 6erve to illu~trate the pre~ent invention without being deemed limitative thereof.
Parts and percen~s are by weight unless otherwi6e indicated.

Example I
A formulation of the following ingredients i~ prepsred:
% % A.I.
Di~tilled coconut fatty acid~ 2.0 2.0 C13 alcohol and 3 mole~ ethylene oxide 5.0 5.0 White montmorillonite clay 0.8 0.8 Polyvinyl chloride powder (PVC) 10.0 10.0 (beads of average par~icle size of 60~ made by an emulsion polymerization process) 50% aqueou6 KOH 0.5 0.25 60% tetrapota~sium 10.0 6.0 pyrophosphate solu~ion (TKPP) 30 Potas~ium carbonate-granular, 0.5 0.5 snhydrous (K2CO3) 60% C14-17 paraffin (Na) sulfonate 3,33 2.0 Perfume 0.5 0.5 35 tap wster balance The compo~ition i8 prepared in the msnner de~cribed previously ~s preferred. To the formula weight of water at 60C are added the fatty scid, nonionic, clay, abrasive and caus~ic potash with vigvrous gtirring. Af~er a un~orm mixture is obtained, it is cooled to room temperature (20C) and the remaining components (in the order liated) are added with stirring. A creamy, stable product re~ults; the pH i8 about 11 and the viscosity i~ about 1,100 Cp6, Fxample II
Example I is repeated except that the following fatty acids are used in place of 2% difitilled coconut fatty acid:
(a) lauric acid 2.0%
(b) palmitic acid 2.0%
(c) coconut oil fstty acids 3.0%
(d) coconut oil fatty acids 4.0%
(e) lauric-stearic ~3:1) 3.5%

Example III
Example I is repeated using 5% sodium lauryl ~ulfate in place of the sodium paraffin ~ulfonate.
Example IV
Examples I and III are repeated ~eparately replacing the TKPP and K2C03 with 4% soda ash (snhydrou~ Na2C03).

2S Example V
Each of the previous examples i8 Beparately repeated bu~ in place of 5% nvnionic there is used (a) 3% nonionlc (b) 6% nonionic.

ll -10-The product of Example I ls used ln a skandardized test procedure to determlne the degree of scratchlng agalnst a plastlc surface. Thls ls compared with two commerctal pro-d~cts. The procedure lnvolves the use of a reclprocatlng moving sponge ~spontex) containlng 1 g o~ test product whlch ls applied to a plastic tlle and after 200 strokes the plastlc tlle ls washed and the gloss is compared wlth that of the orlglnal. The tlle used has an lnitlal gloss readlng of 79 and thls is unchanged after the test wlth the product of Example I.
The two commerclal products gave readlngs of 72 and 73 demon-stratlng thereby some damage to the tlle by the commerclal materlals and none by the composltlon of thls lnventlon.

. .

Claims

Claim 1. A stable, liquid, aqueous, non-scratching scouring cleaning composition comprising a fatty acid or fatty acid soap, a non-soap anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, electrolyte, and particulate abrasive, said anionic surfactant being selected from the group consisting of sulfonate and sulfate surfactants, said nonionic surfactant having the molecular configuration of an hydrophobe condensed with ethylene oxide, said electrolyte comprising a water-soluble inorganic or organic builder salt and said abrasive being a solid polymerizate derived from a polymerizable, .alpha.,.beta.-ethylenically unsaturated monomer having a hardness not greater than homopolymeric methyl methacrylate and having an average particle size ranging from about 10 to 150 microns.
Claim 2. A composition as defined in claim 1 wherein the fatty acid or soap is a C6-C30, the non-soap anionic and the nonionic surfactants contain a C10-C20 linear aliphatic hydrocarbon chain, the number of oxyethyl groups in the nonionic surfactant ranges from 1 to 8 and the electrolyte is an alkaline builder salt or precursor thereof,
Claim 3. A composition as defined in claim 2 wherein the fatty acid or soap is a C8-C20 acid, the non-soap anionic contains a C12-C18 linear aliphatic hydrocarbon and the nonionic surfactant contains C10-C16 linear aliphatic hydrocarbon.
Claim 4. A composition as defined in claim 2 wherein the amount of fatty acid or soap ranges from 0,5 to 15%, the amount of non-soap anionic ranges from 1 to 15%, the amount of nonionic from 0.5 to 15%, the amount of electrolyte from 1 to 25% and the amount of abrasive from 2 to 30%.
Claim 5. A composition as defined in claim 4 including a hydrocarbon in an amount ranging from 0.05% to 5%.
Claim 6. A composition as defined in claim 4 wherein the fatty acid or soap is derived from coconut oil, the non-soap anionic is a paraffin sulfonate, the nonionic is a C10-C16 alcohol containing from 1 to less than 5 oxyethyl groups and the electrolyte comprises a polyphosphate.
Claim 7. A composition as defined in claim 6 wherein the abrasive is polyvinyl chloride.
Claim 8. A composition as defined in claim 7 including up to 5% hydrocarbon.
Claim 9. A composition as defined in claim 8 wherein the hydrocarbon is a terpene.
Claim 10. A composition as defined in claim 8 including from 0.05 to 5% of the hydrocarbon.
Claim 11. A composition as defined in claim 10 wherein the hydrocarbon is d-limonene.
Claim 12. A composition as defined in claim 7 wherein the amount of fatty acid or soap range from 1 to 5% by weight, the amount of non-soap anionic ranges from 1 to 5% by weight, the weight of nonionic ranges from 1 to 10% by weight, the amount of electrolyte ranges from 5 to 10% by weight; and the amount of abrasive ranges from 5 to 15% by weight.