Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
  • C11D3/39—Organic or inorganic per-compounds
  • C11D3/3947—Liquid compositions
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D1/00—Detergent compositions based essentially on surface-active compounds; Use of these compounds as a detergent
  • C11D1/66—Non-ionic compounds
  • C11D1/825—Mixtures of compounds all of which are non-ionic
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D17/00—Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties
  • C11D17/0008—Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties aqueous liquid non soap compositions
  • C11D17/003—Colloidal solutions, e.g. gels; Thixotropic solutions or pastes
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D17/00—Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties
  • C11D17/04—Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties combined with or containing other objects
  • C11D17/041—Compositions releasably affixed on a substrate or incorporated into a dispensing means
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
  • C11D3/16—Organic compounds
  • C11D3/26—Organic compounds containing nitrogen
  • C11D3/33—Amino carboxylic acids
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D1/00—Detergent compositions based essentially on surface-active compounds; Use of these compounds as a detergent
  • C11D1/66—Non-ionic compounds
  • C11D1/72—Ethers of polyoxyalkylene glycols

Definitions

• the present invention relates to cleaning compositions, which are particularly suitable for- the pretreatment of laundry or the cleaning of hard surfaces, especially inclined surfaces.
• cleaning compositions may advantageously be more or less viscous. Indeed, viscous products do not run like thin liquids, and their use is therefore easier to control.
• this aspect is of a lesser importance when the product merely needs to be poured into a machine dispenser or a washing device, but it is critical when the dispensing of the product needs to be controlled, i.e. from a dispenser onto a precise area, say a fabric or a hard surface, where the product is to achieve an effect before it is eliminated.
• Typically such uses include laundry pretreatment and hard surface cleaning.
• pseudoplastic and thixotropic cleaning compositions comprising a detergent system, said composition having a viscosity of from 60 cps to 1500 cps at 12 rpm, from 40 cps to 800 cps at 30 rpm, and from 20 cps to 500 cps at 60 rpm.
• the present invention further encompasses said compositions contained in a squeezable container equipped with a dispensing nozzle.
• the present invention also encompasses a process of treating fabrics and surfaces, where said compositions are used.
• the invention encompasses cleaning compositions which are pseudoplastic and thixotropic.
• pseudoplastic it is meant herein a composition which has different viscosities when different shear stresses are applied within the limits claimed herein. Different shear stresses can be applied to a given composition for instance by varying the shear rate e.g. the rotation speed of the spindle of a rotational viscometer. Unless otherwise specified, all viscosities herein are measured with a Brookfield DV II rotational viscometer, with spindle No.2 at 20°c. Typically, when running viscosity measurements on pseudoplastic liquids with a rotational viscometer, some fluctuation may occur in the viscosity readings at the beginning of the measurement.
• compositions herein are furthermore thixotropic, i.e. after having reached equilibrium viscosity, which is typically maintained for a period ranging from 5 to 30 minutes, the viscosity starts to decrease and eventually reaches a second equilibrium value, lower than the first one.
• compositions according to the present invention which comprise a detergent system, have a viscosity of from 60 cps to 1500 cps at 12 rpm, from 40 cps to 800 cps at 30 rpm, and from 20 cps to 500 cps at 60 rpm.
• the compositions herein have a viscosity of from 400 cps to 600 cps, most preferably 450 cps to 550 cps at 12 rpm, from 200 cps to 350 cps, most preferably from 300 cps to 350 cps at 30 rpm, and from 100 cps to 250 cps, most preferably from 150 cps to 250 cps at 60 rpm.
• the viscosity at 12 rpm will be higher than the viscosity at 30 rpm which, in turn, is higher than the viscosity at 60 rpm.
• the preferred compositions herein have a viscosity difference between 12 rpm and 30 rpm of at least 20 cps, preferably 300-100 cps, and a viscosity difference between 30 rpm and 60 rpm of at least 10cps, preferably 30-80 cps.
• the compositions according to the present invention have a higher viscosity at lower shear stresses and a lower viscosity at higher shear stresses.
• a viscosity profile allows firstly an easy and precise control of the dispensing of the composition. Indeed, as the composition is dispensed from its container, a high shear stress is applied which contributes to decreasing the viscosity of the composition.
• the composition according to the present invention has a lower viscosity as it is dispensed.
• the present invention further encompasses a package comprising a composition as described herein, packaged in a squeezable container equipped with a dispensing nozzle.
• squeezable container equipped with a dispensing nozzle it is meant herein a container wherein substantially no dispensing of the composition occurs unless said composition is squeezed out of said container.
• Squeezable containers are well known and are commonly used to package toilet bowl cleaning compositions and other hard surface cleaning compositions.
• the composition according to the present invention has a higher viscosity once it has been dispensed onto a surface. Accordingly, the composition is prevented from overly spreading on said surfaces, and running down said surfaces too quickly when said surfaces are inclined or even vertical.
• a shear stress is applied which further reduces the viscosity of the composition, thus further easing its removal or rinsing.
• compositions according to the present invention are thixotropic. Accordingly, the compositions according to the present invention show a viscosity decrease of up to 60% at a constant shear rate (rotational speed), preferably from 5% to 50%, most preferably from 10% to 40%. These percentages refer to the difference between the first and second equilibrium values.
• This thixotropic behavior allows the viscosity of the composition of the invention to decrease with time once it has been dispensed onto the surface where it acts, contributing to an even spreading of the composition on the surface. Furthermore, this thixotropic behavior contributes to a composition which is easier to remove or rinse off said surface.
• compositions according to the present invention can be suitably prepared in the form of an aqueous matrix comprising an emulsion of at least two, preferably only two, nonionic surfactants.
• Said two nonionic surfactants must have different HLB values, and preferably the difference in value of the HLBs of said two surfactants is of at least 3, preferably at least 6.5.
• Suitable nonionic surfactants for preparing compositions according to the present invention are alkoxylated alcohol nonionic surfactants which are well known in the art. By varying the chain length of the alcohol and the degree of alkoxylation, a multitude of nonionic surfactants can be obtained with a great variety of different HLBs. Appropriately combining at least two of said nonionic surfactants, with different HLBs, in water allows to form the desired emulsion.
• alkoxylated alcohols can be readily made by condensation processes which are well known in the art, but a great variety of such alkoxylated alcohols, especially ethoxylated and/or propoxylated alcohols is also conveniently commercially available.
• Surfactants catalogs are available which list a number of surfactant, including nonionics, together with their respective HLB values.
• preferred alkoxylated alcohols for use herein are nonionic surfactants according to the formula RO(E)e(P)pH where R is a hydrocarbon chain of from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, E is ethylene oxide and P is propylene oxide, and e and p which represent the average degree of, respectively ethoxylation and propoxylation, are of from 0 to 60.
• an emulsion according to the present invention i.e. with the desired viscosity profile, it is typically required to use from 4% to 30% by weight of the total composition of said nonionic surfactants, preferably from 6% to 15%.
• the hydrophobic nonionic surfactant (HLB typically from 6 to 10) should represent from 70% to 90% of the total surfactant amount, preferably from 75% to 85%.
• At least one said alkoxylated alcohols herein has an R group in the formula above which has a hydrocarbon chain with only from 8 to 13 carbon atoms, preferably from 8 to 11.
• the advantage of using such short chain nonionic surfactants is that a pseudoplastic and thixotropic emulsion according to the present invention can be achieved with a lower total amount of surfactant, compared to the same system using longer chain nonionic surfactants. Accordingly, when such short chain nonionic surfactants are used, the compositions according to the present invention need only comprise from 2% to 9% by weight of the total composition, preferably from 3% to 6% by weight of the total composition of said short chain nonionic surfactants.
• emulsions according to the present invention need to be formulated at a pH of from 0 to 6, preferably 0.5 to 4.
• the pH of the emulsions according to the present invention can be trimmed by all means available to the man skilled in the art.
• the pH of the emulsion can be trimmed by appropriate organic or inorganic acids which physically stabilize the emulsion and may build up viscosity.
• a preferred such acid for use herein is citric acid, typically from 1% to 20% by weight of the total composition.
• Emulsions according to the present invention typically comprise from 10 % to 95 % by weight of the total composition of water, preferably from 70% to 85%. Preferably deionized water is used.
• emulsions according to the present invention may further comprise a variety of other ingredients including other surfactants of all types, bleaching agents, bleach activators, organic or inorganic alkalis, enzymes, builders, chelants, optical brighteners, dye transfer inhibiting agents, perfumes and dyes.
• compositions according to the present invention are particularly useful as laundry pretreaters, i.e. compositions which are dispensed and left to act onto fabrics before they are washed, or as hard surface cleaners.
• Compositions according to the present invention find a preferred application in the cleaning of inclined or vertical surfaces, particularly bath tubs and toilet bowls.
• the present invention further encompasses a process of treating fabrics or surfaces wherein a pseudoplastic and thixotropic cleaning composition as hereinbefore defined, i.e. comprising a detergent system and having a viscosity of from 60 cps to 1500 cps at 12 rpm, from 40 cps to 800 cps at 30 rpm, and from 20 cps to 500 cps at 60 rpm is dispensed from a container onto said fabrics or surfaces, then left to act onto said fabric or surface, then removed by rinsing.
• a pseudoplastic and thixotropic cleaning composition as hereinbefore defined, i.e. comprising a detergent system and having a viscosity of from 60 cps to 1500 cps at 12 rpm, from 40 cps to 800 cps at 30 rpm, and from 20 cps to 500 cps at 60 rpm is dispensed from a container onto said fabrics or surfaces, then left
• treating includes washing as the compositions according to the present invention comprise surfactants, but it is not exclusive, i.e. other treatments may be performed concurrently such as bleaching and/or disinfecting.
• compositions are made by mixing the listed ingredients in the listed proportions.
• the compositions obtained have a viscosity profile as specified.

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Cited By (12)

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• 1993
  • 1993-06-01 EP EP93870091A patent/EP0598692A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1993-10-29 WO PCT/US1993/010431 patent/WO1994011474A1/en active Application Filing
  • 1993-10-29 CA CA002148098A patent/CA2148098C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1993-10-29 JP JP6512133A patent/JPH08503244A/ja active Pending
  • 1993-10-29 BR BR9307291A patent/BR9307291A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation

Patent Citations (4)

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