EP0753039B1 - Carpet cleaner which can be scattered and comprises particles which can roll - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/EP95/01040 Sec. 371 Date Oct. 30, 1996 Sec. 102(e) Date Oct. 30, 1996 PCT Filed Mar. 21, 1995 PCT Pub. No. WO95/27023 PCT Pub. Date Oct. 12, 1995A carpet cleaning composition comprising: (a) a powder-form solid adsorbent; (b) rollable particles of porous material, each particle having a length greater than 1 mm, and a diameter equal to at least 10% of the length of the particle; and (c) water.

Description

The present invention is in the field of scatterable cleaning agents for textiles.

For cleaning certain textiles, such as carpets and upholstered furniture, which are generally inaccessible to laundry and therefore on site and Are cleaned in place, used in addition to shampoo-like agents all powdered cleaners, also called dry cleaning agents become. These dry cleaning agents consist of a solid Substance that acts as an adsorbent and a volatile liquid that is in the adsorbent is stored and serves to keep the dirt on the To loosen textile. These agents are sprinkled on the textiles for cleaning and after the liquid evaporates from the textile together with the dirt components that have deposited on the adsorbent, brushed or vacuumed. Both as an adsorbent and as a liquid there are already many substances in the literature for these agents been proposed. So you have natural polymers as adsorbents, such as wood flour, starch and cork powder, inorganic materials such as diatomaceous earth and bentonite, as well as various synthetic organic polymers proposed in powder form. As suitable cleaning fluids have been organic solvents such as gasoline or chlorinated hydrocarbons as well such as aqueous surfactant solutions or water-alcohol mixtures. For example only at this point I would like to refer to the German published documents DE 38 42 152, DE 34 37 629 and DE 40 27 004 pointed out in which the use relatively large synthetic polymer particles respectively short-fiber cellulose, each together with aqueous or non-aqueous Cleaning fluids is described.

The scatterable carpet cleaning agents provide an adequate cleaning effect only achieved when they are sprinkled with the help of brushes worked into the carpet either manually or mechanically so that they are in contact with all dirt-bearing fibers come. Brushing in the cleaning powder represents because of the transferred Forces special requirements for the strength of the carpet fibers. A Roughening the surface and the loss of carpet fibers can be often not avoid. There is formation of fluff, which under certain Circumstances may also hinder the incorporation of the powder itself, because a Part of the loose fiber wraps around the bottom of the brush and the working process must be interrupted.

The aforementioned problems are surprisingly avoided if the Carpet cleaning agents based on powdered adsorbents, larger porous and rollable particles are added.

The invention therefore relates to a carpet cleaning agent in the form a scatterable preparation, which is an aqueous cleaning liquid powdery solid adsorbent and additionally rollable particles Viscose sponge is included, being the longest dimension of these particles is more than 1 mm and up to 50 mm and the dimensions in two other spatial directions that are perpendicular to each other and along this length stand, is at least 10% of this greatest length. Particularly preferred are carpet cleaning agents in which the rollable particles are made of deformable Material, especially absorbent sponge-like material are formed.

Due to the content of rollable particles, it is reduced during incorporation of sprinkling agents without stressing the carpet that the cleaning performance drops significantly. The education of carpet fluff is reduced. Loose fibers and similar material, such as e.g. B. Hair lying on the carpet is rolled around the particles and can therefore no longer cause brush occupancy and malfunction of the induction process. In addition, during cleaning occurring odors specifically by incorporating suitable fragrances are covered in the porous rollable particles. Because the suction carpet cleaning agents including rollable particles after drying is completely possible, remain after finishing the Cleaning only small amounts of perfume on the carpet, so that only one low after-smell results. Instead, the Provide vacuum cleaner bags with a long-term fragrance, as is the case in many cases it is asked for. The positive properties that the spreadable Cleaning agents are obtained by adding the rollable particles largely independent of the material from which the rollable particles are made. The advantages are also not in the choice of special powdery Adsorbents bound, but, as far as recognizable, for all for scatterable carpet cleaning agents usable powdered adsorbents to observe.

Powdery adsorbents are therefore suitable for the inventive Carpet cleaning agents such as wood flour in bleached and unbleached version, cellulose powder, starch, cork powder, synthetic organic polymers in powder form, such as polyethylene powder, polypropylene powder, Polyurethane powder, polystyrene powder, with the powder here too finely divided polymer fibers and ground polymer foams are understood, for example ground polyurethane foam, ground polystyrene foam, ground urea formaldehyde resin foam and ground phenolic resin foam. Inorganic materials can also serve as powdered adsorbents, for example silicon dioxide in various forms, such as precipitated Silica, diatomaceous earth and even fine sand, aluminum oxide in powder form, ground pumice, clays such as bentonite and others Aluminum silicates such as zeolites X, Y and A, faujasite and Hydrotalcite, still ground foam glass and also finely divided soluble Salts such as sodium borate and sodium chloride. The particle size of this powdery Adsorbents are preferably between about 0.01 mm and 1 mm, in particular between 0.02 and 0.3 mm. Adsorbents are preferred from the group wood flour, cellulose powder, water-insoluble cellulose derivatives, Silicic acid, zeolite, ground polyurethane foam and ground Urea formaldehyde resin foam.

In the case of the rollable particles of viscose sponge contained in the agents according to the invention can be regular or irregularly shaped bodies. Crucial is that the shape is designed so that the body when incorporated of the carpet cleaning agent under the one running over the carpet Can roll brush. Spheres, cylinders, ellipsoids, Egg shapes but also irregularly shaped bodies, such as those result from agglomeration of smaller particles into granules, questionable. Especially with elastic and easily deformable materials but can also have more angular bodies up to cubes and cuboids be perfectly rollable and suitable for the agents according to the invention. The size of the rollable particles should on average be significantly larger than the particle size of powdered adsorbents. So the longest spatial dimension of the particles more than 1 mm and preferably more than 3 mm and can range up to 50 mm, preferably up to 10 mm. In the other two spatial directions, which are in relation to each other and on this longitudinal extension vertical, the particle dimensions should be at least 10%, preferably at least 20% of this greatest length.

The rollable particles consist of viscose sponge.

The production of the particles can be done by crushing larger pieces of material, for example by cutting or grinding respectively. So in particular the particle obtained by crushing larger pieces. For particles made of synthetic organic polymers Viscose sponge is preferably made of foamed material or fleece or Pieces of fabric. The macroscopic pore volume of the rollable Viscose sponge particles are preferably between about 0.3 and 50 ml / g, in particular between 1 and 30 ml / g.

The content of rollable particles in the agents according to the invention can be relatively small, since only a few particles are sufficient for the to achieve the desired effect. The proportion of rollable particles is thus in the agents according to the invention preferably about 0.1 to 10 % By weight, in particular 0.1 to 2% by weight, based on the total agent.

With the cleaning liquid contained in the agents according to the invention is, in the simplest case, it can be water alone, however, the cleaning liquid often contains other aids that enhance cleaning performance or otherwise in use the means are useful. The amount of liquid is measured so that it can still be absorbed by the fixed components of the funds and thus the spreadability of the funds is guaranteed. For this reason the water content in the compositions is preferably 25 to 75% by weight, in particular 30 to 70 wt .-%, each based on the total agent.

The agents according to the invention can be used as cleaning-enhancing additives in the cleaning liquid preferably organic solvents and / or Contain surfactants. Both water-miscible are suitable as organic solvents as well as water-immiscible solvents, insofar as they do not attack the textiles and are sufficiently volatile to remove them after the Application of the agent to evaporate on the textiles in a short time. Farther When selecting solvents, make sure that they are in the finished product mixture have sufficiently high flash points and toxicologically are harmless. Alcohols, ketones, glycol ethers are particularly suitable and hydrocarbons, for example isopropanol, acetone, ether of mono- and diethylene glycol and of mono-, di- and tripropylene glycol with Boiling points between 120 ° C and 250 ° C and petrol with a boiling range from 130 to 200 ° C, especially low-aromatic fractions, and mixtures from these solvents. Alcohols with 2 to 3 carbon atoms, Propylene glycol ether, gasolines and mixtures thereof are used. The amount organic solvents are present in the agents according to the invention, preferably not more than 20% by weight, in particular between 2 and 15% by weight.

Although the detergents are very good for surface cleaning without the addition of surfactants, not the result when using commercial means in the majority of cases can also be achieved by the Addition of surfactants to improve the removal of stains. in the in general, a surfactant addition of up to 10% by weight is sufficient; preferably the agents contain 0.05 to 5% by weight, especially not more than 1% by weight of surfactants. The large number of known surfactants are particularly suitable those substances that may be non-volatile together with other substances Dry components of the agent to a solid, brittle residue. The surfactants can be of the anionic or nonionic classes Surfactants originate, but anionic surfactants are preferably used.

Addition products of are particularly suitable as nonionic surfactants 1 to 30, preferably 4 to 15 moles of ethylene oxide per 1 mole of a long chain Compound with 10 to 20 carbon atoms from the group of alcohols, Alkylphenols, carboxylic acids and carboxamides. Besides that come too corresponding compounds into consideration, in which instead of part of the Ethylene oxide is attached to propylene oxide. The attachment products are particularly important from ethylene oxide to long chain primary or secondary Alcohols, such as fatty alcohols or oxo alcohols, as well as on mono- or dialkylphenols with 6 to 14 carbon atoms in the alkyl groups. Other suitable non-ionic surfactants are the long-chain amine oxides and the Fatty alkyl (poly) glycosides with 1 to 3 glycose units in the molecule.

Suitable anionic surfactants are, in particular, those of sulfate or Sulfonate type, but other types such as soaps, long chain N-acyl sarcosinates, Salts of fatty acid cyanamides or salts of ether carboxylic acids, such as those from long-chain alkyl or alkylphenyl polyglycol ethers and chloroacetic acid are available. The anionic Surfactants are preferably used in the form of the sodium salts.

Particularly suitable surfactants of the sulfate type are the sulfuric acid monoesters of long-chain primary alcohols of natural and synthetic origin with 10 to 20 carbon atoms, that is to say of fatty alcohols, such as, for example, coconut fatty alcohols, tallow fatty alcohols, oleyl alcohol, or the C _{10 to} C ₂₀ oxo alcohols and those of secondary alcohols of this chain length. In addition, the sulfuric acid monoesters of the aliphatic primary alcohols, secondary alcohols or alkylphenols ethoxylated with 1 to 6 mol of ethylene oxide come into consideration. Sulfated fatty acid alkanolamides and sulfated fatty acid monoglycerides are also suitable.

The surfactants of the sulfonate type are primarily sulfosuccinic acid monoesters and diesters with 6 to 22 carbon atoms in the alcohol parts, the alkylbenzenesulfonates with C ₉ to C ₁₅ alkyl groups and the esters of α-sulfo fatty acids, for example the α-sulfonated methyl or ethyl esters of hydrogenated coconut, palm kernel or tallow fatty acids. Other useful surfactants of the sulfonate type are the alkanesulfonates which can be obtained from C ₁₂ -C ₁₈ -alkanes by sulfochlorination or sulfoxidation and subsequent hydrolysis or neutralization or by bisulfite addition to olefins, and the olefinsulfonates, which are mixtures of alkene and hydroxyalkanesulfonates and Disulfonates as obtained, for example, from long-chain monoolefins with a terminal or internal double bond by sulfonation with gaseous sulfur trioxide and subsequent alkaline or acidic hydrolysis of the sulfonation products.

The fatty alcohol sulfates with 12 to 18 carbon atoms are particularly preferred, the salts of sulfosuccinic acid monoesters with 16 to 20 carbon atoms in the alcohol part and mixtures of these surfactants are used.

In addition to the components already mentioned, the agents of this invention can other auxiliary materials commonly used in textile and carpet cleaning agents and additives in a small amount. Examples of such agents are antistatic components, such as inorganic salts and quaternary ammonium compounds, optical brighteners, the re-pollution reducing substances, such as polyacrylates, the spreadability and spreadability-enhancing additives, preservatives and perfume. Auxiliaries and additives are usually no more than 10% by weight used; preferably the content is not more than 5 percent by weight, in particular between 0.01 and 2 wt .-%, each based on the total funds.

A particularly preferred agent contains cellulose powder as powdered adsorbent, preferably in amounts of about 40 to 50 wt .-%, as rollable Particles flakes of viscose sponge, preferably in amounts of about 0.1 to 2 wt .-%, as surfactant sodium olefin sulfonate, preferably in Quantities of about 0.2 to 1.5% by weight, low-aromatic gasoline solvent, preferably in amounts of about 1 to 10 wt .-%, and water.

The preparation of the agents according to the invention does not require a major one technical effort. Usually, simple mixing devices, such as shovel or drum mixer in which the rollable particles, the powdered Adsorbent and, if necessary, other finely divided solid Components and then moving with the cleaning liquid, which optionally contains other constituents dissolved, sprayed.

The cleaning of the textiles and carpets takes place in such a way that the cleaning agents according to the invention are sprinkled onto the textiles manually or with the aid of a suitable spreading device and then rubbed more or less intensively into the textiles, for example with the aid of a sponge, a brush or a corrugated board . As a rule, training times of 0.3 to 5 minutes, preferably 0.5 to 3 minutes per square meter are chosen. The residues are removed from the textiles mechanically, for example by brushing and / or vacuuming. For the cleaning of larger textile surfaces, about 2 to about 150 g / m ² are used by the agents according to the invention, depending on the fullness of the textiles and depending on the degree of soiling, but much larger amounts can also be used in the treatment of smaller textile pieces or for removing individual stains. For cleaning the surface of carpets, application rates of about 10 to about 100 g / m ^{2 are} usual. The entire process can be carried out largely manually, for example in the household, but there is also the possibility of rubbing in and possibly further steps using suitable machines, for example combined spreading and brushing machines, so that the process is equally good for use suitable in the commercial sector.

Examples

The agents listed in the following table with details of the individual components were each produced in amounts of 10 kg in a paddle mixer, the adsorbents and the rollable particles being introduced and then sprayed with a solution of the other components in water. Mixing was continued until a homogeneous, free-flowing product was obtained. Composition of the funds (in percent by weight) 1 2nd 3rd 4th 5 6 Beech wood cellulose powder 43.0 46.0 42.5 47.0 Urea-formaldehyde resin foam powdered (75% moisture) 72.0 88.0 Sliced viscose fleece 0.3 0.6 1.0 3.0 Zeolite agglomerate 2.5 4.7 Na lauryl sulfate 0.8 0.3 Na olefin sulfonate 0.8 1.1 Ethanol 5.0 Isoparaffin 1.0 Water, perfume preservative to 100 wt .-%

The ingredients listed in the table are the following materials:

Beech wood cellulose powder:

Type Arbocel B 800 x from Rettenmaier, bulk density 105 - 135 g / l.

Powdered urea-formaldehyde resin foam:

Moist material with 75% by weight H ₂ O, maximum grain distribution at approx. 0.03 mm, bulk density 70 g / l.

Cut viscose fleece:

Sponge cloth material used for kitchen cleaning (Cotton content 50%) was cut with a cross-cut machine Cut flakes with the dimensions 2.5 x 2.0 x 2 - 8 mm. Bulk density approx. 90 g / l.

Zeolite agglomerate:

Type Baylith W 894, granules made of zeolite X-Na, binder-free, spherical, Grain size 1 - 4 mm.

Isoparaffin:

Isopar M from Exxon (petrol), boiling range 205 - 255 ° C.

The cleaning agents 1, 2, 4 and 5 according to the invention were in their cleaning ability against artificial pigment soiling and hairy Coverings and with regard to the roughening of the treated carpet material checked and compared with such means that instead of Rollable particles of viscose fleece or zeolite agglomerate not according to Examples 3 and 6 according to the invention Additional amount of the powdered adsorbent contained; but were otherwise composed the same. The cleaning performance against artificial pigment soiling was used on polyamide velor carpets checked. The agents according to the invention showed practically the same cleaning performance as the agents without rollable Particle. Compared to hairy toppings (sprinkled mixture of cotton wool, Hair and wool fibers) the agents according to the invention were clearly shown think. While in the comparative examples part of the fiber material stuck in the brush, it rolled in the inventive Medium around the rollable particles and could be suctioned off with them become. The roughening of the carpet material was on carpets Wool loop material checked. Here showed the with the invention Medium treated carpets clearly in the visual matching less roughening than with agents without rollable particles treated pieces.

Claims (4)

1. A carpet cleaning formulation in the form of a scatterable composition containing a water-based cleaning liquid and a powder-form solid adsorbent, characterized in that it additionally contains rollable particles of viscose sponge of which the longest dimension is more than 1 mm and preferably more than 3 mm and up to 50 mm, but preferably not more than 10 mm, the dimensions in two other spatial directions, which are perpendicular to one another and to that length, being at least 10% and preferably at least 20% of this maximum length.
2. Carpet cleaning formulations as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the powder-form solid absorbent is selected from the group consisting of wood flour, cellulose powder, water-insoluble cellulose derivatives, silica, zeolite, ground polyurethane foam and ground urea/formaldehyde resin foam.
3. Carpet cleaning formulations as claimed in claim 1 or 2 containing

   40 to 50 % by weight of cellulose powder,

   0.1 to 2 % by weight of viscose sponge flakes,

   0.2 to 1.5% by weight of sodium olefin sulfonate,

   1 to 10 % by weight of low-aromatic gasoline

   and water.
4. A process for cleaning carpets, in which 2 to 150 g of a cleaning formulation according to any of claims 1 to 3 are scattered on per square meter of textile, the formulation is rubbed into the surface of the textile for 0.3 to 5 minutes and is then removed from the textile by brushing and/or vacuum cleaning.