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
  • C11D17/00—Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties
  • C11D17/0043—For use with aerosol devices
• • 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
  • C11D17/0013—Liquid compositions with insoluble particles in suspension
• • 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
  • C11D7/00—Compositions of detergents based essentially on non-surface-active compounds
  • C11D7/50—Solvents
  • C11D7/5004—Organic solvents
  • C11D7/5027—Hydrocarbons
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06L—DRY-CLEANING, WASHING OR BLEACHING FIBRES, FILAMENTS, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR MADE-UP FIBROUS GOODS; BLEACHING LEATHER OR FURS
  • D06L1/00—Dry-cleaning or washing fibres, filaments, threads, yarns, fabrics, feathers or made-up fibrous goods
  • D06L1/02—Dry-cleaning or washing fibres, filaments, threads, yarns, fabrics, feathers or made-up fibrous goods using organic solvents
  • D06L1/04—Dry-cleaning or washing fibres, filaments, threads, yarns, fabrics, feathers or made-up fibrous goods using organic solvents combined with specific additives

Definitions

• This invention relates to a fabric care stain removal preparation deliverable by pressurized aerosol dispenser that utilizes a combination of solvent systems with solid-based absorbent such that the final formula and product is harmless to environment and non-irritating to skin of the consumer.
• the invention especially relates to a a self-pressurized aerosol composition for spot dry cleaning of fabrics comprising a propellant, a volatile hydrocarbon solvent system for removing stains from the fabrics and a particulate absorbent capable of absorbing stain.
• Spot remover compositions for use on fabric materials such as clothing, carpets and upholstery have existed for many years (see for example, British Patent No. 1,397,475 (Loudas)). These types of products are used on relatively small areas of fabrics to remove soil and stains due to food or oily materials. Water-based stains require polar solvents while oily soil or stains require relatively non-polar solvents for proper removal. These solvents are often difficult to combine into a homogeneous composition.
• aerosol formulations are used so the user can simply spray the composition onto the fabric.
• the compositions can remove the stain without appreciably wetting the fabric which can spread the stain out rather than removing it. Drying time is often critical for garment spot removal because the stain is often only noticed at the time the garment is to be worn.
• “Dry” cleaning compositions are also important where the garment is sensitive to water and must be commercially dry cleaned rather than simply laundered in water. In addition to long drying times, significant amounts of water to remove stains can cause shrinkage and warping of carpeting and also may promote mould growth. Thus, it would be desirable to have an aerosol composition that can spot dry clean fabrics without leaving the fabric wet to a significant degree.
• European Patent No. 0 890 670 A2 (de Jager) teaches a self-pressurized aerosol composition for spot dry cleaning of a textile comprising a propellant [preferably dimethyl ether (DME)]., a volatile hydrocarbon solvent for removing stains, a particulate absorbent material capable of absorbing a stain from a textile on to which it is sprayed, and a water-in-oil microemulsion in an amount of from 5% to 50% by weight of the total composition including propellant, said aerosol composition containing from 2.5% to 25% by weight of water based on weight of the total composition including propellant.
• a propellant preferably dimethyl ether (DME)
• DME dimethyl ether
• U.S. Patent No. 3,161,460 (Huber) teaches a self-pressurized aerosol degreasing agent composed of a solvent for fat and grease like difluoromethane or monochlorodifluoromethane and a finely divided solid absorbent such as talcum powder, silica gel or siliceous earth.
• One solvent must be a low boiling solvent such as a fluorinated solvent, unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon, aliphatic alcohol or ketone.
• the compositions can be used to dry shampoo human hair as well as to spot clean textiles.
• U.S. Patent No. 3,714,049 (Charle et al.) teaches self-pressurized aerosols composed of a stain removing agent such as a chlorinated hydrocarbon with an isopropanol diluent or a hydrocarbon, a finely divided solid absorbent such as "silicon" powder or talcum powder, and a propellant such as a saturated lower aliphatic hydrocarbon or halogenated hydrocarbon where either or both the stain removing agent and the absorbent are microencapsulated.
• a stain removing agent such as a chlorinated hydrocarbon with an isopropanol diluent or a hydrocarbon
• a finely divided solid absorbent such as "silicon" powder or talcum powder
• a propellant such as a saturated lower aliphatic hydrocarbon or halogenated hydrocarbon where either or both the stain removing agent and the absorbent are microencapsulated.
• the object of the present invention is to provide an aerosol fabric spot dry cleaner composition which not only provides good removal of various oil-based stains or soil, but in addition is formulated so as to avoid any hazard for the environment and for humans utilizing such cleaner compositions in a household application.
• a self-pressurized aerosol composition for spot dry cleaning of fabrics
• the composition containing a combination of low molecular weight aliphatic and cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons, optionally a co-solvent, an emulsifier, an aesthetic amount of perfume, and an absorbent such as silica powder and at least one liquified petroleum gas (isobutane, n-butane and propane) as the propellant to provide an aerosol fabric spot dry cleaner composition which not only provides good removal of various oil-based stains or soil, but in addition is formulated so as to avoid the hazard classifications 'IRRITANT' (St Andrews Crooss symbol) and 'DANGEROUS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT' (Dead Fish Dead Tree symbol) under the EU Dangerous Preparations Directive (1999/45/EC), which hazard symbols on a household consumer product could potentially adversely affect consumer purchase intent and therefore sales volumes and market share.
• the subject-matter of the present invention is according to a first aspect a self-pressurized aerosol composition for the spot dry cleaning of a fabric mainly comprising a propellant, a volatile hydrocarbon solvent system for removing stains from a fabric and a particulate absorbent capable of absorbing the stain.
• the propellant is a blend of liquefied petroleum gases, preferably a blend of liquefied C 3 -C 4 petroleum gases, more preferably a blend of propane, iso-butane and n-butane, especially a butane : propane mixture containing from about 50 to 80, preferably 70 wt.% of butane and from about 50 to 20, preferably 30 wt.% of propane.
• the propellant is present in the aerosol composition of the present invention in an amount of from about 40 to about 60 wt.%, preferably from about 45 to about 55 wt.%, more preferably in an amount of from about 44 to 46 wt.% of the total composition;
• the volatile hydrocarbon solvent system is a mixture of a low molecular weight C 5 -C 7 paraffinic aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent consisting of one or more components, at least one cycloaliphatic C 5 -C 7 hydrocarbon solvent and optionally at least one oxygenated cosolvent;
• the paraffinic aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent is a blend of aliphatic C 5 -C 7 hydrocarbon solvents, preferably a blend of pentane, hexane, heptane and methyl-cyclohexane, more preferably a blend of pentane, heptane and methyl-cyclohexane in a weight ratio of about (30 to 40) : (45 to 55) : (10
• the particulate absorbent is present in an amount of from about 1 to about 20 wt.%, preferably in an amount of from about 5 to about 12 wt.%, more preferably in an amount of about 7 wt.%, based on the total composition;
• the aerosol composition of the present invention additionally may contain at least one electrostatic charge limiting substance, preferably oleyl imidazoline, which preferably, if present, is present in an amount of from up to about 2 wt.%, more preferably of about 0.1 to about 2.0 wt.%, most preferably of about 0.1 to about 0.5 wt.%, based on the total composition;
• the aerosol composition of the present invention may additionally contain at least one perfume, if present, preferably in an amount of from up to about 1.0 wt.%, more preferably from about 0.01 to about 1.0 wt.% and most preferably in an amount of about 0.05 wt.%, based on the total composition;
• the subject-matter of the present invention is an aerosol composition as defined above comprising from about 40 to about 60 wt.%, preferably from about 45 to about 55 wt.% of the C 3 -C 4 liquified petroleum gas, most preferably from about 44 to about 46 wt.%, especially about 45 wt.% of a butane/propane (70/30) mixture; from about 5 to about 20 wt.%, preferably from about 15 to about 20 wt.% of the paraffinic aliphatic C 5 -C 7 hydrocarbon solvent, most preferably from about 19 to about 20 wt.% of a pentane/heptane/methylcyclohexane (37/52/11) mixture; from about 15 to about 35 wt.%, preferably from about 20 to about 30 wt.% of the cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon solvent, more preferably from about 22 to about 25 wt.%, of cyclopentane; from about 0.1 to
• the self-pressurized aerosol compositions for spot dry cleaning of woven or nonwoven fabrics and textiles of the present invention as defined above are suitable for removing stains from garments such as dresses, suits, ties and shirts as well as for carpets, rugs and upholstery and pile fabrics that are cleaned in place. These compositions leave a powder behind which absorbs and removes the stain from the fabric and can then be brushed or vacuumed away from the fabric.
• the aerosol fabric spot cleaner compositions of the invention not only provide good removal of various oil-based stains or soil, but in addition are formulated so as to avoid the hazard classifications 'IRRITANT' and 'DANGEROUS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT' under the EU Dangerous Preparations Directive (1999/45/EC), which means that they are formulated in such manner that they are not harmful by inhalation, by ingestion and by skin contact and do not irritate the skin of consumers and therefore are especially suitable for household application.
• aerosol compositions of the present invention represent a substantial progress over the prior art aerosol compositions.
• the self-pressurized aerosol spot dry cleaning compositions of the present invention are low viscosity liquids which are typically less than about 300 centipoise (0.300 pascal.seconds) in viscosity at 25 °C and are suitable for delivery by spraying.
• liquid components other than the propellant are readily made simply by mixing the liquid components other than the propellant together at room temperature (25 °C) followed by the addition of the absorbent with vigorous stirring or with the application of shear by means of a homogeniser to enhance dispersion.
• This mixture is then added to a suitable metal aerosol container followed by the liquefied petroleum gas propellant.
• a suitable metal aerosol container such as a tin-plated steel container is used.
• the container is sealed with a conventional pressurized aerosol valve and fitted with a suitable aerosol spray actuator button capable of delivering the desired type or pattern of spray.
• the liquefied petroleum gas can be added to the composition after the container is sealed by adding it through the valve under pressure.
• the self-pressurized spot dry cleaning compositions of the present invention may be used by shaking the container to ensure good dispersion of the absorbent followed by spraying a quantity of the composition at room temperature onto a stained area of the fabric and allowing it to dry.
• the absorbent cooperates with the solvent system so that after the solvents dissolve the stain, the solvents carry the stain into the absorbent.
• a light powder of absorbent containing the absorbed stain is left on the fabric which is then brushed or vacuumed away from the fabric to leave a clean fabric surface behind.
• the self-pressurized spot dry cleaning compositions of the present invention can be used in the same manner as have other conventional spot dry cleaning compositions to clean away stains on fabrics such as garments, carpets, upholstery and pile fabrics while leaving the fabric relatively dry to the touch so that the fabric item can be used rather quickly after the cleaning operation is finished.
• the propellant used in the self-pressurised aerosol compositions of the present invention is liquefied petroleum gas. If the gases are exhausted by misuse, then the contents of the container may not be fully dispensed from the container. From about 20% to about 70%, preferably from about 40% to 60%, and most preferably, from about 45% to 55%, by weight of the total composition is liquefied petroleum gas. A sufficient amount of liquefied petroleum gas is used to adequately pressurize the aerosol container used to dispense the spot dry cleaning compositions of the present invention.
• cyclopentane Due to its solvent characteristics and less hazardous environmental and human health European Commission hazard classification, cyclopentane presents a significant advantage as a solvent in the compositions of the present invention.
• Another required component of the present invention is from about 1% to about 20%, preferably from about 5% to 12%, and most preferably, from about 6% to 8%, by weight of the total composition of at least one particulate absorbent capable of absorbing a stain from the fabric onto which the composition is sprayed and has an average particles size which permits it to be sprayed from a self-pressurised aerosol dispenser.
• particulate absorbents are fumed or pyrogenic silica, precipitated silica, surface-treated silica, calcium silicate, calcium carbonate, magnesium silicate, starch, clays, talc, magnesium oxide, and similar such materials.
• the mean average particle size of such absorbents should be such as to permit spraying from a self-pressurised aerosol dispenser.
• the mean average particle size should be less than about 100 microns, more preferably less than about 50 microns, and most preferably, no more than about 5 to 30 microns.
• fumed or pyrogenic silicas and precipitated silicas are preferred. Fumed or pyrogenic silicas are more preferred where the compositions are to be packaged in tin-plated steel aerosol dispenser containers because precipitated silicas tend to contain trace amounts of salts such as chlorides and sulphates which create corrosion problems. Talc, calcium silicate and clays tend to settle to the bottom of the containers after the compositions are prepared and require a greater amount of shaking to redisperse them than do compositions made using the silicas as absorbents.
• the self-pressurised aerosol compositions of the present invention principally rely on the solvent power of paraffinic and cycloparaffinic short chain length aliphatic hydrocarbons of high volatility and low kinematic viscosity.
• organic solvents can be used in amounts of no more than about 10% and more preferably, no more than about 5% by weight of the total composition to improve the stain removal characteristics of the compositions of the present invention.
• Hydrocarbon solvents which are volatile at 250 °C such as pentane, hexane, heptane, methyl-cyclohexane, aliphatic naphthas and similar such solvents can be included to improve the effectiveness of the compositions of the present invention against oil-based stains.
• optional ingredients can be conventional additives such as perfumes, preservatives, and the like which do not adversely affect the fabrics to be cleaned. These optional ingredients are usually included in minor amounts which do not exceed about 5% by weight of the total composition and more preferably are no more than about 1% by weight of the total composition.
• Another optional component of the present invention is from up to about 15%, preferably from about 1% to 5%, and most preferably, from about 2% to 4%, by weight of the total composition of at least one co-solvent for the aliphatic and cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon solvents.
• the co-solvent serves several purposes. One is to permit the formation of homogeneous solutions of the liquid ingredients used in the compositions of the present invention. Examples of useful co-solvents are lower alcohols containing preferably 1 to about 4 carbon atoms such as methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, and isobutanol. Methanol is less desirable in a consumer product due to its toxicity. Isopropanol is a presently preferred co-solvent.
• Example shows aerosol spot dry cleaning formulations useful in the present invention.
• the above formulations were prepared by mixing the paraffinic and cycloparaffinic short chain length aliphatic hydrocarbons, isopropanol and fragrance (optional) together in that order with mixing. To this mixture was then added the electrostatic charge limiting substance. The mixture was then mixed thoroughly for some minutes until the electrostatic charge limiting substance had dissolved. To this mixture was then added the solid silica. The mixture was then mixed thoroughly with a rotor/stator mixer to homogenize the mixture and to get a thorough dispersion. This mixture was added to a conventional tin-plated steel aerosol container.
• Each container was fitted with a conventional aerosol valve which was crimped onto the neck of the container and then the liquefied petroleum gas was added to the container through the valve under pressure to pressurize the container to give a final internal can pressure of from 3.3 to 3.8 x 10 5 Pascals at 25 °C.
• a conventional actuator button was then added to the valve stem.
• the container had to be shaken to redisperse the silica powder before spraying the composition onto a fabric.
• Each formulation was a single phase homogeneous composition with the silica powder suspended within the composition after shaking well.
• the stains tested were of the greasy type on cotton drill fabrics and then on swatches with fresh stains applied.
• the specific stains tested were:
• Example 1 was found to be most equal in performance to the conventional Comparative Example A.
• Example 1 For stain removal testing there was a substanial difference in level of performance between Example 1 and Comparative Example A. The readings indicate differences for each formula on different stains of from more than about 10 % up to about 60 %.
• Example 1 is further superior to Comparative Example A as key changes have been made to the formula such that the formulated product will not attract (with the exception of the Flame Symbol most commonly seen on self-pressurized aerosol products in the European Union) two additional symbols, i.e. the St Andrew's Cross (representing the hazard classifications: Harmful & Irritant) and the Dead Fish Dead Tree symbol (representing the hazard classification: Dangerous for the Environment).

Landscapes

• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
• Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Detergent Compositions (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=33395888

Family Applications (2)

Family Applications After (1)

Country Status (2)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (5)

• 2003
  • 2003-06-27 EP EP20030014699 patent/EP1491620A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
• 2004
  • 2004-06-28 WO PCT/EP2004/006988 patent/WO2005001017A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2004-06-28 EP EP04740386A patent/EP1639074A1/fr not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (5)

Non-Patent Citations (2)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events