FR2623993A1 - DISPOSABLE IMPREGNATED TOWEL FOR CLEANING OR SERVICING ANY SURFACE - Google Patents

Abstract

This towel is based on a woven or nonwoven hydrophilic material, having in the dry state a maximum water absorption capacity of at least 200%, this material being impregnated, up to a rate not exceeding not 75% of this capacity, of an aqueous composition comprising at least one water-miscible solvent and at least one agent giving this composition a substantially neutral pH 7 + -1 or acid.

Description

The present invention relates to a disposable impregnated towel for

  cleaning or maintenance of any surface such as windows, mirrors, tiles or others

  coatings in the household sector.

  We already know many towels impregnated or coated with products used for cleaning or maintenance of various surfaces in the household sector. In general, such towels are intended to remove dirt and / or deposit a layer of products to protect or improve the surface condition. They are present in most cases, in the wet state in the form of absorbent substrates impregnated with liquid compositions. When they are used for cleaning smooth surfaces such as windows, mirrors, it is necessary to wipe off the liquid or solid product deposited, using a cloth or a dry pad for potting or

  remove traces resulting from the depSt of this product.

  These traces constitute an obstacle to cleaning in one

  single step of these smooth surfaces.

  The present invention overcomes these drawbacks and provides a disposable, single-use towel impregnated with a liquid composition under conditions such that when it is applied, on the one hand, total elimination of dirt is obtained and, on the other hand, an appearance surface without traces or films resulting from any deposit of cleaning product of which it is

  impregnated or the substrate itself.

  These conditions are linked to the nature of the substrate itself, which must meet the combination of the following criteria: Resistance to tearing in the wet state;

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  5. Water absorption capacity of at least 200. of its dry weight; Insolubility in any of the constituents of

  the liquid impregnation composition or their mixtures.

  Lack of ability to release or release

insoluble solids.

  The materials meeting these conditions are preferably chosen from hydrophilic woven materials which do not form fluff, such as cotton and other cellulosic fabrics, non-woven materials.

  obtained wet or dry.

  Mention will preferably be made, for the implementation of the invention, of materials having a grammage of at least

less 20g / m2.

  These conditions are also linked to the nature of the impregnation composition and the quantity of it retained by the substrate, quantity expressed as a percentage of the maximum water absorption capacity.

dry substrate.

  According to the invention, this impregnation composition consists of an aqueous composition containing: At least one solvent miscible with water at a rate of at least 4Z and preferably from 5 to 40X by weight relative to the total weight of the impregnating composition and at least one agent giving this composition a substantially neutral (7 + 1) or acidic pH. This pH is advantageously between 2 and 5 and better still

between 2.5 and 4.

  The agent conferring the desired pH is preferably chosen from weak mineral and organic acids having no physicochemical action on the substrate. Mention will in particular be made of acetic, citric, maleic phosphoric acids, acid derivatives

sulfonic.

  The solvent is chosen from volatile solvents comprising alcohols from C 1 to C 4, glycols and glycol ethers from C 2 to C 8 and volatile silicones such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, butanol, l butyl ether of monoethylene glycol and DC 344

  (sold by the company DOW CORNING).

  According to a main characteristic of the invention, the substrate is impregnated with said composition according to an impregnation rate not exceeding 75Z, preferably

  between 5 and 50Z without bleeding.

  According to other characteristics, the impregnation composition may contain other agents such as

  ionic, nonionic and aphoteric surfactants, colo-

  rants, disinfectants, 6th perfumes and preservatives.

  The following examples are given by way of illustration and in no way limit the napkins according to the invention.

Example 1

  We took a non-woven material provided by the company

  French non-woven fabric. Ref 2406 with a weight of 35g / m2.

  It is a mixture of cellulose, cotton, polyester with an acrylic vinyl binder in a ratio of 75Z of fibers to 25Z of binder (wet process). This

  material has a water absorption capacity of 125g / m2.

  We impregnated a square (30 x 30cm) of this material at g / m2 (about 25Z of the maximum amount of absorption) by means of an aqueous composition corresponding to the following formula: Butyl ether of monoethylene glycol ...

  .. 8Z by weight Ethanol at 95 / ............. 10Z Formaldehyde at 30Z ........... DTD:. 0.17 Pure acetic acid ............ 0.17 ".. DTD: Water q.s.p .......... 81.8.

  pH = 3.7 This impregnation was carried out by bringing the material into contact with the quantity of the composition corresponding to the above impregnation rate (25Z by weight). We tested the cleaning efficiency of this material by proceeding as follows: We prepared a fatty composition consisting of lard, vegetable butter, carbon black and ferrous and ferric oxides and we spread O , 04g of this composition on a black glass of 30 X cm. This dirty window was wiped by regular back and forth movements applied from bottom to top and then from left to right alternately for t minute. The result was assessed visually according to a rating ranging from 0 to 5 by a group of fifteen

  people trained in this type of appreciation.

  0 = very bad, abundant traces; 1 = bad; 2, = insufficient 3 = acceptable 4 = good; = excellent, no trace Table I below gives the means of the results obtained in comparison with impregnation rates

  of the same nonwoven material.

EXAMPLE 2.

  The procedure was as in Example 1 except that other nonwoven materials were used, namely: The nonwoven A = as defined in Example 1 The nonwoven B = Polypropylene-viscose (30 g / m2) obtained dry and without binder, Nonwoven C = 80Z cellulose (90g / m2) obtained by

thermo-bonded dry process.

  Table II (below) gives the results obtained.

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EXAMPLE 3.

  We proceeded with the same nonwoven material as that

from example 1.

  The impregnation is carried out by means of the following composition: Butyl ether of monoethylene glycol ..... 8% by weight 95% ethanol ........... 10Z "Formaldehyde at 30%. 01 .......... "Lauryl ether sodium sulfate ....

  ..... 0.27 "Sodium alkane sulfonate ........... O4Z" Water q.s. p ......... DTD: .81.3 "pH = 5..DTD: The results obtained are shown in Table III below.

  From the above, it appears that the effectiveness of the towels according to the invention is linked as well to the nature of the substrate, as to the pH and to the impregnation rate, but in any event, the latter factor plays a preponderant role. It can be determined following preliminary tests by establishing. curves or charts according to the nature of each substrate Of course, these towels will, for their marketing, be packaged in airtight packaging to avoid any evaporation of undesirable solvent. It goes without saying that the present invention has been described for purely explanatory and in no way limitative and that any useful modification may be made thereto

  level of equivalences without departing from its framework.

TABLE I.

: RATE: :::: ::::

  : IMPREGNATION :: 5: 15: 20: 25: 30: 35: 50:

(%)

  : EFFICIENCY: 0.5: 1.5: 4.0: 4.8: 5.0: 4.0: 2.0: 0.5:

: (scale 0 to 5) ::: ::: :::

:::: :: :: ::

TABLE II

RATE: ::::: ::::

  : IMPREGNATION: O: 5: 10: 15: 20: 25: 30: 35: 50:

* (In%): :::::

  (E: NON WOVEN (A): 0.5: 1.5: /: 4.0: 4.8: 5.0: 4.0: 2.0: 0.5

(F

(F '' - :: ----: ---: '

  (I: NON WOVEN (B): /: 3.0: 4.5: 4.0: /: 1.5: /: 0.5: /:

(VS

( AT: - ---:---:--

(AT

  C: NON WOVEN (C): /: /: 1.5: 2.5: /: 4.4: /: 5.0: 2.0:

(I to at .-----------. - .. _.

(T (E

(E-to.

TABLE III

  : IMPREGNATION: 0: 5: 10: 15: 20: 25: 30: 35: 40: 50

: RATE in% :. ::: :: ::

  : EFFICIENCY: 0.5: /: 1.7: /: 4.2: 4.5: 3.4: 1.7: /: /

:: ----- ------ 3 ------_.

----

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Claims (7)

  1 / Impregnated disposable towel for cleaning and maintenance of any surface characterized by the fact that it is based on a woven hydrophilic material - or a non-woven material obtained by wet or dry process, having at l '' dry state a maximum water absorption capacity of at least 200Z% and that this material is impregnated, up to a rate not exceeding 75Z of this maximum absorption capacity, with an aqueous composition comprising: At least one water-miscible solvent at least 4Z. and preferably from 5 to 40Z by weight relative to the total weight of said impregnating composition and, At least one agent giving this composition a pH   substantially neutral (7 1) or acidic.   2 / disposable impregnated towel according to claim 1 characterized in that said base material responds, in addition to its maximum water absorption capacity of at least 200% Z, to the combination of the following criteria .: Resistance to wet tearing; Insolubility in any of the constituents of the aqueous impregnation composition or mixtures thereof; Lack of tendency to release or release 9 2623993 insoluble solids.   3 / disposable impregnated towel according to claim 1 and 2 characterized in that the impregnation rate is between 5 and 50Z. of maximum capacity   absorption of water in the dry state of said base material.   4 / Disposable impregnated towel according to any one   of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that   said woven or nonwoven material has a basis weight at least 20g / m2.   / Disposable impregnated towel according to any one   of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that   said agent gives said aqueous composition a pH   between 2 and 5 and better still between 2.5 and 4.   6 / Disposable impregnated towel according to any one   of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that   the agent conferring on the aqueous composition the desired pH is chosen from weak mineral and organic acids having no physicochemical action on the base material, of the acetic or citric acid type,   maleic, phosphoric and sulfonic acid derivatives.   7 / Disposable impregnated towel according to any one   of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that the   solvent used for the formulation of the aqueous impregnation composition is chosen from volatile solvents comprising alcohols from C1 to C4, glycols and glycol ethers from C2 to C8 and silicones volatile.   8 / Disposable impregnated towel according to any one   of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the   aqueous impregnating composition contains other agents such as ionic, nonionic or amphoteric surfactants, perfumes, preservatives, colorants, disinfectants. 9 / Application of a towel according to any one   of claims 1 to 8 for cleaning surfaces such   as glasses, mirrors, floor or wall coverings.