GB1570133A

GB1570133A - Process for removing ball-point pen ink stains from fabrics or articles of clothing

Info

Publication number: GB1570133A
Application number: GB4413477A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: MONREAL URZAY D
Current assignee: MONREAL URZAY D
Priority date: 1977-10-24
Filing date: 1977-10-24
Publication date: 1980-06-25

Description

(54) A PROCESS FOR REMOVING BALL-POINT PEN INK STAINS FROM FABRICS OR ARTICLES OF CLOTHING (71) I, DARIO MONREAL URZAY, of C/Sanguesa, 12, Pamplona, Spain, of Spanish Nationality, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a process for removing ball-point pen ink stains such as can be produced accidentally on fabrics and articles of clothing. The present invention also relates to a composition for use in the removal process.

The present invention is based on emulsification d ball-point pen ink stains: as is well known, ball-point ink contains organic compounds which include synthetic resins, and emulsification should thus serve to remove virtually any type of ball-point pen ink stain.

The process of removing stains comprise firstly applying an emulsifying product to the stain, rubbing the applied emulsifying product and the stain using, for example, a cloth and thereby emulsifying the stain, and thereafter removing the emulsified stain for instance by rubbing it with a nioistened cloth.

The present emulsifying product, also referred to herein as a cleaning product, is constituted of a mixture of emulsifying materials of differing characteristics in order to ensure efficiency in removal of a stain of any of the various types of ball-point pen ink which can produce a stain.

The cleaning product provided by the pre sent invention comprises a mixture of two or more emulsifying agents, one of which is cationic and another of which is nonionic.

Additional components may he included, but in general the cleaning product is formulated so as not to deteriorate with time nor to discolour the material from which the ball point pen ink stain is to be removed. Moreover, the product is non-toxic and requires only slight rubbing in order to emulsify stains during the removal process.

The cationic emulsifying agent should be malQedly lipophilic and typically will comprise a catiomic centre condensed onto a fatty acid chain. An example of a suitable cationic emulsifying agent is the product which is com- mercially available from the company BASF and is known as Siligen HS.

The nonionic emulsifying agent can conveniently be a polyoxyethyi compound obtained for example by condensation of ethylene oxide with for instance a fatty alcohol. An example of a suitable polyoxyethyl emulsifying agent is that commercially available from BASF and known as "Emulan P". Another suitable nonionic emulsifying agent is "Emulan EL", also available from BASF.

The penetrating action of the present mix- ture of emulsifying agents can be reinforced by the addition of emulsifiable petroleum.

The petroleum acts as a penetrating ingredient of the product, although of its own it also possess cleaning powers. Furthermore, petro; leum acts as a softening agent to aid pene tration of the product and prevent fabric damage.

To my knowledge emulsifiable petrol is not commerdally available, although petroleum can readily be made emulsifiable merely by adding thereto say 10% of an emulsifying agent. A suitable emulsifying agent is the condensation product of ethylene oxide with a fatty alcohol. It is the incorporation: of the emulsifying agent which makes it possible to use the penetrating and stain-removing action of the petroleum itself, as well as its softening action. 10% of Emulan P gives particularly satisfactory results.

As a co-adjuvant to enhance the removing and cleaning properties of the product, it is desirable to incorporate alcohol. Alcohol cleans ball-point pen stains when they are recent, that is, when they have just been produced.

Thus the alcohol complements the action of the emulsifying agents.

The cleaning product provided by the invention preferably also contains further components such as a thickening agent and a thixotropic suspension colloid. The thickening agent will preferably be a hydroxyethyl cellulose. The colloid is conveniently a colloidal silica, such as for example Aerosil 200 which has thixotropic characteristics.

If desired, tap water can be included to gain the desired consistency. The water can be partially replaced by calcium chloride in order to render the composition fire-resistant It should be pointed out that the components of the mixture do not react chemically.

In other words, each component of the mixture is able to assert its own characteristics and contribute to the overall action of the product.

Simple mixing of the cationic and nonionic emulsifying agents and any other components such as those described above gives a cleaning product which can be used against any ballpoint pen ink stain.

It is necessary to use a mixture of emulsifying agents because if they were employed singly the overall effect would be incomplete and the material would not be completely cleaned. The nonionic emulsifying agent does not have an electric charge, while the cationic one does. This difference helps to ensure the action on the ball-point pen stains on fabrics, iuespective of the composition of the stain.

By way of example, the preferred fonnula- tion of the emulsifying or cleaning product of the invention is as follows: Cationic emulsifying agent 5% Polyoxyethyl emulsifying agent 5% Emulsifiable petroleum 25 % Water 40% Alcohol 25% To this formulation can be added 1% of thickening agent and 2 % of a silica gel having thixotropic properties. If desired, the amount of water can be decreased by 5% and replaced with 5% of calcium chloride.

The preferred product can be prepared by mixing at ambient temperatures using a stirring device; the various components are preferably added in the order in which they are given in the formulation.

(The words 'Siligen' and 'Aerosil' are Registered Trade Marks).

WHAT I CLAIM IS:- 1. A process for removing a ball-point ink stain which comprises applying to the stain an emulsifying product which is mixture of two or more emulsifying agents, one of which is cationic and another of which is nonionic, rubbing the applied emulsifying product and the stain and thereby emulsifying the stain, and thereafter removing the emulsified stain.

2. A cleaning product for use in removing ball-point ink stains, the product comprising: cationic emulsifying agent 5% polyoxethyl emulsifying agent 5% 25% emulsifiable petroleum 25% water alcohol 25 % 3. A cleaning product according to Claim 2 which additionally contains: silica gel having thixotropic properties 2% thickening agent 1%

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. gain the desired consistency. The water can be partially replaced by calcium chloride in order to render the composition fire-resistant It should be pointed out that the components of the mixture do not react chemically. In other words, each component of the mixture is able to assert its own characteristics and contribute to the overall action of the product. Simple mixing of the cationic and nonionic emulsifying agents and any other components such as those described above gives a cleaning product which can be used against any ballpoint pen ink stain. It is necessary to use a mixture of emulsifying agents because if they were employed singly the overall effect would be incomplete and the material would not be completely cleaned. The nonionic emulsifying agent does not have an electric charge, while the cationic one does. This difference helps to ensure the action on the ball-point pen stains on fabrics, iuespective of the composition of the stain. By way of example, the preferred fonnula- tion of the emulsifying or cleaning product of the invention is as follows: Cationic emulsifying agent 5% Polyoxyethyl emulsifying agent 5% Emulsifiable petroleum 25 % Water 40% Alcohol 25% To this formulation can be added 1% of thickening agent and 2 % of a silica gel having thixotropic properties. If desired, the amount of water can be decreased by 5% and replaced with 5% of calcium chloride. The preferred product can be prepared by mixing at ambient temperatures using a stirring device; the various components are preferably added in the order in which they are given in the formulation. (The words 'Siligen' and 'Aerosil' are Registered Trade Marks). WHAT I CLAIM IS:-

1. A process for removing a ball-point ink stain which comprises applying to the stain an emulsifying product which is mixture of two or more emulsifying agents, one of which is cationic and another of which is nonionic, rubbing the applied emulsifying product and the stain and thereby emulsifying the stain, and thereafter removing the emulsified stain.

2. A cleaning product for use in removing ball-point ink stains, the product comprising: cationic emulsifying agent 5% polyoxethyl emulsifying agent 5% 25% emulsifiable petroleum 25% water alcohol 25 %

3. A cleaning product according to Claim 2 which additionally contains: silica gel having thixotropic properties 2% thickening agent 1%