GB2134132A

GB2134132A - Vehicle cleaning compositions

Info

Publication number: GB2134132A
Application number: GB08400925A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Bruce Neil
Original assignee: Unilever PLC
Current assignee: Unilever PLC
Priority date: 1983-01-14
Filing date: 1984-01-13
Publication date: 1984-08-08
Also published as: GB8400925D0

Abstract

The invention pertains to a thixotropic detergent composition comprising nonionic and anionic detergent materials, an organic solvent, an organic sequestrant, a hydrotope, optionally a thickening agent and water. The compositions provide good soil-emulsifying action and are particularly suitable for application to non-horizontal surfaces.

Description

SPECIFICATION Cleaning compositions The present invention relates to cleaning compositions and to processes for using them; more particularly the invention relates to thixotropic compositions especially useful for the cleaning of vehicles, e.g. cars and automobiles.

The cleaning of vehicle exteriors is recognized as being difficult. The difficulty arises from a thin layer of soiling which adheres tenaciously to the outer surfaces of vehicles; in particular soiling such as petrol stains, oil and diesel fuel presents problems. This strongly adsorbed layer is known as traffic film.

In the prior art the industrial cleaning of vehicles has been approached by a number of methods, such as the cleaning by rotating brushes or by high-pressure spraying.

Generally, conventional products are based on an alkaline system containing a sequestrant and a surfactant. Additionally particulate material may be included, such as an aluminium silicate, acting both as a sequestrant and as a mild abrasive. Frequent use of such products results in damage to paintwork.

Moreover, the use of highly alkaline cleaning product is unwarranted, since the soiling of vehicles, which will largely consist of hydrocarbons derived from petrol, sump oil, diesel oil, tyre dust, asphalt and the products of combustion, mainly carbon, all mixed in with inorganic clays, silicas and some organic matter of vegetable origin, is not attacked thereby and it may only result in increased damage to the lacquered surface of the vehicle.

A major drawback of conventional products for vehicle cleaning is the formation of thin draining films on application to the vehicle surface to be cleaned, thus providing inadequate contact time therewith and insufficient detergency to emulsify the high levels of soiling encountered.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning product having an increased detergent residence time on non-horizontal surfaces and sufficient detergency to emulsify gross soiling.

Accordingly the present invention provides a thixotropic detergent composition which is particularly suitable for vehicle cleaning, comprising: (a) from 2 to 20% by weight of a nonionic detergent material; (b) from 1 to 10% by weight of an anionic detergent material; (c) from 1 to 15% bv weight of an organic solvent; (d) from 5 to 30% by weight of an organic sequestrant; (e) from 1 to 10% by weight of a hydrotrope; (f) from 0 to 1% by weight of a thickening agent; the balance being water.

Suitable nonionic detergent materials are the condensation products of alcohols having from 8 to 1 6 carbon atoms, and alkylphenols with alkylene oxides including ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide and mixtures thereof. Preferably the alcohols are linear, having from 1 2 to 1 5 carbon atoms, and are condensed with 2 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide. Particularly preferred are the commercial products sold under the trade names of Dobanol 25-3E0 and Synperonic 7EO (ex Shell Chemicals and ICI, both UK, respectively).

In general the nonionic detergent material is included in an amount of from 2 to 20% by weight and preferably 10 to 20% by weight of the total composition.

Suitable anionic detergent materials are of the sulphate or sulphonate type. Examples thereof are salts (including sodium, potassium, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts, such as mono- and di- and tri-ethanolamine salts) of C9-C20 alkyl benzenesulphonates, C8-C22 primary or secondary alkanesulphonates, C8-C24 olefinsulphonates, C8-C22 alkylsulphates, C8-C24 alkyl polyglycolethersulphates (containing up to 1 0 moles of ethylene oxide; further examples are described in "Surface Active Agents and Detergents" (Vol. I and II) by Schwartz, Perry and Berch. Preferred are alkylpolyglycolethersulphates having from 1 2 to 1 5 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and containing from 2 to 8 moles of ethylene oxide.The anionic detergent material is normally present in an amount of from 1 to 8% by weight and preferably from 2 to 4% by weight of the total composition.

According to the present invention an organic solvent should be included, which may be any such solvent suitable for solving greasy soiling. Preferably the organic solvent is selected from the group of water-soluble glycolethers having the general formula:

in which x=2 to 4; y=1 to 4 and R is an aryl group or an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

Particularly preferred is diethyleneglycolmonobutylether, commercially available under the trade name of Carbitol. The organic solvent is included in an amount of from 1 to 1 5% by weight and preferably from 2 to 10% by weight of the total composition.

The organic sequestering agent may be an organic builder salt, such as a water-soluble salt of nitrilotriacetic acid, and water-soluble salt of carboxymethyloxysuccinic acid or a water-soluble citrate, or it may be a salt of an organic chelating agent, such as ethane-1 ,1-hydroxyphosphonic acid, ethylenediamine tetraphosphonic acid ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid and the like. Particularly preferred are nitrilotriacetates and ethylenediamine tetraacetates. They are included in an amount ranging from 5 to 30% by weight, preferably from 10 to 20% by weight of the total composition.

According to the present invention a hydrotropic agent should be included. It is chosen from the organic alcoholphosphate esters and the short alkyl chain arylsulphonates. Preferred are the phosphate esters of C,0C,6 alcohols, such as the commercially available product Triton H66 (ex Rohm s Hass Co., USA), and the toluene-, xylene- or cumene-sulphonates. Normally the amount of hydrotropic agent varies from 1 to 10% by weight and preferably from 3 to 8% by weight of the total composition.

Optionally a thickening agent is included. Suitable thickening agents are found among the alkalistable thickening compounds, such as e.g. alkali-stable polymers and inorganic clay thickeners.

Preferred are cellulosic polymers, such as e.g. hydroxyethylcellulose and magnesium silicate thickeners. They may be included in an amount of up to 1% by weight, but preferably their amount varies from 0.05 to 0.2% by weight of the total composition.

The composition may also contain other optional minor ingredients, such as for instance dyes and perfumes the balance being water.

Preferably the compositions are applied in aqueous solutions having working strength concentrations ranging from about 1 5 to 50% by weight and resulting in viscosities from about 20 to 200 centipoises, preferably 30 to 80 centipoises at 200C and 1 65 sec-l shear rate.

Products according to the invention are of a thixotropic nature, which allows adhesion to vertical surfaces without draining off. Such behaviour ensures a sufficient concentration of detergent in contact with the soil for a period long enough for the detergent to act upon the soiling. Movement of the tenacious detergent layer by a water jet across the soiling creates a shear stress which disrupts the traffic film.

The shear-thinning property of the compositions of the invention allows application as a spray to the vehicle surface. Thus the product can be applied from a compressed air cylinder or via a pressurewasher fitted with the facility to apply a pre-diluted detergent solution instead of water.

The invention is further illustrated by way of example, all percentages being by weight of the total composition, unless otherwise indicated.

Example Ingredients C12-C15 alcohol ethoxylate (3EO) 16 C12-C15 alcohol ethoxylate (7EO) 4 diethyleneglycolmonobutylether 5 sodium C8-C18 fatty alcohol sulphate 4 sodium ethylenediamine tetraacetate 1 6 C10-C16 alcoholphosphate ester 3 synthetic magnesium silicate clay 0.1 water, dye balance

Claims

1. Thixotropic detergent composition suitable for vehicle cleaning comprising: (a) from 2 to 20% by weight of a nonionic detergent material: b) from 1 to 10% by weight of an anionic detergent material; c) from 1 to 15% by weight of an organic solvent; d) from 5 to 30% by weight of an organic sequestrant; e) from 1 to 10% by weight of a hydrotrope; f) from 0 to 1% by weight of a thickening agent; the balance being water.

2. Detergent composition according to claim 1 comprising: a) from 2 to 20% by weight of a condensation product of a linear C12-C15 alcohol with 2 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide; b) from 2 to 4% by weight of an alkylpolyglycolether sulphate having from 12 to 1 5 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and containing from 2 to 8 moles of ethylene oxide; c) from 2 to 10% by weight of diethyleneglycol monobutylether; d) from 10 to 25% by weight of ethylenediaminetetraacetate; e) from 3 to 8% by weight of phosphate ester of a C10-C16 alcohol and f) from 0.05 to 0.2% by weight of a magnesium silicate thickener.