GB2371549A

GB2371549A - Surface treatment composition for increasing the coefficient of friction of the surface

Info

Publication number: GB2371549A
Application number: GB0125106A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Butt; Guy Richards; Natasha Hirst
Original assignee: FIRM FOOTING FLOORCARE Ltd
Current assignee: FIRM FOOTING FLOORCARE Ltd
Priority date: 2000-10-24
Filing date: 2001-10-18
Publication date: 2002-07-31
Also published as: GB0026009D0; GB0125106D0

Description

Surface Treatment Composition This invention relates generally to compositions and processes for treating flooring surfaces

such as resilient surfaces, e. g. polyvinyl chloride and linoleum ; and hard surfaces, e. g. t : l marble, terrazzo, epoxy coated concrete and the like, preferably such surfaces are polished.

Various types of materials have been used in the past to clean and maintain flooring surfaces, including polishes containing both natural and synthetic waxes, plus abrasives and surfactants to remove dirt. However little has been done to improve the slip resistance in particular of vinyl and other resilient flooring surfaces to diminish the pain and suffering caused by slips, trips and falls on floors that are slippery mainly due to being wetted and still wet immediately after being cleaned or due to excessive wear. Acid etching of marble, terrazzo and other hard flooring surfaces to increase slip resistance can be achieved by the use of dilute (1% to 3% by weight) aqueous hydrofluoric acid or other mineral acids but this can cause irreparable damage to the marble or terrazzo floor surface.

Polished flooring surfaces, and particularly vinyl floors, soon after installation. become defaced, scratched, and otherwise made slippery by heavy traffic. In an attempt to protect floor surfaces, engineers have turned to waxes, single polymers, polyurethanes and synthetic acrylic finishes, thus coating the flooring with a durable film. A technique has now been developed to enhance the slip resistance of such regularly cleaned floor surfaces by the deposition of a textured film whilst cleaning, thereby increasing surface traction in order to enhance the safety features of that composition and preferred process and providing a slip resisting finish.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide compositions and methods of application thereof that are capable of maintaining enhanced slip-resistance on resilient or hard floor surfaces, even when wet, in a much more facile manner and for a much longer period of time than is possible using conventional cleaning or polishing compositions.

It is a preferred object of the present invention to provide a treated surface of vinyl flooring and similar substances bringing out the intrinsic properties of polyvinyl chloride (vinyl) floor coverings and similar substances.

The first aspect of the invention provides a surface treatment composition comprising at least two polymers, wherein, when the polymers are dried they are capable of forming a partially coalesced film on a surface. By partially coalesced we mean that the two polymers are not completely mixed together. The effect of this is to provide, when the surface treatment composition is applied to a surface and dried, separate areas of the two polymers overlaying the surface. The composition is for increasing the coefficient of friction of a surface onto which it is applied.

The polymers may be provided as separate polymers or, alternatively, as a core shell polymer which comprises a hard polymer shell and a soft core of polymer, or a soft polymer shell and hard core of polymer.

Preferably, the two polymers have different hardnesses. Polymers of different hardnesses are known in the art. The effect of the two different hardnesses is to provide, when applied to a surface, an increased coefficient of friction on the treated surface.

The two polymers may normally be immiscible. That is, the two polymers normally do not mix. Accordingly, the composition may additionally comprise a coalescing agent in an amount sufficient to partially coalesce the two polymers. Such coalescing agents are also known as compatibilising agents or fugitive plasticisers. Such agents enable the partial mixing of the polymers and may allow them to cross-link together. The two polymers then harden to form a film when applied to the surface to be treated. The inventors have found that an especially good example of a coalescing agent is isopropanol (propan-2-ol).

Preferably the coalescing agent is present in an amount to allow the polymers to partially, but not fully, coalesce.

Preferably the polymers are both styrene-acrylate copolymers. Hard polymers, such as Texicryl 13-800 (T. M. ) (Scott Bader, Wollaston, Northamptonshire, UK), usually contain more styrene than acrylate monomers. Soft copolymers, such as Texicryl 13-320 (ToM.), Texicryl 13-500, Texicryl 13-802 and Texicryl 13-803, usually contain more acrylate than styrene monomers. The acrylate may be butyl acrylate. which is often used in hard styrene-acrylate copolymers. or 2-ethyl-hexyl acrylate, which is often used in soft styrene-acrylate copolymers.

Different types of polymers may have different minimum film forming temperatures (MFFT). Preferably the difference between the minimum film forming temperatures of the two polymers is at least 30 C. most preferably greater than 50oC or 70'C. and preferably less than 110 C.

Preferably the composition additionally comprises an antifoaming agent, a wetting agent and/or a drying agent. The wetting agent may comprise a non-ionic, a cationic and/or an anionic surfactant. Preferably, the wetting agent is a mixture of a non-ionic and/or an ionic surfactant. Such surfactants are well-known in the art, but the inventors have found that acetylenic diols are especially effective. Such surfactants are manufactured under the trade name Surfynol 104PA (T. M. ) by Air Products Limited, United Kingdom. Tergitol 15-S-9 (T. M. ), Union Carbide B. V., V. ,Belgium, a non-ionic surfactant has also proved to be useful.

Surfynol 104PA and Tergitol 15-S-9 have been found to have preferred low foaming Z-1 properties.

To reduce the amount of foaming the composition, an antifoaming agent ma) be added.

This may comprise a 2 to C6 alcohol, a C, to C6 ketone or a C, to Cl, ester. Most preferably, the antifoaming agent is itself isopropanol. Isopropanol has been proved by the inventors to be particularly cost-effective since it has both coalescing and antifoaming properties.

The composition may additionally comprise a biocide in order to increase the shelf life of the product. The biocide may, for example, be a brominated product such as Bronopol or a product such as Proxel GXL (T. M.).

Preferably, the composition comprises a total of 0.05% to 2.25% of the at least 2 polymers by percentage weight of the total amount of composition. The invention also provides a concentrated surface treatment composition comprising a total of 0.5% to 22.5% of the at least 2 polymers by percentage weight of the total amount of composition. The concentrated surface treatment composition may be diluted prior to use with, for example, water.

A further aspect of the invention provides the use of a surface treatment composition according to the invention, to increase the coefficient of friction of a surface.

The invention also provides a flooring comprising a layer of a surface treatment composition according to the invention. A flooring obtainable by treating a surface of the flooring with a composition according to the invention is also provided. Preferably, the flooring is a resilient flooring such as a polyvinyl chloride or linoleum flooring. Alternatively, the flooring may be a polished hard flooring such as marble, terrazzo, epoxy or concrete flooring.

The invention further provides a process for increasing the coefficient of friction of a surface comprising applying a composition of the invention to the surface and allowing the composition to dry. Preferably, the composition is sprayed, wiped, mopped or scrubbed onto the surface prior to allowing it to dry. The composition may simply be air-dried or additionally dried by an application of vacuum or heat to the composition. The composition may also be applied using cleaning machines known in the art.

Kits and methods of producing a surface polymer film are also provided.

The invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the following figure: Figure 1. This shows an electron micrograph of the surface of a substrate which has been treated with the composition shown in the example. The level of magnification shown is XI 500. Example. A mixture is formed containing 6 ml of a colloid stabilised styrene-acrylate copolymer with MFFT of 8SOC, 4 ml of a colloid stabilised styrene-acrylate copolymer with MFFT of 5OC, 2.5 grams of an acetylenic non-ionic surfactant such as Sufynol 104,17. 5 ml of 2-propanol, 0.4 grams of Proxel GXL and/or an additional 1 gram of Tergitol surfactant and 970 ml of water. The composition is applied to the vinyl or other floor surface at this or a similar concentration, depositing a textured film onto the surface during the course of its rapid drying, resulting in an enhancement of the slip-resistance of the floor when wet and when dry.

Friction was tested using a simple hinged inclined ramp capable of accurate measurement of the incline angle.

A sample of vinyl flooring was placed on the ramp and a weight was placed on the flooring. The angle was increased until the frictional force was equal to the gravitational force and the weight began to move. Care was taken to ensure that stiction did not distort the reading. This test differentiates between different surfaces well and is less subject to operator error than other methods such as a Wessex Pendulum.

Typical results achieved are shown in the table below.

The table has two columns. the first is based on a benchmark of vinyl tiles that have been prepared by simply stripping with a proprietary caustic floor stripper, washed and allowed to air dry. The second column is based on a benchmark of vinyl tiles that have been stripped and then had two coats of the proprietary floor polish which claims to leave a slip resistant finish ("Seldur", Selden Research, Buxton, Derbyshire) applied.

The product was then applied to each of the surfaces and allowed to air dry for approximately 30 minutes. The static coefficient of friction was then remeasured. Five readings were taken and the arithmetic average was calculated. The first row of figures showed the enhancement in slip resistance. The testing was conducted on many different tiles, hence there is a range to the enhancement.

The tiles were then re-wetted and the coefficient of friction remeasured. The second row of figures shows the enhancement in slip resistance compared to the benchmark surface.

Table 1.

INCREASES IN SLIP RESISTANCE ON VINYL vs unpolished clean, dry floor vs polished clean, dry floor i I then treated and left to dry then treated and left to dry + 65% to + 163% + 77% to + 83% then re-wetted then re-wetted + 58% to + 104% + 58% to + 72% While the example in this application includes the preferred use of a combination of colloid stabilised hard and soft styrene-acrylate co-polymers in a 60: 40 ratio, such polymer films produced from other addition ratios of polymers are satisfactory, but the slip resistances developed are not as durable or as effective as when using such a preferred addition ratio. A 58% to 163% increase in slip resistance is achievable with blends of styrene-acylate copolymers.

The following procedure has also been found to produce a satisfactory product: The following components were premeasured by volume:

60 L Texicryl 13-800 and 40 L Texicryl 13-802, 50 L of Surfynol 104 PA, 150 L of2-propanol, 0. 5 L of Proxel GXL.

To a clean 1000 L blender was added approximately 200 L water. 100 L of blended Texicryls was added with stirring to the blender. The Surfynol 104 PA was added slowly, with stirring, to the blender ; ensuring that the dispersion polymer was not"shocked"by too rapid a rate of addition. The propanol (IPA) was slowly added. with stirring to the blender, ensuring that the dispersion polymer was not"shocked"by too rapid a rate of addition. The Proxel GXL was added to the blender, with stirring and a further 500 L of water was added with stirring, to make up to 1000 L.

All measurements of volume are to be within +/-2% for all the additions. A small increase in temperature was occasionally noted after adding the propanol ; this could be moderated by the rapid addition of the remaining charge of water.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purpose of clarity of understanding, it is to be understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A surface treatment composition comprising at least two polymers, wherein when the polymers are dried, they are capable of forming a partially coalesced polymer film on a surface.
2. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the two polymers have different hardnesses.
3. A composition according to claim 1 or claim 2 additionally comprising a coalescing agent in an amount sufficient to partially coalesce the two polymers.
4. A composition according to claim 3, wherein the coalescing agent is isopropanol.
5. A composition according to any preceding claim wherein the polymers are both styrene-acrylate copolymers.
6. A composition according to any preceding claim wherein the two polymers have a Minimum Film Forming Temperature difference of at least 300C
7. A composition according to any preceding claim additionally comprising an anti-foaming agent, a wetting agent and/or a drying agent.
8. A composition according to claim 7, wherein the wetting agent comprises a non-ionic, a cationic and/or an anionic surfactant.
9. A composition according to claim 7 or claim 8 comprising an acetylenic diol.
10. A composition according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the antifoaming agent is a C2 to C6 alcohol, a C3 to C6 ketone or a C5 to CIl ester.
11. A composition according to claim 10, wherein the anti-foaming agent is isopropanol.
12. A composition according to any preceding claim additionally comprising a biocide.
13. A composition according to any preceding claim comprising a total of 0.05% to 2.25% of the at least two polymers by percentage weight of the total amount of the composition.
14. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 11 comprising a total of 0.5% to 22.5% of the at least two polymers by percentage weight of the total amount of the composition.
15. Use of a surface treatment composition according to any preceding claim to increase the coefficient of friction of a surface.
16. A flooring comprising a layer of a surface treatment composition according to any one of claims 1 to 13.
17. A flooring obtainable by treating a surface of the flooring with a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 13.
18. A process for increasing the coefficient of friction of a surface comprising applying a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 13 to the surface and allowing the composition to dry.
19. A process according to claim 17, wherein the composition is sprayed, wiped, mopped or scrubbed onto the surface prior to allowing it to dry.
20. A process for manufacturing a composition according to claims 9 to 14 comprising: i) mixing the at least two polymers with a portion of water; ii) adding with stirring a portion of a wetting agent; iii) adding with stirring a portion of coalescing agent ; iv) optionally adding a biocide ; and v) adding a portion of water to make the final composition.
21. A kit comprising: i) a first polymer; ii) a second polymer; and optionally iii) a coalescing agent, wherein when the polymers are mixed and dried they are capable of forming a partially coalesced polymer film on a surface.
22. A method of increasing the coefficient of friction of a surface, comprising the steps of : i) providing at least two polymers; ii) applying the polymers to the surface; and iii) drying the polymers to produce a partially coalesced polymer film on the surface.