GB2432163A

GB2432163A - Surface cleaning and anti-soiling composition

Info

Publication number: GB2432163A
Application number: GB0622048A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter David Schofield
Original assignee: Tetrosyl Ltd
Current assignee: Tetrosyl Ltd
Priority date: 2005-11-04
Filing date: 2006-11-06
Publication date: 2007-05-16
Also published as: GB0522555D0; GB0622046D0; GB2432162A; GB0622048D0; GB0622045D0

Abstract

A surface enhancement formulation comprises by weight of the formulation: <SL> <LI>(a) 70-95% by weight of an organic solvent having an evaporation rate of 0.05 0.3 when measured in accordance with ASTM D3539 with n-butyl acetate being assigned an evaporation rate of 1, preferably a hydrocarbon solvent, preferably Shellsol (RTM) or Clairsol (RTM); <LI>(b) 0.1-5% by weight of a fluorinated acrylic polymer, preferably Flexipel or or Rucoguard. <LI>(c) a total of 0.1-5% by weight of: <SL> <LI>(i) hydrophobic particles, preferably silicas, silicates, minerals, metals, metal oxides, pigments or polymers <LI>(ii) a highly volatile siloxane, preferably decamethylpentacyclosiloxane and; <LI>(iii) a silicone wax soluble in the siloxane; where component (c) is preferably Tegotop. </SL> </SL> The formulation is particularly useful for enhancing the surface of the interior upholstery of a vehicle.

Description

I

SURFACE ENHANCEMENT FORMULATION

The present invention relates to formulations that are intended for use in treating a surface to provide the surface with an increased resistance to retention of soiling matenal so as to assist in maintaining the appearance of the surface. Such formulations are referred to herein as "surface enhancement" formulations. The invention relates particularly, but by no means exclusively, to surface enhancement formulations intended for use as "car care" products, and particularly (but again not necessarily exclusively) for use in treating the interior upholstery and carpets of a motor vehicle.

The interior upholstery of a motor vehicle tends to become soiled purely and simply as a result of normal use of the vehicle. Some areas of the upholstery may become more soiled than others through such use. Thus, for example, the driver's seat will be subject to more use than any of the passenger seats and will therefore become the most heavily soiled.

A thorough cleaning of the upholstery will remove at least a part of the soiling material but the upholstery may soon become rapidly soiled again.

The soiling of the upholstery detracts from the overall appearance of the interior of the motor vehicle and this is regarded as a disadvantage by many vehicle owners.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a surface enhancement formulation that will assist in maintaining the appearance of upholstery material, e.g. in a motor vehicle.

According to the present invention there is provided a surface enhancement formulation comprising by weight of the formulation: (a) 70-95% by weight of an organic solvent having an evaporation rate of 0.05-0.3 when measured in accordance with ASTM D3539 with n-butyl acetate being assigned an evaporation rate of 1; (b) 0.1-5% by weight of a fluorinated acrylic polymer; (c) a total of 0.1-5% by weight of: (i) hydrophobic particles, (ii) a highly volatile siloxanc, and (iii) a silicone wax soluble in the siloxane.

The formulation in accordance with the invention may be applied to clean upholstery (particularly, but not necessarily exclusively, fabric upholstery) in the interior of a car or other motor vehicle and, once the solvent (component (a)) has evaporated provides a number of effects. Firstly, the fluorinated acrylic polymer is deposited as a protective film on all parts of the upholstery to which the formulation has been applied.

Secondly, the fluorinated acrylic polymer is transparent so that the "visual effect" of the upholstery is maintained. Thirdly, the presence of the components of part (c) in the formulation ensures that (once supplied) there is a reduced tendency of "soiling material" to deposit (or remain deposited) on the upholstery. We believe, in fact, that the hydrophobic particles and silicone wax are located predominately at the surface of the fluorinated acrylic polymer layer and this considerably assists in inhibiting soiling material depositing on the upholstery fabric.

The solvent (a) employed in the formulation of the invention has an evaporation rate of 0.05-0.3 as compared to a standard of n-butyl acetate equalling one when evaporation rate is measured in accordance with ASTM D3539. The solvent will ultimately evaporate but by selecting an evaporation rate of 0.05-0.3 it is ensured that there is sufficient time for the active components of the formulation to penetrate the upholstery but without the upholstery being in contact with the solvent for too long.

It is particularly preferred that the solvent (a) has an evaporation rate of 0.1-2.5, more preferably 0.17-0.22 and most preferably about 0.19.

The solvent is preferably present in an amount of 75-85% by weight.

The solvent may be a hydrocarbon solvent, e.g. a de-aromatised solvent having less than 0.5% by weight aromatic content.

The solvent may have a boiling point range of 160-200 C and/or a flash point of above 35 C, preferably 35450 C, e.g. about 40 C. The solvent may for example for Shelisol D40 (available from Shell Chemicals).

Alternatively the solvent maybe Clairsol 310 (available from Petrochem Carless).

The fluorinated acrylic polymer provided as component (b) of the formulation may be a partially fluorinated acrylic polymer and may have a molecular weight of 40,000-50,000.

The amount of the fluorinated acrylic polymer is preferably in the range 0.5-2% by weight based on the total weight of the formulation.

The fluorinated acrylic polymer may be one available under the designation FLEXIPEL. Alternatively the fluorinated acrylic polymer may be one available under the designation RUCOGUARD. Preferred polymers include FLEXIPEL S-i 1WS and RUCOGUARD SFT.

The hydrophobic particles provided as component c (i) of the formulation preferably have an average particle diameter of from 0.01 to 100 zm. More preferably the average particle diameter is in the range 0. 01 to 20 tm. It is particularly preferred that substantially all particles have a particle size of less than 30 m.

The hydrophobic particles may comprise 0.1-15% by weight of the total weight of component (c) of the formulation, more preferably 8% to 12%, e.g. about 10%.

A wide variety of hydrophobic particles may be used including silicas, silicates, minerals, metals, metal oxides, pigments or polymers (e.g. PTFE).

It is particularly preferred that the hydrophobic particles comprises fumed silica particles.

The volatile siloxane (component c(ii)) may be of the formula (II) or (ifi).

Me_LOLOLMe Me [Me] Me p MN/Me (III) wherepis from 2to 10.

For a linear siloxane of formula (II) it is preferred that p is 2 to 5. For cyclic siloxanes of formula (ifi) it is preferred that p is at least 4, more preferably at least 5.

A mixture of one or more siloxanes (II) and/or (ifi) may be used.

A particularly preferred siloxane is decamethylpentacyclosiloxane (formula (ifi), p=5).

The silocone wax (component c(iii)) is preferably one that is liquid at room temperature. Most preferably, the silicone wax has a re-crystallisation point of less than 15 C and more preferably less than 5 C. The silicone wax may be of the general formula (1'): Me rMe Me 1 Me

I II ____ I II

Me_SiO-]---SiO SiO-J--.SiMe (I) Me LMe R JmMe where R is a hydrocarbon radical, preferably having from 10 to 20 carbon atoms, n is from 2 to 85, and m is from 2 to 60.

Further disclosure relating to components c (i)-(iii) may be found in US 2004/0213904 Al.

Component (c) of the formulation may conveniently be provided by TegoTop available from Degussa GmbH which is a composition comprised of components (c (i)-(iii).

Formulations in accordance with the invention are particularly suitable for application from an aerosol. For this purpose, the formulation may incorporate additional components that are appropriate for "packaging" and "storing" of the formulation in aerosol format.

One such additional component is 1-10% by weight (based on the total weight of the resulting formulation) of a water-miscible organic solvent that is miscible with the hydrocarbon solvent. The presence of the water-miscible solvent ensures that water becomes dissolved in the formulation, as opposed to being present as a separate phase which (because it is denser than the formulation) would locate at the bottom of the aerosol can and provide potential corrosion problems.

The water-miscible solvent is most preferably present in an amount of 4% to 7% by weight, most preferably about 5% by weight.

The water-miscible solvent is preferably iso-propanol.

Further components that may be incorporated in a formulation intended for aerosol dispense are corrosion inhibitors (e.g. present in an amount of 0.1-1% by weight based on the total weight of the formulation).

The aerosol can may incorporate a standard hydrocarbon propellant at a pressure of 70 psi.

The invention is illustrated by the following non-limiting Examples.

Example 1

An example of formulation (suitable for aerosol dispense) in accordance with the invention comprises: Component % by Weight Sheilsol D40 78.70 2FLEXIPELS-I1WS 15.00 Tegotop 105 1.0 iso-Propanol 5.0 3PEG-8(400) oleate 0.1 4Surfactant A, I,000P 0.20 Ex Shell Chemicals Evaporation Rate (ASTM D3539) 0.19 (compared to n-butyl acetate = 1).

2 Active content 11-12% in solvent.

Seppic UK Ltd Omya UK Ltd The formulation may be prepared by dissolving the individual components one at a time into the Shelisol D40 solvent and mixing until a completely homogenous formulation is obtained.

Example 2

A further Example of formulation (suitable for aerosol dispense) in accordance with the invention comprises: Component % by Weight 5Clairsol3lO 95.0 6Ruco Guard SFT Tegotop 105 1.0 Petrochem Carless. Evaporation Rate (ASTM D3539) = O.19(compared to n-butyl acetate = I).

6 Rudolf chemicals: Active content ca 24% in solvent.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A surface enhancement formulation comprising by weight of the formulation: (a) 70-95% by weight of an organic solvent having an evaporation rate of 0.05-0.3 when measured in accordance with ASTM D3539 with n-butyl acetate being assigned an evaporation rate of 1; (b) 0.1-5% by weight of a fluorinated acrylic polymer; (c) a total of 0.1-5% by weight of: (i) hydrophobic particles, (ii) a highly volatile siloxane, and (iii) a silicone wax soluble in the siloxane.

2. A formulation as claimed in claim 1 wherein the solvent has an evaporation rate of 0.1-2.5.

3. A formulation as claimed in claim 2 wherein the solvent has an evaporation rate of 0.17 to 0.22.

4. A formulation as claimed in claim 3 wherein the hydrocarbon solvent has an evaporation rate of about 0.19.

5. A formulation as claimed in any one of claims I to 4 wherein the solvent is present in an amount of 75-85% by weight.

6. A formulation as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the hydrocarbon solvent is a hydrocarbon solvent.

7. A formulation as claimed in any one of claims I to 6 wherein the fluorinated acrylic polymer has a molecular weight of 40,000-50,000.

8. A formulation as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the fluorinated acrylic polymer is present in an amount of 0.5-2% by weight.

9. A formulation as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the hydrophobic particles have an average particle diameter of from 0.1 to 100 pm.

10. A formulation as claimed in claim 9 wherein the hydrophobic particles have an average particle diameter in the range of 0.01 to 20 pm.

Ii. A formulation as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein substantially all of the hydrophobic particles have a particle size of less than 30 pm.

12. A formulation as claimed in any one of claims I to 11 wherein the hydrophobic particles comprise 0.1-15% by weight of the total weight of component (c) of the formulation.

13. A formulation as claimed in any one of claims I to 12 wherein the hydrophobic particles comprise fumed silica.

14. A formulation as claimed in any one of claims I to 13 wherein the siloxane is of the formula (II) or (ifi): Me [Me 1 Me

I II I I

Me _Si-O (11) Me\/,Me (III) wherepisfrom2tO 10.

15. A formulation as claimed in claim 14 wherein the siloxane is decamethylpentaCYClOSilOxafle.

16. A formulation as claimed in claim any one of claims Ito 15 wherein the silicone wax has a re-crystallisation point of less than 5 C.

17. A formulation as claimed in any one of claims 11016 wherein the silicone wax is of the general formula (1): Me [Me Me 1 Me

I II ____ I II

Me -1-1--Si-O 1-_Si-Me (I) Me LMe R JmMe where R is a hydrocarbon radical, preferably having from 10 to 20 carbon atoms, n is from 2 to 85, and m is from 2 to 60.

18. A formulation as claimed in any one of claims Ito 17 containing 1-10% by weight (based on the total weight of the formulation) of a water-miscible organic solvent that is also miscible with the hydrocarbon solvent.

19. A formulation as claimed in claim 18 wherein the water-miscible solvent is present in an amount of 4% to 7% by weight based on the total weight of the formulation.

20. A formulation as claimed in claim 18 or 19 wherein the water-miscible solvent is iso-propanol.

21. A surface enhancement formulation comprising by weight of the formulation: (a) 75-85% by weight of an organic solvent having an evaporation rate of 0.05-0.3 when measured in accordance with ASTM D3539 with n-butyl acetate being assigned an evaporation rate of!; (b) 0.5-2% by weight of a fluorinated acrylic polymer; (c) a total of 0.5-2% by weight of: (i) hydrophobic particles, (ii) a highly volatile siloxane, and (iii) a silicone wax soluble in the siloxane.

22. An aerosol container containing a fonnulation as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21 and a propellant for aerosol dispense of the formulation.

23. A method for enhancing the surface of the interior upholstery of a motor vehicle comprising applying to said upholstery a formulation as claimed in any one of claims I to 21.

24. A method for enhancing the surface of a carpet in the interior of a motor vehicle comprising applying to said carpet a formulation as claimed in any one of claims Ito 21.