IE52361B1 - Composition containing an abrasive substrate for the cleaning of hard surfaces - Google Patents

Abstract

1. A ready-for use composition for cleaning hard surfaces and containing a scouring base impregnated with a cleaning liquid, characterised by an expanded paper as scouring base which is in the form of a sheet of paper cut along parallel lines, close to one another, by means of short cuts repeated along each line and closely spaced, with lateral staggering of the cuts from one line to the next, and which is expanded by a stretching of the paper at right angles to the cut lines.

Description

The present invention relates to ready-for-use compositions intended for cleaning hard surfaces and containing a scouring base impregnated with cleaning liquid, which consists of a sheet of latticed and expanded paper.

It has been known for a very long time to clean glass, porcelain, ceramic, marble, metals and other hard surfaces using abrasive powders, but the application of these powders requires the addition of water and the use of a rag or a sponge. Liquids are also known which contain cleaning agents in solution and scouring agents in suspension; this technology is very fully described in EJS-A-2,164,810, 2,196,992, 2,275,049, 2,739,129, 2,892,795, 2,920,045, 3,281,367 and ' 3,681,122, BE-A-737,033, GB-A-1,303,810, 1,308,190 and 1,345,119, CA-A-578,717, 635,321, 685,394 and 843,388 and FR-A-1,548,948, 2,161,963, 2,256,952, 2,283,952, 2,349,648, 2,349,649, 2,356,719, 2,383,229 and 2,405,990.

Scouring liquids represent a real advance, but their application still requires a rag or a sponge.

Products exist which comprise a scouring pad impregnated with a detergent composition such as a soap. Finally, a cloth impregnated with a cleansing agent for cleaning dishes, which cloth consists of two paper layers and one intermediate layer comprising a net made of elastic thermoplastic resin, said layers being stuck to each other, is known from FR-A-1 363 974. These products require water at the time of use and are not suitable for all purposes because for instance the scouring pad consists of wire, which can cause irreparable damage to non-metallic surfaces by scratching them.

It has now been found that all these disadvantages can be eliminated by the use of a ready-to-use product which requires neither water nor rags or a sponge and with which there is no danger of scratching the cleaned surfaces. A product of this type is presented by the claimed composition for cleaning hard surfaces containing a scouring base impregnated with a cleaning liquid which is in the form of a sheet of an expanded paper cut along parallel lines, close to one another, by means of short cuts repeated along each line and closely spaced, with lateral staggering of the cuts from one line to the next, and which is expanded by a stretching of the paper at right angles to the cut lines. This gives a more or less transparent lattice, the structure of which varies as a function of the thickness and the nature of the paper, the length and the spacing of the cuts, and the distance between the lines. By virtue of the oblique shape adopted by the strips surrounding the meshes of the lattice, an expanded paper of this type, impregnated with a cleaning liquid, possesses more or less pronounced scouring properties depending on the nature and the thickness of the paper. Conveniently, the lateral staggering is substantially equal to half the sum obtained by adding the length of a cut and the space separating two adjacent cuts on one and the same line.

The cleaning liquid is chosen from the group comprising aqueous solutions of detergent and organic solvents, which, if desired, can contain an adjuvant chosen from the group comprising thickeners, colorants, fluorescent brighteners, alkalis, antiseptics, humectants, water repellents, perfumes and antistatic agents.

The chacateristics of the sheet of expanded paper are not critical.

The paper can be made, in particular, from a pulp of chemical and/or mechanical origin, containing cellulosic fibres derived from wood, cotton, alfa, flax, cereals, old rags and/or waste paper; it can also be made from, or contain, fibres of wool, silk, glass, rock and polymeric materials, for example those based on polyalkylenes polyalkadienes, polystyrenes, polyacrylic acid esters, polymethacrylic acid esters, polyesters, polyurethanes, polyamides, 4polyvinyl alkanoates and/or polyvinyl halides; it can contain fillers for modifying its structure (density, abrasiveness, permeability and mechanical strength), these fillers being chosen, for example, from the group comprising gums, gelatins, resins, industrial starches, pigments and insoluble mineral powders such as silica, metal silicates, metal phosphates, metal carbonates, barium sulfate, calcium sulfate, titanium oxide, kaolin, kieselguhr, tin oxide, perlite and cristobalite.

The thickness of the paper can vary within limits compatible with the use in question, i.q. permitting a sufficient flexibility an The space between two adjacent cuts along one and the same line is preferably between 1 and 4 millimetres; even more preferably, this space is between 2 and 3 millimetres.

The distance between two adjacent lines of cuts is preferably between 0.5 and 3 millimetres; even more preferably, this distance is between 0.7 and 1.5 millimetres.

The dimensions of the sheet of paper are not critical and depend on the use for which it is intended; for domestic use or for cleaning small pieces, it is possible, for example, to cut the sheet to dimensions containing between 1 and 10 square decimetres, whereas for industrial use, the sheet can be produced with large dimensions of several tens of square decimetres,or even in the form of long, folded or rolled strips arranged in a box serving as a dispenser.

The expanded paper can be present in the composition either in its stretched form or in its unstretched form, in which case the stretching is carried out by the user at the time of use.

If the cleaning liquid contains water, the origin of the water is generally not critical; it can be spring water, rain water, river water, softened water, demineralised water or distilled water. It is generally preferred to use water containing relatively small proportions of calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate.

The surfactants which can be used according to the invention can be chosen from the group comprising all the known anionic, cationic, amphoteric or non-ionic surfactants. Representative surfactants are described in McCutcheon's Detergents and Emulsifiers 1969 Annual, in which these compounds are indexed according to their chemical formula and their tradename. Other suitable surfactants are described in Surface Active Agents and Detergents, Volume II, by Schwartz, Perry and Berch (Interscience Publishers, 1958).

Examples of suitable anionic surfactants are soaps and also synthetic, sulfated and sulfonated surfactants, in particular anionic surfactants having about 8 to 26, and preferably about 10 to 22, carbon atoms per molecule. The soaps are generally the water-soluble, alkali metal or ammonium soaps of fatty acids each containing 10 to 18 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof.

The sulfated and sulfonated surfactants are also known in the art and can be prepared from suitable organic materials which can be sulfonated (i.e. which can be subjected to true sulfonation and/or sulfation).

Amongst the wide variety of suitable sulfates and sulfonates, it is preferable to use the aliphatic sulfates and sulfonates having about 8 to 22 carbon atoms and also the alkylaromatic sulfonates containing about 8 to 22 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, and preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms.

The detergent alkylaromatic sulfonates in question can have a mononuclear or polynuclear structure.

More particularly, the aromatic nucleus can be 82361 derived from benzene, toluene, xylene, phenol, cresols, phenol ethers, naphthalene or phenanthrene derivatives.

The alkyl group can vary in a similar manner. Thus, for example, the alkyl groups can have a linear or branched chain (the linear chains being very much preferred) and can be, for example, dodecyl, tridecyl, pentadecyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl or undecyl radicals, mixed alkyls derived from fatty products, olefins consisting of cracked paraffin wax or polymers of lower monoolefins.

Although the number of sulfonic acid groups present on the nucleus is not critical, it is preferable for only one of these groups to be present, so as to preserve as far as possible an equilibrium between the hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts of the molecule and to obtain an effec15 tive surface activity.

Other particular examples of suitable surface-active alkylaromatic sulfonates are linear alkylbenzenesulfonates in which the alkyl group contains, for example, between 10 and 18 carbon atoms, more particularly between 10 and 15 2o carbon atoms on average; these include sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, sodium tridecylbenzenesulfonate and sodium (higher)alkylbenzenesulfonates in which the alkyl contains between 10 and 15 carbon atoms, i.e. on average 12.5 carbon atoms, per molecule.

Other suitable surfactants are sulfated or sulfonated, surface-active aliphatic compounds preferably having 12 to 22 carbon atoms. The following correspond to this definition: sulfuric acid esters of polyalcohols incompletely esterified by higher fatty acids, such as coconut 3o oil monoglyceride monosulfate and tallow glyceride monosulfate, pure or mixed, long-chain alkyl sulfates such as lauryl sulfate and cetyl sulfate, esters of hydroxysulfonated higher fatty acids, such as higher fatty acid esters of low molecular weight alkylolsulfonic acids, like fatty acid esters of isethlonic acid, sulfates of fatty acid ethanolamides of aminoalkylsulfonic acids, such as the laurylamide. of taurine, or olefinsulfonates and paraffinsulfonates.

More particularly, it is preferable to use sulfated aliphatic compounds containing at least about 8 carbon atoms, in particular those containing about 12 to 18 or 22 carbon atoms per molecule. In addition to or instead of the surface-active, aliphatic and aromatic sulfates and sulfonates, it is also possible to use the corresponding organic phosphates and phosphonates if the presence of such organophosphorus compounds is permitted by the national regulations.

As cationic surfactants, it is also possible to use long-chain quaternary alkylammonium compounds such as quaternary cetylammonium salts. This group includes cetyltrimethylammonium chloride and cetylpyridinium chloride. Diethylaminoethyloleylamide is another compound which can also be used.

The non-ionic surfactants comprise, for example, polyoxyethylene ethers of hydroxylated alkylaromatic compounds (such as polyoxyethyleneated alkylphenols), polyoxyethylene ethers of long-chain aliphatic alcohols, polyoxyethylene ethers of hydrophobic propylene oxide polymers, and also (higher)alkylamine oxides such as lauryldimethylamine oxide and 3-lauroylamido-propyldimethylamine oxide.

According to the invention, it is also possible to use amphoteric surfactants, for example salts of (higher)alkyl-beta-aminopropionic acids, the sodium salt of Nlauryl-beta-alanine, betaines substituted by higher alkyl groups, lauryldimethylammonium-acetic acid and also compounds of the imidazoline type, such as the disodium salt of 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-l-carboxymethyl-2-hendecyl-4,5-dihydroimidazolinium hydroxide.

The anionic and cationic surfactants are commonly used in uhe form of their water-soluble salts. As regards the synthetic anionic compounds, the alkali metal salts (for example sodium and potassium salts) are preferable, although it is possible, if desired, to use other salts, for example ammonium salts, (lower)alkylamine salts (i.e. salts of monoalkylamines and trialkylamines containing to 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, such as methylamine, diisopropylamine and tributylamine), lower alkanolamine salts (for example salts of ethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine and isopropanolamine) and also alkaline 5 earth metal salts and salts of similar metals such as calcium and magnesium. As regards the cationic surfactants, they can contain an anion such as chloride, sulfate or acetate. Preferably, if it exists, the surfactant is present in the cleaning liquid in a proportion of between 0.1 Iq and 25 per cent by weight. If at least one is present in the cleaning liquid, the organic solvent or solvents are chosen from the group comprising the non-caustic organic liquids known to those skilled in the art for their solvent power. Solvents of this type are described, in particu15 lar, in Solvents Guide by MARSDEN & MANN.

They belong to various chemical classes, the preferred classes for carrying out the invention being those which comprise alcoholic solvents, ketonic solvents, ethers, halogen-containing solvents, hydrocarbons and carboxylic acid esters.

The alcoholic solvents include, in particular, alkanols, cycloalkanols, aralkanols and alkanediols, for example methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, isobutanol, sec.-butanol, tert.-butanol, isoper.tanol, cyclo25 hexanol, methylcyclohexanols, benzyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol and propane-1,3-diol, and mixtures thereof.

The ketonic solvents include, in particular, alkanones having three to six carbon atoms, such as acetone, 3q butanone, pentan-2-one, pentan-3-one, 2-methylbutan-3-one, hexan-2-one, hexan-3-one, 3-methylpentan-2-one, 4-methylpentan-2-one, 2-methylpentan-3-one and mixtures of these ketones; the ketonic solvent can also include cyclohexanone .

The ethers include, in particular, oxaalkanes and their hydroxylated derivatives,- gamma-dioxaalkanes and their hydroxylated derivatives, (bis-gamma-)trioxaalkanes having at most ten carbon atoms, and mixtures of these compounds. Examples of oxaalkanes are diethyl ether, dipropyl ether, di isopropyl ether, butyl ether and isobutyl ether. Examples of hydroxylated oxaalkanes are 2-methoxyethanol, 2ethoxyethanol, 2-isopropoxyethanol, 2-methoxypropanol, 2ethoxypropanol and 2-isopropoxypropanol. Examples of gamma-dioxaalkanes are the dimethyl, diethyl, dipropyl and diisopropyl ethers of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and butylene glycol. Examples of hydroxylated gamma-dioxaalkanes are the monomethyl, monoethyl, monopropyl and monoisopropyl ethers of diethylene glycol and dipropylene glycol. Examples of (bis-gamma-)trioxaalkanes are the dimethyl, diethyl, dipropyl and diisopropyl ethers of diethylene glycol and the dimethyl and diethyl ethers of dipropylene glycol.

The halogen-containing solvents include, in particular, the dichloro to tetrachloro derivatives of methane, the dichloro to pentachloro derivatives of ethane and the dichloro to tetrachloro derivatives of ethylene, the monochloro to trichloro derivatives of cyclohexane or benzene and the chlorofluorinated derivatives of ethane. Examples of solvents of this type are methylene chloride, 1,1-dichloroethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1-dichloroethylene, 1,2-dichloroethylene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, tetrachloroethylene, pentachloroethane, monochlorocyclohexane, 1,4-dichlorocyclohexane, monochlorobenzene, trichlorotrifluoroethane and mixtures of these compounds. The hydrocarbons include, in particular, cyclic, aliphatic or alicyclic, saturated hydrocarbons, aromatic or alkylaromatic hydrocarbons, terpene hydrocarbons having 10 carbon atoms, and mixtures of these hydrocarbons. The aromatic and alkylaromatic compounds, used by themselves or in a mixture with the'other hydrocarbons, are chosen, for example, from the group comprising the following: toluene, el.hy I benzene, ortho-xyJ one, meta-xylene, para-xylene, isopropylbenzene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, cymene, pseudo-cumene, 53361 1,4-diisopropylbenzene, tetralin, 1-methyltetralin, 2methyltetralin and mixtures thereof.

The saturated hydrocarbons, used by themselves or mixed with the other hydrocarbons, are chosen, for example, from the group comprising the following: 2-methylheptane, octane, ethylcyclohexane, nonane, isopropylcyclohexane, decane, undecane, dodecane, decalin, 1,2-dimethylcyclohexane, 1,3-dimethylcyclohexane, 1,4-dimethylcyclohexane, 2-methyloctane, 2-methylnonane and mixtures thereof. The commer10 cially available mixtures of aromatic hydrocarbons, and their mixtures with saturated hydrocarbons, are also suitable. The following are examples of these, the proportions of aromatic hydrocarbons being indicated'in brackets: Panasol RX-5 (70%), RX-21 (99%), RX-22 (94%) and RX-34 / (100%), Amsco LEP Solvent (18.5%), Amsco mineral spirit (17%), Amsco 140 Solvent (17%), Amsco 460 Solvent (18%), Laktane Esso (21.5%), Varsol 1 Esso (18%), Varsol 2 Esso (31.5%), Varsol 3 Esso (15%), Solvesso 100 (99%), Solvesso 150 (97%), Tolu-Sol 19 Shell (25%), Tolu-Sol 25 Shell (25%), Tolu-Sol 28 Shell (28%), Tolu-Sol 40 Shell (39%), Tolu-Sol 45 Shell (45%), Cyclo-Sol 43 Shell (99%), TS-28 R Shell (73%). TS-28 Shell (75%), Cyclo-Sol 53 Shell (99.5%), Cyclo-Sol 63 Shell (99.5%), Mineral Spirits 105 Shell (28%), Mineral Spirits 110 Shell (27%), Nona-Sol 120 Shell (20%), White-spirit Shell (17%), White Spirit BP (18%), Dilutine M 5 Shell (45%), Dilutine 21 Shell (17%), Tetrasol G Shell (<5%), Sangajol B Shell (17%), Solnap BP (3%), Supersol BP (97%), normal petroleum BP (15%), Exsol D.45/100 Esso (1.2%), Exsol D.60/95 Esso (1.2%), Exsol D.70/100 Esso (1.2%), Exsol D.100/130 Esso (4%), Exsol D.10/160 Esso (4%), Exsol D.145/190 Esso (6%), Varsol 145/195 Esso (17%), special E petrol Esso (9%) and special F petrol Esso (12.5%).

The terpene hydrocarbons, used by themselves or in 35 a mixture with the other hydrocarbons, are chosen, for example, from the group comprising the following: pinene, limonene, dipentene, terpinene, terpinolene, menthene, myrcerie, sabinene, oeimene , phe]landrene and mixtures thereof.

The carboxylic acid esters include, in particular, those known for their use as solvents and chosen from the group comprising the esters formed between alkanols and monocarboxylic or dicarboxylic acids, between aralkanols and alkanoic acids, or between alkanediols, or their monoethers, and monocarboxylic or dicarboxylic acids, and mixtures of these esters. Examples of esters of these types are ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl or amyl formates, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, amyl, isohexyl, 2-ethylbutyl or isooctyl acetates, ethyl, isopropyl or butyl propionates, methyl, ethyl or butyl butyrates, methyl, ethyl, butyl or amyl lactates, methyl, ethyl, propyl or isopropyl benzoates, diethyl carbonate, diethyl oxalate, dimethyl succinate, cyclohexyl acetate, methylcyclohexyl acetates, benzyl acetate, ethylene glycol carbonate, propylene glycol carbonate, ethylene glycol diacetate, 2-methoxyethyl, 2-ethoxyethyl, 2-isopropoxyethyl, 2butoxyethyl, 2-methoxypropyl or 2-ethoxypropyl acetates and the acetates of diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether or dipropylene glycol monoethyl ether.

The thickeners which are present in the cleaning liquid, if desired, are chosen from the group comprising all the ones known to those skilled in the art, for example methylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polycarboxylates, industrial starch, alginates, carrageenates, polysaccharides, domestic and medicinal starches, gelatin, dextrin, natural or synthetic gums and the aluminium or magnesium salts of fatty acids. The alkalis which are present in the cleaning liquid, if desired, are chosen from the group comprising ammonia and salts giving an alkaline reaction, such as alkali metal, ammonium or aliphatic amine carbonates, borates, silicates, phosphates and polyphosphates .

The humectants which are present in the cleaning liquid, if desired, are compounds which retain moisture; they are chosen, for example, from the group comprising glycerol, sugars, hygroscopic salts such as calcium chloride, and the monoacylated derivatives, of glycerol.

The water repellents which are present in the cleaning liquid, if desired, are film-forming compounds capable of remaining on the treated surface in the form of a very thin layer intended for protecting the said surface against atmospheric agents such as oxygen, carbon dioxide and moisture. They are chosen, for example, from the group comprising natural animal, vegetable or mineral oils and fats, fatty alcohols, involatile alkanones, involatile alkenones, polyalkylene glycols, involatile esters and polysiloxanes. Examples of suitable fatty alcohols are hexadecanol, octadecanol and octadec-9-enol.

Examples of involatile alkanones are caprinone, laurone, myristone, palmitone and stearone.

Examples of involatile alkenones are heneicosa1,20-dien-ll-one and oleone.

Examples of involatile esters are those chosen from the group comprising the following chemical families: 1) The monoesters formed between alkanols and monocarboxylated hydrocarbons, for example alkyl acetates such as hexadecyl or octadecyl acetates, alkyl butyrates and isobutyrates, such as dodecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl or octadecyl butyrates and isobutyrates, alkyl hexanoates, alkyl octanoates, alkyl decanoates, alkyl laurates, undecanoates, undecenoates and myristates, such as hexyl, octyl, decyl or dodecyl laurates, undecanoates, undecenoates and myristates, alkyl palmitates, oleates and stearates, such as propyl, butyl, isobutyls amyl, hexyl or octyl palmitates, oleates and stearates, and alkyl benzoates, phenylacetates and phenylpropionates, such as hexyl, octyl, decyl or dodecyl benzoates, phenylacetates and phenylpropionates. 2) The diesters formed between alkanols and dicarboxylated hydrocarbons, for example dialkyl adipates such as dioctyl adipate, dinonyl adipate, didecyl adipate and di dodecyl ! adipate, dialkyl sebacates such as dibutyl sebacate, dipentyl sebacate, dioctyl sebacate and didecyl sebacate, dialkyl azelates such as dioctyl azelate and didecyl aze5 late, and dialkyl phthalates such as dibutyl phthalate, dioctyl phthalate, didecyl phthalate, bis-(undecyl) phthalate, bis-(dodecyl) phthalate, bis-(tridecyl) phthalate, bis-(tetradecyl) phthalate and dicetyl phthalate. 3) The diesters formed between alkyl-substituted or unsub1q stituted phenols and dicarboxylated hydrocarbons, for example diaryl phthalates such as diphenyl phthalate and dicresyl phthalates. 4) The diesters formed between alkyl-substituted or unsubstituted cyeloalkanols and dicarboxylated hydrocarbons, for example dicyclohexyl phthalate, bis-(methylcyclohexyl) phthalates, bis-(trimethylcyclohexyl) phthalates and bis(tetramethylcyclohexyl) phthalates.

) The diesters formed between phenylalkanols and dicarboxylated hydrocarbons, for example dibenzyl sebacate, dibenzyl azelate and bis-(phenylpropyl) sebacates. 6) The diesters formed between alkanediols and monocarboxylated hydrocarbons, for example 2,2,4-trimethylpentane-l,3diol diisobutyrate. 7) The triesters formed between alkyl-substituted or unsub25 stituted phenols and phosphoric acid, for example triphenyl phosphate, tris-(4-tert.-butylphenyl) phosphate and tricresyl phosphates. 8) Tne triesters formed between alkanols and phosphoric acid, for example trioctyl, phosphate, tridecyl phosphate and tri dodecyl phosphate.

The properties of the water repellents can be modified favourably by the addition of a polymeric resin chosen, for example, from the group comprising polyalkylenes, polyesters, polyacrylates, polyvinyl halides, polyvinyl alkanoates and oxidised microcrystalline waxes.

The compositions according to the invention can be presented enclosed in any pack capable of preventing dr terioration of the compositions; in particular, the packs minil. hr capable of retaining the volatile rompoumln of the cleaning liquid on the sheet of expanded paper.

Examples of suitable materials for this pack 5 are metals such as tinplate or aluminium, and plastics not attacked by the cleaning liquid, such as high-density polyethylene and polyamides.

Xf the dimensions of the sheet of expanded paper are small and if it is desired to pack the sheets indivi]_q dually, it is advantageous to use a material consisting of a laminated multilayer assembly which can be heat-sealed on at least one face and is known as a composite.

Materials of this type are described, in particular, in French Patents 1,568,983 and 1,580,871 and contain, in 15 different orders, layers chosen from the group comprising paper, aluminium, polyethylene, polyamides, polyesters, ionomeric resins, hot-melt resins, polyvinylidene chloride and oriented polypropylene.

If it is desired to accommodate a large number of 2o sheets in one pack, the sheets can be placed so that the removal of one sheet brings the next sheet through an orifice in the pack. Dispensing packs of this type are described, in particular, in U.S. Patents 3,780,908, 3,994,417 and 4,138,034.

If the sheet of expanded paper is long, it can be accommodated rolled-up in a pack having a dispensing orifice, as described, in particular, in U.S. Patents 3,973,695 and 3,994,417, French Patent 2,224,110 and British Patents 1,305,928 and 1,419,167, or can be accommodated folded in a zig-zag fashion in a pack also having a dispensing orifice, as in U.S. Patents 3,973,695, 3,982,659, 4,002,264 and 4,017,002, French Patent 2,273,503 and British Patents 1,382,183 and 1,419,167.

Claims (11)

1. A ready-for use composition for cleaning hard surfaces and containing a scouring base impregnated with a cleaning liquid, characterised by an expanded paper as 5 scouring base which is in the form of a sheet of paper cut along parallel lines, close to one another, by means of short cuts repeated along each line and closely spaced, with lateral staggering of the cuts from one line to the next, and which is expanded by a stretching of the paper lo at right angles to the cut lines.

2. A composition according to claim 1, characterised in that the lateral staggering is substantially equal to half the sum obtained by adding the length of a cut and the space separating two adjacent cuts on one and the same line. 15

3. A composition according to claim 1, characterised in that the cleaning liquid is selected from the group comprising aqueous detergent solutions and organic solvents, which, if required, contain an auxilliary chosen from the group comprising: thickeners, colorants, optical brighteners, 20 alkalies, antiseptics, humectants, water repellents, perfumes and antistatic agents.

4. A composition according to claim I, characterised in that the expanded paper consists of cellulose fibres and/or fibres of wool, silk, glass, mineral or synthetic 25 polymeric material.

5. A composition according to claim 1, characterised in that the expanded paper contains a filler chosen from the group comprising gums, gelatins, resins, starches, pigments and powders of mineral origin.

6. A composition according to claim 1, characterised in that the expanded paper has a thickness of between 5 and 50 hundredths of a millimetre.

7. A composition according to claims 1 and 2, 5 characterised in that the cuts have a length of between 1.5 and 8 millimetres, and the space separating two adjacent cuts on one and the same line is between 1 and 4 millimetres.

8. A composition according to any one of claims 1 and 2 10 or 7, characterised in that the space separating the lines of cuts from one another is between 0.5 and 3 millimetres.

9. A composition according to claim 3, characterised in that the cleaning liquid is a detergent selected from the 15 group comprising known anionic, cationic, amphoteric or nonionic surfactants.

10. A composition according to claim 3, characterised in that the cleaning liquid contains a solvent selected from the group comprising non-caustic organic liquids belonging 2o to the classes of alcoholic solvents, ketonic solvents, ethers, halogen-containing solvents, hydrocarbons and carboxylic acid esters.

11. A composition according to claim 3, characterised in that it contains at least one surfactant and at least 25 one organic liquid having dissolving power.