LU80608A1 - POWDER CLEANER FOR LARGE AREA TEXTILE TRIMS - Google Patents

Description

r AIRWICK AG Case 2 -..... / AFR 105

The invention relates to a pulverulent cleaning agent for cleaning quickly, and with care, carpets, furnishing textiles and other large surface textile upholstery.

The in situ cleaning of carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture covered with textile materials raises important practical difficulties.

The use of stain removers and conventional cleaners which are in the form of liquids or foams, anhydrous or aqueous, has indeed major drawbacks.

During the application of this type of product, one cannot avoid a more or less complete impregnation in depth of some or all of the fibers which constitute the treated textile material, impregnation which always causes a certain migration or a certain leaching of the coloring agents and finishing agents Ά - 2 - as well as the formation of halos or even sometimes a shrinking or felting of the treated textile material.

In addition, conventional liquid cleaning agents which generally contain surface-active cleaning substances, after drying, generally leave on the fiber residues of surfactants which give the textile material a dull appearance and a very increased tendency to re-soiling.

In addition, the drying time of fibers deeply impregnated with liquid is always very long and constitutes another major drawback for the use of such products, in particular on carpets placed in an irremovable manner in places of passage.

The present invention provides a new cleaning agent for carpets and upholstery which does not have the drawbacks described above and which leads to better cleaning of variously soiled textile surfaces faster than the previously known products.

Powdered cleaning products for textile care are already known. This is how French patent no. 1,321,148 describes a urea-formaldehyde resin powder impregnated with a mixture of carbon tetrachloride, trichlorethylene and gasoline. Such a product can only be used occasionally on oily stains and „has no cleaning power against stains more soluble in water.

Other powdery cleaning products, consisting of a synthetic macromolecular powdery substance, such as polyurethane resins, polystyrenes, polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polyvinyls, acrylics, etc. on which are impregnated anhydrous or aqueous solvent mixtures are described in French patents no.

· + - 3 - 2 015 972, 2 163 692, 2 240 287, in the German patent application 2 021 677 as well as in the British patent 1 251 972.

None of these products, however, is capable of ensuring a completely satisfactory cleaning of the different types of possible soiling, while giving a lasting appearance to the treated textile.

In fact, the pulverulent products known up to now had a cleaning power lower than that of liquid products and had the further disadvantage of being then difficult to completely remove from the textile material on the surface of which they tended to adhere and to stay glued.

The present invention overcomes these drawbacks by providing a new cleaning agent for large area textile upholstery, this agent being characterized in that it comprises the following combination (A) + (B): (A) approximately 30 to 70 parts by weight of an aqueous liquid mixture of solvents comprising: (a) about 10 to 50% by weight of aliphatic hydrocarbon (s), liquid (s) at ordinary temperature of 20 ° C, distilling between 90 and 300 ° C at atmospheric pressure, (b) about 1 to 10% by weight of terpene solvent (s), liquid (s) at ordinary temperature of 20 ° C and the point (s) of which boiling at atmospheric pressure is (nt) between 130 and 250 ° C, (c) about 30 to 89% by weight of water, and (d) from 0 to about 10% by weight of adjuvants, ( B) approximately 30 to 70 parts by weight of an absorbent powder support, the average particle size of which is between approximately 5 μ and approximately 500 μ, all the proportions by weight referring to the total weight of the liquid mixture ( AT).

- 4 -

The aqueous solvent mixture (A) according to the invention generally contains approximately 30 to 89% by weight and preferably "approximately 40 to 60% by weight of water, which gives the cleaning agent according to the invention an excellent cleaning power vis-à-vis water-soluble stains as are in particular a large number of stains due to food substances.

The cleaning agents according to the invention can contain various adjuvants such as perfumes, anti-static agents, anti-redeposition agents, optical brighteners, pigments and above all surfactants, microbicides, fungicides and antioxidants.

These adjuvants can either be soluble in the oleophilic phase of the mixture of components (a) + (b) or in the aqueous phase (c) of the solvent mixture (A). They can also consist of insoluble particles, dispersed homogeneously across the support (B).

These adjuvants are generally dissolved in one or other of the components (a), (b) or (c) of the mixture (A) or else mixed with the support (B). They are generally present in proportions of the order of 0.05 to 10% by weight, preferably 0.05 to 5% by weight, calculated either relative to or total weight of (A) or relative to the weight total of (B).

The pulverulent cleaning agents according to the invention comprise, totally and regularly absorbed * (adsorbed) on a pulverulent support, an aqueous liquid mixture (A) of very specific solvents which allows a very effective cleaning of practically all types of stains and stains common.

According to the invention the component (a) of this mixture (A) comprises one or more aliphatic hydrocarbon (s) ^), liquid (s) at ordinary temperatures, that is to say * - 5 - - say between 0 and 40 ° C and distilling between 90 and 300 ° C at normal atmospheric pressure.

The solvent component (a) is advantageously constituted by a distillation cut of crude oils containing not more than 5% by weight of aromatic hydrocarbons which, at normal atmospheric pressure, preferably distills between 130 and 250 ° C. Such a solvent can be, for example, white spirit, a petroleum distillation cut which distills between approximately 130 and 210 ° C. or any other mineral spirits.

However, component (a) can also consist of one or more synthetic alkanes, the boiling point (s) of which at atmospheric pressure is (are) located within the limits indicated above, as decane and / or dodecane for example.

The evaporation index of component (a) at 20 ° C, measured relative to the time required for the evaporation of the same volume of sulfuric ether, this time being taken as a unit, can be between 10 and 100 , preferably between 20 and 80 (the evaporation index of sulfuric ether being equal to 1). This evaporation index is measured by depositing, using a pipette, 0.5 cm of the solvent (a) on a filter paper and by timing the time necessary for its total evaporation, a control test being carried out simultaneously with sulfuric ether.

<The terpene solvent component (b) is chosen from terpene hydrocarbons proper such as terpene hydrocarbons of crude formula and optionally from alcohols, aldehydes and esters derived from these terpenes. A fundamental characteristic of the terpene solvent (b) is its volatility: at ordinary pressure its boiling point is preferably between about 150 and 250 ° C, more advantageously still between - 6 - 150 and 200 ° C, its index d evaporation at ordinary temperature (20 ° C) is preferably between 20 and 80 (compared to sulfuric ether whose evaporation index is equal to 1), more advantageously still between 20 and 50.

The terpene solvent (b) can be chosen for example: from pinene (P.Eb .: 157-166 ° C), carene (P.Eb .: 165 ° C), sabinene (P.Eb ,: 165 ° C), myrcene (P.Eb .: 167 ° C), menthene (P.Eb .: 168 ° C), phellandrene (P.Eb .: 171 - 175 ° C), ocimene ( P.Eb .: 177 ° C), Sylvestrene (P.Eb .: 177 ° C), Limonene (P.Eb ,: 177 ° C), Dipentene (P.Eb .: 178 ° C), terpinene (P.Eb .: 176 - 183 ° C), terpinolene (P.Eb .: 184 ° C), terpinol (P.Eb .: 168 ° C) which is a mixture of terpineols, terpinolene, terpinene and dipentene *, among these terpene hydrocarbons very particularly preferred dipentene and especially limonene as well as the natural extracts of plants obtained by pressure or by distillation which contain a high proportion of these terpene solvents.

The terpene solvent (b) can moreover consist of or contain terpene alcohols of the crude formula cioH160, C10H18 ° and C10H200, exhibiting the volatility characteristics set out above.

Such alcohols are for example ocimenol (P.Eb .: 196 ° C), linalol (P.Eb .: 198 ° C), terpinenols (P.Eb .: 210 - 212 ° C), myrcenol (P.Eb .: 213 ° C), methylgeraniol (P.Eb .: 216 ° C), Myrtenol (P.Eb .: 224 ° C), citronellol (P.Eb .: 225 ° C), nerol (P.Eb .: 227 ° C) and geraniol (P.Eb .: 230 ° C).

The terpene aldehydes (b) can be chosen, for example, from citral (P.Eb .: 214 - 228 ° C), ethylcitral, isocyclocitral, phellandral (P.Eb .: 174 ° C), citronellal (P.Eb .: 206 ° C), hydroxycitronellal or dihydrocitronellal etc,

T

- 7 -

The terpene esters capable of constituting all or part of the solvent (b) are for example formates, acetates and propionates of menthyl, citronellyl, bornyl, isobornyl, anisyl, dihydro-terpinyle etc. who have the general physical characteristics set out above.

These compounds are advantageously introduced into the cleaning agents according to the invention in the form of overall essences or extracts originating from the distillation or from the pressing of natural products which contain a major proportion of terpene products.

An excellent solvent (b) is constituted, for example, by citrus terpenes and in particular by orange terpenes obtained by pressing orange peel and then slight refining; the use as component (b) of an essence of orange terpenes essentially constituted by limonene is particularly advantageous in the compositions according to the invention.

The cleaning agents according to the invention may optionally contain, in addition to components (a) and (b), in proportions generally not exceeding 30% by weight of (A) other complementary solvent compounds belonging to the families of solvents the most diverse as for example: cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons, halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons, oxygenated heterocyclic compounds, cycloaliphatic and araliphatic alcohols, aliphatic hydroxylated and non-hydroxylated ethers, aliphatic, cycloaliphatic and araliphatic esters, aliphatic and araliphatic esters, cycloaliphatic, terpene, aromatic and the various possible mixtures of these solvents.

ψ - δ -

Among the cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons, mention may in particular be made of cyclohexane, methyl cyclohexane, tetralin and decaline.

Complementary halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons can be chosen from carbon tetrachloride, methylene chloride, chloroform, dichloro-l, l-ethane, dichloro-l, 2-ethane, dichloro-1,1 - ethylene , dichloro-l, 2-ethylene, trichloro-l, l, l-ethane, trichloro-l, l, 2-ethane, trichlorethylene, tetra-chloro-l, l, 2,2-ethane, tetrachlorethylene, pentachlor ethane, trichloro-trifluoroethane and perfluoroethane.

The aliphatic hydroxylated compounds can be chosen, for example, from ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, butanols, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol-1,2, 1,3-propylene glycol, ethers of diols and aliphatic alcohols such as, for example, methyl, ethyl and propyl mono- and di-ethers of ethylene glycol, of diethylene glycol, of propylene glycol or such as butoxyethanol.

The araliphatic hydroxyl compounds which can be used as additional solvents are, for example, phenoxyethanol or phenoxypropanol.

Water constitutes the third obligatory constituent (c) of the solvent mixture (A) This constituent indeed ensures an effective cleaning of stains and soiling rather * water-soluble.

The components (a), (b) and (c) of the solvent mixture (A) are generally not miscible with one another in the proportions in which they are used in the cleaning agents according to the invention. This is not important since they are then impregnated in turn on the absorbent powder support (B), forming a microscopically heterogeneous mixture, of homogeneous appearance.

- 9 -

The mixture of solvents (a) and (b) present in the cleaning agents of the invention has an unexpected synergetic cleaning and stain-removing efficiency on most stains and rather oil-soluble stains. The simultaneous presence, in the cleaning agent according to the invention, of large proportions of water as defined above considerably strengthens the spectrum of activity of the solvent mixture (a) + (b) and leads to a ternary mixture of solvent components (a) + (b) + (c) with almost universal stain-removing properties and which has a relatively high rate of evaporation, despite the high proportions of water it contains.

By way of example, an excellent cleaning agent according to the invention is that in which the solvent mixture (A) consists of: (a) approximately 1 to 5 and preferably 3 to 5 parts by weight of white spirit, (b) about 0.5 to 2 parts by weight of limonene or orange essence and (c) about 3 to 7 and preferably 5 to 7 parts by weight of water.

Dissolving in the solvent mixture a small amount of surfactant for washing, although not absolutely essential, is however advantageous because it makes it possible to increase the detergency of the cleaning agent quite considerably. 'invention. This surfactant can be anionic, nonionic, cationic or amphoteric in nature.

It is generally present in the solvent medium in proportions of the order of 0.05 to 10% by weight and preferably of the order of 0.05 to 5% by weight, calculated relative to or total weight of the component ( AT).

Preferably, a rather hydrophilic surfactant is chosen or a mixture of oleophilic and / or hydrophilic surfactant which are preferably soluble in water and which, upon evaporation of the solvent mixture (a) + (b) + (c) at room temperature separates from this mixture in the form of solid, non-hydrated crystals which do not adhere to the fiber.

Surfactants with these properties are found in most chemical families of surfactants.

Among these, the anionic surfactants are of particularly advantageous use: they are for example alkylsulfonates, alkylbenzene-sulfonates, sulfosuccinic esters, sulfates of fatty alcohols, condensation products of an alkylline oxide on high molecular weight fatty alcohols, on fatty acid amides or on propylene glycols having molecular weights between 900 and 4,000.

Surfactants which are particularly suitable for the compositions according to the invention are the condensation products of a fatty acid and of an orthophenylene diamine mono- or disulfonate such as for example the condensation products of stearic acid and of 1 orthophenylene diamine made water-soluble by more or less extensive sulfonation.

The cleaning agents according to the invention also preferably contain a preservative capable of protecting the finished product from microbial and fungal deterioration. The preservative is preferably introduced into the aqueous phase of (A): it can be chosen from all known microbicidal substances such as, for example, sodium orthophenylphenates, hexylresorcinol, methyl, propyl and parahydroxybenzoates. 11 - benzyl, parachlorometacresol, ortho, meta and para hydroxybenzoates of triethanolamine, dichloracetamide etc.

They can also contain antioxidant agents such as for example butylhydroxyanisole, butyl-hydroxytoluene, citric acid and mixtures of these products.

The fundamental characteristic of the pulverulent support (B) lies in its absorbing power and in the average size of the particles which compose it.

The powder support (B) is preferably capable of absorbing at least 80 to 300% by weight of liquid (A), these proportions relating to the weight of the non-impregnated support.

The average size of the particles from which it is formed is preferably between 5 and 500 μ and more particularly between 50 and 300 μ.

The art already describes numerous powdery supports capable of providing, by absorbing the solvent mixture (A) according to the invention, excellent cleaning agents.

Such pulverulent supports are, for example, mineral powders, such as those of mineral oxides, of alkali, alkaline earth salts and of ammonium, natural or synthetic; such as for example aluminum hydrates, silicon oxides, silicates, clays, glass microbeads, carbonates, bicarbonates such as ammonium bicarbonate, borates, chlorides, phosphates, citrates , various sulfates ...

• 3

They are also resins of various polymers or copolymers and powdered solid synthetic polycondensation products derived from ethylene, propyllne, styrene, acrylates, acrylonitrile, alkadienes, amides, maleic anhydride , urea-formaldehyde, phenol-formaldehyde resins, polyurethanes etc.

They are also the various pulverulent artificial cellulose materials such as, for example, regenerated celluloses and cellulose acetates.

However, the preferred support for the cleaning agents according to the invention is chosen from natural organic substances of plant origin and in particular from powders of woody substances, hulled cereal seed flours and starch powders.

The support (B) of the cleaning agents in accordance with the invention may in particular be entirely constituted by one or other of these materials of plant origin provided that the particle size of this material and its absorbent capacity comply with the above-mentioned fundamental characteristics.

The material or materials of plant origin capable of constituting the support (B) are, for example, chosen from flour made of wood, cork, bark of cereals, corn cob powder, brewer's draff, flour cereals such as wheat, tapioca, corn, rice, rye, soy, barley, oats etc. and starch powders extracted from potatoes, wheat, arrowroot, oats, wheat, peas, beans, rice, corn, buckwheat, rye , barley etc.

A particularly absorbent support (B) which has excellent mechanical properties and which ensures optimum cleaning efficiency for the cleaning agent according to the invention comprises: (oc) approximately 40 to 80% by weight of woody vegetable substance, preferably of alveolar structure, capable of absorbing at least 100 percent of its weight in the dry state, of solvent mixture (A), (ß) about 5 to 207 "by weight, of a cereal flour (s) and (γ) about 15 to 40% by weight of a starch powder, - 13 - all the proportions by weight relating to the total weight of the support (B).

The preferred woody vegetable substances are those which have both a high hardness and a preferably cellular structure making it possible to absorb or reversibly absorb large proportions of liquids.

A woody material particularly appreciated in the compositions according to the invention is a corn cob powder: it indeed has good hardness and a honeycomb structure which allows both good absorption of the liquid (A) and its rapid release on the fiber during the cleaning operation.

The average size of the particles of woody material (ce) is preferably between 100 and 300 μ, the ideal average dimensions being around 150 and 200 μ.

During the cleaning operation, the particles of woody plant material of this dimension in fact exert a mechanical friction action on the fiber, which, without damaging the surface of the fiber, facilitates the detachment of the dirt which is dissolved by the one or the other of the components (a), (b) or (c) of the solvent mixture transferred by the support (B) to the fiber, then immediately absorbed by this same support (B).

The presence in the support (B) of a cereal flour whose average particle size is also advantageously between 5 and 500 μ, but preferably between approximately 100 and 300 μ effectively completes the qualities of the cleaning agent according to the invention by facilitating rapid and homogeneous distribution over the entire textile surface and considerably increasing the ease with which the powder which remains on the fiber after the evaporation of the solvent mixture can be removed from the fiber.

- 14 -

The ideal ideal grain size of cereal flour (s) is preferably within the limits of 125 to 280 μ. Among the aforementioned cereal flours, rice powder is particularly advantageous in the cleaning agents according to the invention because of the hardness, the density and the rounded shape of the particles which compose it.

The cleaning agents according to the invention also advantageously contain a starch, which because of its very special granular structure and the average dimensions of its particles which are between 25 and 250 μ gives the cleaning pulverulent mixture excellent mechanical properties, fluidity, storage and sliding on the fibers, without in any way strengthening its adhesion to textile materials.

The optimum average particle size of the starch powder used in the cleaning agents according to the invention is advantageously between 40 and 200 μ.

The pulverulent support (B) according to the invention has the advantage of being able to absorb all of the solvent mixture (A) without losing its dry or semi-dry pulverulent appearance and while retaining excellent fluidity properties, even after a very long storage. This support also has the advantage of not clogging the vacuum cleaner bags and especially of not causing them to tear.

This powder support (B) also has the advantage of absorbing several solvent components, right? miscible with each other and then, as soon as the absorbent is brought into contact with a textile material, release the major part of its solvent components, absorb dirt and dry to transform into a powder of which the different particles do not adhere in any way with textile fibers and can thus be easily removed by simple brushing or using a vacuum cleaner of average power.

- 15 -

The cleaning agents according to the invention are prepared by simple impregnation and homogenization of the entire pulverulent absorbent mixture (B) with small successive amounts of each solvent component.

Preferably, the homogeneous mixture constituted by the solvents (a) and (b) is first impregnated on the pulverulent support (B) and, when the entire quantity of solvents (a) and (b) is uniformly distributed over this powder, water and the rest of the ingredients are then added in small successive quantities until the pulverulent mixture is completely homogenized.

After sieving, a dry, semi-dry or wet powder is obtained which does not generate dust when it is spread over a textile surface and which can, after drying, be removed from this carpet by brushing or vacuuming without raising dust .

To clean a textile surface or a carpet using a composition according to the invention, approximately 10 to 50 grams, preferably 25 to 40 grams of product are spread uniformly per square meter of textile surface, and the product is then quickly distributed. product over the entire surface of the carpet by rubbing with a broom. After drying, the composition does not adhere to the carpet at all and can be immediately and easily aspirated without leaving any. traces, using a medium power vacuum cleaner; the carpet thus treated has a clean, airy and new appearance.

The use of a composition according to the invention has many advantages. It allows, without basically wetting it, to quickly and effectively clean a carpet or carpet. It also allows the frequent repetition of cleaning operations without damage to the carpet or carpet thus treated.

- 16 -

Complete drying takes place very quickly, usually in 20 to 30 minutes. You can immediately after applying the product, walk on the carpet without risking to deteriorate it and without risking to counteract the action of the product. This drying is very rapid because the pulverulent composition according to the invention in no way wets the support, always very long to dry when the cleaning is carried out with various conventional products, and only wets the fibers which are cleaned very little.

In fact, the cleaning compositions according to the invention release on the fiber only the quantities of solvents strictly necessary for detaching the dirt.

Another advantage when using a composition according to the invention lies in the fact that it does not risk either forming halos or dulling the colors as very often happens with the compositions in the form of solutions or foams. . In addition, the dust and dirt detached from the fiber during treatment is immediately absorbed by the powdery support and is not likely to fly away or redeposit leaving the carpet ultimately looking dull and dull. In addition, the cleaning agent according to the invention can be advantageously used for cleaning fragile textile materials, without any prejudice to them.

On the other hand, the compositions according to the invention make it possible to very easily remove the oil-soluble spots which are the most common and the most stubborn, spots which essentially aqueous shampoos only partially remove.

After treatment with a composition according to the invention, the carpet acquires a clean and airy lasting appearance. It has a resistance to soiling comparable to that of a new carpet, which is not the case of carpets treated with aqueous shampoos and more particularly of those which contain surfactants.

An important characteristic of the compositions according to the invention lies in fact in the fact that, preferably, they contain one or more detersive or surfactant agents which, after cleaning, do not leave on the fiber any static or sticky residue.

The use of the compositions according to the invention is also particularly advantageous since it does not require any special apparatus. It is suitable for all types of fibers, plant, animal or synthetic such as wool, cotton, jute, silk, regenerated cellulose, rayon acetate, polyamide, polyester, polyolefin, chloride fibers. polyvinylidene, polyacrylic fibers and mixtures of these fibers and all types of coloring of these fibers.

The compositions according to the invention are particularly suitable for the maintenance of all types of carpets, such as tufted carpets, needled carpets and very particularly for long pile carpets (looped) which are always very difficult to maintain with liquid compositions. or in the form of foam because these products tend to stick the hairs to each other.

In the following examples, the parts and percentages, unless otherwise stated, are by weight, calculated relative to the total weight of the composition.

Examples 1 to 9

600 g of each of the compositions described in Table I are prepared (the figures indicated correspond to parts by weight), by mixing for 10 - 18 - minutes in a powder mixer the pulverulent compounds constituting the solid support of the formulation. Then added thereto, preferably by spraying, the total amount of solvents (a) + (b) and then the aqueous component (c). The mixing is continued for one hour.

Table I

Composition 123 ^ 56789

Wood flour 30 26

Brewing grains of urea-formaldehyde resin powder ^

Sound 25

Sprayed cork 15

Corn cob powder (1) 3 ° 30 25 27

Rice powder 8 7 20 10 10

Rye flour 8

Pearl barley 27

Corn starch (2) 14 15 26 22

^ A3L starch

potato

White spirit (a) 19 20 19 19 20 15 20 19 20

Isopropylglycol 5

Dipentene 3.5 2.5 2 5

Limonene 3.3 10 3.5

Terpenes, c _.

‘Oranges (b) ^

Perfume 0.5 - 19 -

Table I (Continued)

Composition 123456789

Water 24 24 24 24 15.5 26.5 50 24 29.5

Chloracetamide (c) 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.3 1 0.5

Ultravon W (d) 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.5 1.2 4 1.2 0.5

Anti-fouling product q g *

Antistatic product * (1) Product derived from the woody ring, constituting the hard cylindrical part of the corn cob, obtained by grinding and sizing through a sieve Ψ allowing particles of diameter less than or equal to 170 microns to pass.

(2) Powdered product of which approximately 93% of the particles have a diameter of between 40 and 80 microns, the rest of the particles having a diameter of up to 200 microns.

(a) Aliphatic hydrocarbons containing 5% aromatic hydro carbides.

Distillation range: 149 to 195 ° C.

Evaporation index compared to sulfuric ether: 21.

- 20 - (b) Terpene products obtained by extraction from the essence of orange peel *, this solvent consists mainly of limonene.

Distillation range: 170 to 185 ° G.

Evaporation index compared to sulfuric ether: 49.

(c) Dichloroacetamide of formula CHCI2-CO-NH2.

(d) Sodium disulfonate of 2-heptadecyl benzimida-zol, manufactured by the firm CIBA-GEIGY AG of Basel.

Experiment I

Comparison of the cleaning power of the products described in the present invention with that of liquid shampoos and conventional aerosol products.

The supports used consist of a vertical, needle-punched, beige carpet. The fibers are composed of a blend of 60% polyamide and 40% polyester.

The reverse side is made of styrene-butadiene foam.

The thickness of this needled mat is. 6 millimeters, and its weight of about 1300 grams per square meter.

The supports used are 10 cm square.

The tests consist in soiling the supports with standard soiling, and then cleaning them using an appropriate product, the cleaning product being removed using a vacuum cleaner.

This process is repeated 6 times in a row.

This makes it possible, at the same time, to measure the cleaning power of the products and to judge their possible tendency to foul the textile material by leaving on the fibers detergents which are not entirely removed by the vacuum cleaner.

The soiling of the supports is carried out using a rotary drum, using 1 gram of standard soiling for 10 supports of 10 x 10 cm.

Standard soiling is ground and sieved to 100 microns.

Its composition is as follows (proportions by weight): 39.0% humus 17.7% cement 18.0% natural silica 0.5% carbon blacks 0.3% ferric oxide

2.5% petrolatum oil with a viscosity of 5.1 degrees Engler at 50 ° C

18.0% clay 2.0% stearic acid 2.0% oleic acid.

The cleaning power of each product is evaluated by carrying out photometric measurements using the photoelectric Brillancemeter of Dr. Lange, built by the company ERICHSEN, in Hemer-Sundwig (Federal Germany).

The product described in Example No. 4 was thus compared to 5 products A, B, C, D and E which are the most representative of the current French market: 3 liquid shampoos and 2 cleaning products for carpets, presented in an aerosol can.

The reflectometric values thus obtained are recorded in Table II below: - 22 -

Table II

KEFLECTCMETRIC VALUES

Product Product Product in fr de

Shampoo Shampoo Shampoo Aerosol Aerosol Example Liquid A Liquid B Liquid C D E no. 4

Sample $ 91., 7 92.1 90.7 90.7 90.3 starting safiLagï 8l · 0 83'2 84> 4 8l · 5 84'7 83'7 cleaning * 87'4 ^ -1 87'4 84'9 85'9 87'2 tallL ^ T 8l '° ®2 84 · 4 8l'5 84'7 83'7 ne “oyaÎr 86 · 7 86- ° 87-3 86'ê 88'6 soiling6 ^ -7 8l> 2 8l'4 8l'2 79'1 ^ 7 cleaning6 85'2 84'9 "-1 84 '° 84'7 87'4 saSsagf 79'2 78 · 9 ^ 3 79' ° 76'5 78.2 ^ yÏT 83 '° 82'8 82'4 79.8 79.4 86'4. Tïïilsï6 78 <8 78-4 78-5 75.7 75.2 76.2 cleaning6 82'5 8l'7 8l'9 76 · 8 78- ° 84 <7 soiling6 7ê'9 76'5 T7'3 71'3 73 '° 74'4 cleaning6 8l'8 8 ° -ê 72 · 7 76.5 85.4 - 23 - (*) Quantities of shampoo used according to the doses and instructions for use recommended by the manufacturer (expressed in weight of product used for a support of 10 cm x 10 cm):

- 0.50 gram for LIQUID A SHAMPOO

- 0.25 gram for LIQUID B SHAMPOO

- 0.25 grams for LIQUID C SHAMPOO

- 0.35 grams for the product in AEROSOL D

- 0.35 grams for the product in AEROSOL E

- 0.40 grams for the product of Example No. 4.

These results show that the use of a composition in accordance with the invention ultimately leads to more thorough cleaning of the fiber than conventional liquid or "aerosol" products.

Experiment II

Comparison of the drying time of the products described in the present invention with the drying time of liquid shampoos and conventional aerosol products.

We use a tufted looped carpet, greige, in 100% polyamide fibers. The reverse side is made of polyvinyl chloride.

The thickness is 8 millimeters, the weight of 1875 - grams approximately per square meter.

The supports used have an area of 3 square meters (rectangles of 2 meters x 1.50 meters).

The products mentioned in Example 1 are used, according to the use doses recommended by the manufacturers, namely: - 24 - - 50 grams of LIQUID SHAMPOO A per square meter of textile floor covering, to be diluted in 150 grams of , - 25 grams of LIQUID SHAMPOO B per square meter of textile floor covering, to be diluted in 300 grams of water, - 25 grams of LIQUID SHAMPOO C per square meter of textile floor covering, to be diluted in 175 grams of water water, - 35 grams of PRODUKTEN AEROSOL D per square meter of textile floor covering, to be used without rubbing, - 35 grams of AEROSOL E PRODUCT per square meter of textile floor covering, to be used by rubbing, - 40 grams of PRODUCT OF Example 4 per square meter of textile floor covering.

The times necessary for the complete drying of the product are recorded in Table III below:

Table III

Drying time

Liquid shampoo A: 8 hours

Liquid shampoo B: 12 hours

Liquid shampoo C: 9 hours

Aerosol shampoo D: 1 hour 30 minutes

Aerosol shampoo E: 5 hours 30 minutes

Product of Example 4: 30 minutes - 25 -

These results show that the drying time of the product according to the present invention is 3 to 24 times shorter than that of conventional liquid products or "aerosol" products.

Claims (20)

1. Powdered cleaning agent for large area textile upholstery, characterized in that it comprises the following combination (A) + (B) consisting of: (A) approximately 30 to 70 parts by weight of an aqueous liquid mixture of solvents comprising: (a) about 10 to 50% by weight of aliphatic hydrocarbon (s) liquid (s) at ordinary temperature and distilling between 90 and 300 ° CI atmospheric pressure, (b) about 1 at 10% by weight of terpene solvent (s) liquid (s) at ordinary temperature, whose boiling point at ordinary pressure is between 150 and 250 ° C, (c) about 30 to 89% by weight of water, and (d) from 0 to approximately 10% by weight of one or more adjuvants, (B) approximately 30 to 70 parts by weight of an absorbent pulverulent support whose average particle size is is between about 5 and about 500 ji, all the proportions by weight referring to the total weight of the liquid mixture (A). 2. Cleaning agent according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains approximately 0.05 to 10% by weight, * calculated relative to the weight of the liquid (A), of one or more adjuvant (s) (d ). 3. Cleaning agent according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the solvent mixture (A) essentially consists of: (a) 10 to 50% by weight, of a hydrocarbon or a mixture of aliphatic hydrocarbons distilling at atmospheric pressure between 90 and 300 ° C and whose evaporation index at 20 ° C, measured with respect to sulfuric ether, is between 10 and 100, (b) there 10% by weight, of a solvent or a mixture of terpene solvents distilling at atmospheric pressure between 150 and 250 ° C and whose evaporation index at 20 ° C, measured relative to sulfuric ether , is between 20 and 80, (c) 30 to 88.9% by weight, of water and (d ^) 0.05 to 5% by weight, of a surfactant, washing and (¢ 2) 0.05 to 5% by weight, of a bactericidal and / or fungicidal preservative, all the proportions relating to the total weight of (A). 4. Cleaning agent according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the component (a) of the mixture (A) consists essentially of a cut of distillation of crude oil whose boiling point is between 130 and 250 ° C and which does not contain more than 5% of aromatic substances. 5. Cleaning agent according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the component (b) of the mixture (A) consists essentially of a hydrocarbon or a mixture of terpene hydrocarbons (s). " 6. Cleaning agent according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the component (b) of the mixture (A) consists essentially of limonene. 7. Cleaning agent according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the component (b) - 28 - of the mixture (A) consists essentially of essences of citrus peel. 8. Cleaning agent according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the component (b) of the mixture (A) consists essentially of terpenes of orange peel. 9. Cleaning agent according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the mixture (A) essentially consists of: '(a) about 1 to 5 parts by weight of wtiite spirit, (b) about 0 , 5 to 2 parts by weight of limonene, (c) about 3 to 7 parts by weight of water. 10. Cleaning agent according to any one of claims 119, characterized in that it contains, dissolved in water, 0.05 to 5% by weight relative to the weight of (A), a sulfonate or a sodium disulfonate of a 2-alkylbenzimidazol, in which the alkyl group contains 10 to 20 carbon atoms. 11. Cleaning agent according to claim 10, characterized in that the solvent (A) contains 0.05 to 5% by weight, relative to the weight of (A) sodium disulfonate; 2-heptadecyl benzimidazol. " 12. Cleaning agent according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the pulverulent support (B) essentially consists of one or more natural organic matter (s) of plant origin, the average particle size is between about 5 and 500 ^ 1. V • y - 29 - 13. Cleaning agent according to claim 12, characterized in that the support (B) consists essentially of a mixture of powdery woody plant substance (s), seed meal (s) hulled cereals and a starch powder. 14. Cleaning agent according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the support (B) comprises: (a) about 40 1 80% by weight, of woody vegetable substance (s) (s) ), (ß) about 5 to 20% by weight, of cereal flour (s), (γ) about 15 to 40% by weight, of a starch powder, all the proportions by weight referring to the total weight of (B). 15. Cleaning agent according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the powdery woody plant substance has an alveolar structure. 16. Cleaning agent according to claim 15, characterized in that the powdery woody vegetable substance is a corn cob powder. 17. Cleaning agent according to claim 15, characterized in that the pulverulent support (B) is "* essentially constituted by particles of average size less than 300 µm comprising: (a) corn cob powder, (ß ) rice powder, and (γ) corn starch. ϋ - 30 - / * 18. Cleaning agent according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that it contains from 0.05 to 5% by weight, calculated relative to the weight of the liquid (A) of dichloracetamide. 19. A cleaning method for large area textile upholstery which consists in regularly spreading approximately 10 to 80 grams per square meter of textile surface of a cleaning agent according to any one of claims 1 to 18, then distributing it by rubbing, uniformly over the entire textile surface and removing it after ten to thirty minutes of drying. 20. A method of manufacturing a cleaning agent according to any one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that it comprises two operations (i) and (ii) of impregnating an absorbent powder support (B) whose average particle size is between approximately 5 and 500 μm, these two operations being able to take place in any order, one consisting (i) in regularly impregnating on said support (B) or on a fraction of the support (B ) the organic solvents (a) and (b) separately or as a mixture, these solvents optionally containing in the dissolved state one or more adjuvants (d), and * the other consisting in (ii) regularly impregnating said support (B ) or a * fraction of the support (B) with the aqueous component (c) which optionally contains in the dissolved state one or more adjuvants (d), „the homogenization of the final cleaning agent obtained after mixing all the components, being continued until 5 obtaining a powder of regular appearance in lacquer it the different components are distributed uniformly.