MXPA99007928A - Cream crystallizer stone floor maintenance composition and method - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention provides a composition and method for maintaining the appearance of stone floor surfaces such as marble that avoids the need for use of oxalic acid. This is provided by a stone floor surface crystallizer composition comprising from about 12%to 25%of a silicofluoride crystallizing agent such as magnesium silicofluoride;from about 15%to 25%of at least one fatty acid containing from about 16 to 22 carbon atoms such as stearic acid or mixtures of palmitic, stearic and oleic acids;from about 25%to 45%of at least one particulate abrasive, more preferably, an aluminum oxide abrasive;from about 80%to 140%, based upon the stoichiometric amount of carboxyl groups present in the fatty acid of the composition, of at least one alkaline neutralizing agent for the fatty acid such as a volatile amine such as triethanolamine;from about 0.1%to 2%, of a silicone fluid such as polydimethylsiloxane fluid having a viscosity of from about 100 to 2000 centistokes (0.01 to 0.2 square meters per second) at 20°C;and the balance of the composition comprises water.

Description

COMPOSITION OF CRYSTALLIZER IN CREAM FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF STONE FLOOR AND METHOD TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a composition and method for maintaining the appearance of stone floor surfaces such as marble, which avoids the need to use oxalic acid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Marble is a natural stone that is often used as a floor surface. Due to its characteristics, it is considered one of the best stone materials in terms of durability and appearance, but requires a certain degree of maintenance as a floor surface. Despite its durability and hardness, marble is very sensitive to acids and abrasive oils, these materials both easily and irreversibly damage marble. The marble floor that is exposed to floor traffic should receive certain considerations and be careful when dirt is removed to maintain attractive floor characteristics such as brightness. Similar considerations apply to other types of stone floors such as terrazzo (Venetian mosaic), magnesite, limestone, concrete and granite. A large variety of stone maintenance products has been developed and treated. Resins and wax pastes of the type used in wood or vinyl flooring are not suitable for marble floors. Some waxes that exist are modified with monomers or acrylic polymers and are periodically used in marble floors. However, they have the disadvantage of a short life that can be due to adhesion problems, requires continuous maintenance, and gives the marble an artificial appearance. A more commonly used type of marble type maintenance product is a paste composition based on oxalic acid that forms calcium oxalate crystals on the surface of the marble ("a crystallizer" or sometimes called an "acid conditioned agent"). ). It is applied directly on the floor with rotating abrasive pads driven with a motor and has the advantage of providing a large amount of gloss to the floor surface at a very low cost. This type of product is very good for restoring marble floor surfaces that have been damaged in appearance due to low maintenance or high traffic on the floor. An example of an aqueous emulsion marble floor maintenance product containing oxalic acid is White Liquid Paste sold by S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc., in Mexico and Asia, which contains approximately 66% oxalic acid and aluminum oxide abrasive that is suspended in an aqueous emulsion using stearic acid. U.S. Patent No. 4,738,876 to George et al. Teaches a two-step method for treating stone surfaces such as marble, using a composition containing oxalic acid followed by a rotary polish with a composition containing a crystallization agent, such as magnesium hexafluorosilicate or zinc hexafluorosilicate, as a floor surface crystallizer. George and others further teach that other types of acid conditioning agents can be used in the first step, such as citric acid, tartaric acid, hydrochloric acid and other mineral acids. Other examples of acid-containing compositions used to clean or treat stone are found in U.S. Patent Nos. 90,754 to Ivers et al .; 133,095 to Haggett et al .; 145,971 from Sawyer, 181,790 from Love; 370,551 McCarthy; 542,524 to Hutchinson; 1,574,406 Nelson; 3,481,879 to Salamone; 4,297,148 from Zervopoulis and 5,490,883 from McLaren et al. Oxalic acid has long been the compound of choice for use in marble floor restoration, but it has a number of disadvantages. A large amount of oxalic acid is generally necessary to obtain a good gloss and appearance of the floor surface. Oxalic acid is an aggressive material that produces significant levels of wear on the surface of the marble and in this way reduces the life of the floor surface after repeated maintenance operations. Oxalic acid is an irritant powder. Dusting can be a problem since the composition dries during application through abrasive pads or motor-driven polishers. Products containing oxalic acid should be removed from the floor as completely as possible. The residual dust, especially when typical particulate abrasives are also included, it tends to fog the floor after repeated traffic on the floor and the gloss decreases with time. Stone floor surface restorative products containing oxalic acid are very laborious and typically require 15-30 minutes to cover one square meter of marble floor surface. Another aspect for maintaining marble floors that are in a reasonably good condition, but in need of a superior gloss and appearance, involves the use of another type of crystallizer compounds such as those mentioned in the George and others patent.; metal silicofluoride compounds such as magnesium or zinc hexafluorosilicate. These compounds react with the calcium carbonate and magnesium salts in the marble to generate calcium or magnesium fluoride crystals that actually harden the surface of the marble and allow the development of a thicker, higher surface. These compositions are usually provided in the form of abrasive-free liquids that make their application to the floor easier.

Static chloride and other metal chlorides, oxychlorides and oxides have also been used to improve the color of the marble floor and its hardness in an acid conditioning system, as seen in the George and others patent.

Examples of the use of fluorosilicate compounds in products for marble floor maintenance are presented in the patents of George et al., And McLaren et al., Presented above, as well as in the patent of E. U. A. No. 4,756,766 to Thrower. A conventional aqueous marble floor maintenance crystallizer product containing 18% magnesium silicofluoride ("magnesium hexafluorosilicate") is a TERRANOVA® product sold by S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. In Spain. Although the product TERRANOVA® contains minor amounts of organic and inorganic acids instead of oxalic acid, a non-ionic polyethoxylated surfactant and magnesium hydroxide as a pH regulating agent does not contain any silicone abrasive compounds. The Hoechst Celanese Corporation publication "Floor Formula Bulletin, Formula 1401" (published in 1985) provides a suggested formula to be used as a one-step procedure for polishing marble, terrazzo and hydraulic mosaic stone floors to provide a surface of type of mirror, and an increased hardness of stone floors. The composition is composed of 58.0 parts of water, 18.0 parts of magnesium silicofluoride, 4.0 parts of Hostapal® N 100 (nonylphenol with 10 moles of ethylene oxide), and 20.0 parts of the formula 1400. Formula 1400 was described as being a cationic dispersion of solids at 20% to be used as a component for polishing stone that is composed of 7.0 parts of Hoechst Wax 371 FP, 7.0 parts of Hoechst Wax KSL, 6.0 parts of Ethomeen®, (olei amine with two moles of ethylene), 1.0 parts of glacial acetic acid and 79.0 parts of water. Formula 1401 was applied to the floor surface by spraying or pouring, followed by polishing with a machine with a steel wool pad until the floor surface dried and shiny. The Batiment Entretien articles entitled "Crystalization of Marble Stone" (January / February, 1985) and "Brilliant Marble, is it easy to obtain?" (No. 147, January / February, 1990) teach the maintenance of marble floors using three stages involving cleaning, leveling / polishing and crystallization using compounds such as magnesium silicofluoride. However, a disadvantage of using maintenance products containing silicofluoride compounds instead of those containing acids such as oxalic acid, is that such products do not meet the necessary gloss standards to replace the need to use floor maintenance products. containing oxalic acid. In addition, the application of such products is more time consuming and thus exceeds the labor costs associated with the use of products based on oxalic acid. In addition, finally an oxalic oxide-based composition is generally necessary for heavier work after repeated treatments with these types of floor maintenance products to obtain the gloss and appearance of the floor, which it previously had, at desired levels.

Therefore, there is a need for a marble and stone floor maintenance composition that avoids the disadvantages disassociated with oxalic acid-based compositions, but still provides reasonably quick means to maintain the desirable gloss and appearance of such compositions. floors.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide a composition for the maintenance of stone floor, especially for marble floors, which avoids the use of oxalic acid, can be applied in a single step, is of less work to be used, and continues to provide Such filter surfaces with desirable levels of brightness and appearance. Another object of this invention is to provide such compositions in the form of a cream that can be easily applied and tends to remain on a rotating application pad, activated by a machine, during the application to reduce the amount of composition cleanliness needed after the floor maintenance process is completed. A particularly advantageous object of this invention is to provide a composition that provides a finished floor surface with a high gloss, depth and gloss and a more attractive color that does not need to be restored with strong acid conditioning products on a regular basis. These and other objects of the present invention are provided through a stone floor surface crystallizer composition, comprising: A. from about 12% to 25%, preferably about 15% to 20% and most preferably about % by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a silicofluoride crystallization agent, most preferably magnesium silicofluoride; B. from about 15% to 25, preferably from 18% to 22%, and most preferably about 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of at least one fatty acid selected from the group consisting of acids natural or synthetic fatty acids containing from about 16 to 22 carbon atoms, preferably from 16 to 18 carbon atoms, such as stearic acid or mixtures of palmitic, stearic and oleic acids; C. from about 25% to 40%, preferably about 25% > at 35%, and most preferably from about 30% to 35% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of at least one particulate abrasive, preferably an aluminum oxide abrasive; D. from about 80% to 120%, preferably about 90% to 110% and most preferably from about 100% to 110% by weight based on the stoichiometric amount of carboxyl groups present in the fatty acid of the composition, hence minus an alkaline neutralizing agent for the fatty acid (B), most preferably a volatile amine such as triethanolamine; E. from about 0.1% to 2%, preferably about 0.1% to 1%, preferably about 0.1% to 0.5%, and most preferably about 0.25% by weight based on the total weight of the composition, of a fluid of silicone such as a polydimethylsiloxane fluid having a viscosity of about 100 to 2000 centistokes (0.01 to 0.2 square meters per second, m2 / s) at 20 ° C, most preferably around 250 to 1000 centistokes (0.025 to 0.1 m2 / s), and most preferably around 500 centistokes (0.05 m2 / s); and F. the rest of the composition comprises water. Most preferably, the abrasive, fatty acid and neutralizing agent are added to the composition as an aqueous dispersion. Preferably, the composition has the appearance of a cream and also contains lesser amounts of less aggressive acid conditioning agents such as phosphoric acid and tartaric acid, pH regulating agents such as magnesium hydroxide, surfactants and optionally, aqueous dispersions of wax. This invention also relates to a method for improving the appearance of stone floors through the application of the above compositions to floor surfaces, especially those of marble and terrazzo.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The aqueous stone floor surface crystallizer compositions of the present invention require five ingredients plus water to achieve the objects of this invention. The first required ingredient is a crystallization compound of conventional metal salt silicofluoride, such as magnesium silicofluoride (MgSiF6 or magnesium hexafluorosilicate). These compounds react with the calcium and magnesium compounds on the stone floor surface to form crystals that harden the surface and enable the development of a high gloss and attractive appearance. Examples of other crystallization compounds include zinc hexafluorosilicate, although any other silicofluoride crystallization compound may find use in the compositions of the present invention. The most preferred crystallization compound is magnesium silicofluoride. The crystallization compound comprises about 12% to about 25% by weight of the total composition, preferably about 15% to 20%, and most preferably 18%. The gloss levels on the floor surface were reduced as compared to treatments with oxalic acid at the lowest level, while more than about 21% of the magnesium silicofluoride resulted in compositions that were much more difficult to apply with motor-driven machinery and gave less uniform brightness levels to the floor surface.

The second required ingredient is at least one fatty acid selected from the group consisting of natural or synthetic fatty acids containing from about 16 to 22 carbon atoms, most preferably from 16 to 18 carbon atoms, such as stearic acid or tetrahydrofoam palmitic, stearic and oleic acids. As is well known in the art, fatty acids are typically mixtures of one or more fatty acids of varying chain lengths, especially for naturally occurring fatty acids. The fatty acid serves several purposes in the composition of this invention. One of these is that it acts as a suspending agent for the abrasive used in the compositions herein. The carboxyl groups present in the fatty acid are neutralized from about 80 to about 120% of the stoichiometric amount with a neutralizing agent to form a soap or suspending surfactant. Another purpose of the fatty acid is to provide a waxy, solid material that can fill some of the small grooves in the stone or marble surface that are maintained to provide a more attractive appearance of smooth appearance. This allows the composition to repair the grooves in the marble surface and extend the period before any more severe treatment, such as with oxalic acid-based compositions, becomes necessary to restore the floor surface to its original condition. A particularly preferred fatty acid mixture for use in the present invention is a double precompressed fatty acid composed of about 3% oleic acid, and the remainder being a ratio of about 55:45 parts by weight of palmitic acid and stearic acid. These are commercially available materials. The fatty acid, particularly the free fatty acid, can also act as a lubricating agent to aid in the polishing process. The amount of free fatty acid present can be adjusted by the level of neutralization selected. However, very little free fatty acid is desirable in the aqueous emulsion of abrasive. The third required ingredient is from about 25% to 45%, preferably from about 25% to 35% and most preferably about 30% to 35% by weight based on the total weight of the composition, of at least one abrasive in particles, most preferably, an aluminum oxide abrasive. Conventional abrasives of the type commonly used in stone floor finishing and polishing compositions such as boron carbide, silica, quartz and talc, as well as aluminum oxide can be used. Aluminum oxide is currently preferred as a particulate abrasive material. One of these materials that was found useful had an analysis of 95% Al203, 1.5% Si02, 0.5% Fe203, and 3.0% Ti02; a hardness of mohs of 9.0; an average particle size of +325 mesh (at least 98% of the aluminum oxide abrasive has an average particle size of less than 44 microns). The abrasive used to simultaneously scratch the floor surface to allow a better treatment of the underlying stone, as well as to grind and polish the surface to provide the desired appearance (eg, more clarity and depth of glare) observed on treated floor surfaces with the compositions of the present invention. Abrasives are typically not used in combination with a silicofluoride compound as a one-step floor maintenance product. This invention also allows several operations to be achieved at the same time. It also reduces the need for extensive grinding and treatment operation, such as is commonly done when oxalic acid-containing compositions containing an abrasive are used to restore severely damaged marble floor surfaces. The fourth required ingredient is from about 80% to 140%, preferably from about 90% to 130%, and most preferably about 100% to 130% by weight, based on the stoichiometric amount of carboxyl groups present in the fatty acid of the composition, of at least one alkaline neutralizing agent for the fatty acid. A variety of alkaline neutralizing agents such as organic and inorganic bases such as lower alkylamines, such as ethylamine, dimethylamine, triethylamine, isopropylamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, dimethylethanolamine, diethylaminoethanol, 2-amino-2-methyl-1, 3- propanediol, 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol, morpholine, ammonium hydroxide, alkali metal hydroxides such as sodium or potassium hydroxide, with volatile bases being highly preferred and triethanolamine being presently preferred. Mixtures of one or more of these neutralizing agents can also be used. The fifth required ingredient is from about 0.1% to 2%, preferably about 0.1% to 1%, preferably from about 0.1% to 0.5, and most preferably about 0.25% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition of a silicone fluid such as a polydimethylsiloxane fluid having a viscosity of about 100 to 2,000 centistokes (0.01 to 0.2 m2 / s) at 20 ° C, preferably of about 250 to 1000 centistokes (0.025 to 0.1 m2 / s), and most preferably around 500 centistokes (0.05 m2 / s). The silicone fluid is used in an amount that is effective to provide a higher depth of gloss to the floor surface than is obtained without such an additive, but not to the extent that the floor surface becomes unacceptably slippery or oily . For the polydimethylsiloxane fluid, the depth of gloss on marble floor surfaces has not been greatly improved at a fluid viscosity of approximately 100 centistokes (0.01 m2 / s). The surface of the marble floor had good depth of gloss, but it was too slippery or fast when the viscosity of the fluid was approximately 1000 centistokes (0.1 m2 / s). This contributes to the unique and attractive overall appearance of the finished stone floors with the compositions of the present invention. The nature of the fluid used will determine the actual viscosity of the silicone fluids useful in this invention, since, as is well known, silicone fluids blocked at their hydroxy end tend to have higher general viscosities for a given molecular weight than what the blocked polydimethylsiloxane fluids do at their end with trimethylsilyl. The improvement in the depth of brightness and also with the color of the stone with the use of said silicone compounds was particularly noticeable on green marble. The rest of the required composition comprises water. Sufficient water is used to produce a composition having the consistency of a cream that is easily capable of spreading across a floor surface and that is retained within a rotating pad activated with a machine without excessive splashing. The composition is generally a non-Newtonian fiuid or a pseudoplastic fluid whose properties depend on the shear stress exerted on the composition. Said composition was found to have a viscosity of 2, 200 centipoise (2.2 pascal-seconds) at room temperature (approximately 25 ° C) as measured using a Broolfield® Instruments Company viscometer at 30 rpm with a # 3 screw. In its highly preferred embodiment, the particulate abrasive is included within the compositions of the present invention in the form of an aqueous emulsion of the abrasive, fatty acid and neutralizing agent. In that emulsion, the fatty acid soap formed by the neutralization of the fatty acid with the alkaline neutralizing agent serves as a suspending agent for the abrasive particles. If needed for stability purposes, minor amounts of other surfactants, such as conventional synthetic anionic or nonionic surfactants, may be included in the formulation of said emulsion. In said emulsion, it is preferred that the weight ratio of fatty acid to particulate abrasive in the emulsion is in the ratio of about 1: 2.5 to 1: 3. The too low use of a fatty acid ratio can cause the reduction in gloss and an undesirable increase in the polishing time necessary for the cream composition of the present invention. The use of too much fatty acid can produce a poor or unstable emulsion. Generally, neutralization at a pH of about 7.5 to 8.5 was found to yield useful emulsions. The formulation of such emulsions is within the skill of those skilled in the art to make "emulsions containing suspended abrasives.Also, the production of a cream composition of the present invention can be aided by the addition of minor amounts (up to about 5% by weight) of other conventional surfactants, such as nonionic, anionic or amphoteric synthetic surfactants or combinations thereof, to form suitable cream emulsions having the desired consistency for easy application to the surface of a floor. Surfactants also serve to help moisten the surface of the stone floor being treated to improve the ability of the stone to be treated with the crystallization compounds and other compounds being applied. Examples of nonionic surfactants include polyethoxylated alkanols, phenols and fatty acids, and oxide s of alkylamine; anionic surfactants such as fatty acid salts other than those noted above, alkyl sulfates and sulfonates; and amphoteric surfactants such as alkylbetaines. Nonionic surfactants are most preferred such as polyethoxylated alkyl ethers. Amines, such as triethanolamine, can also help moisten stone surfaces. Additional minor amounts of ingredients may also be included to improve the performance of the compositions of the present invention. Up to about 10%, most preferably up to about 5% by weight of the total composition can be of inorganic or organic acids other than oxalic acid for the purpose of modifying the surface of the stone to make it more receptive to the crystallization action of the silicofluoride compounds. Examples of such acids include phosphoric acid and tartaric acid.

The hardness and / or conventional color improving additives such as calcium chloride, stannic chloride, and chloride. zinc, may be included in minor amounts of up to about 5%, most preferably up to about 1% by weight of the total composition, to improve the hardness of the surface of the stone surface being treated. PH regulating compounds such as magnesium hydroxide can be added in amounts of up to about 5%, and most preferably up to about 1% in combination with other compounds such as weak acids and bases to maintain the pH of the compositions on the acid scale of about 2 to 3, most preferably 2.0 to 2.5 (the pH of a solution of 10% of the composition in water was about 2.6). This also helps to absorb the carbon dioxide released from the floor surface during the floor cleaning process. Compounds such as magnesium hydroxide are preferred since they can also assist in the desirable formation of magnesium difluoride crystals in the marble during the crystallization reaction of the magnesium silicofluoride and the calcium carbonate in the marble. Aqueous natural and synthetic wax emulsions may also be included in the compositions of the present invention in minor amounts of up to about 5%, most preferably less than about 1% by weight of the total composition for the purpose of improving the application properties of the composition. Such emulsions can also help accelerate the polishing process of the rotating pad by acting as a sliding lubricant. Such aqueous wax emulsions comprise waxes such as polyethylene waxes, a suspension aid such as oleic acid neutralized with dimethylethanolamine to form a suspension soap, water and optionally, a preservative such as formaldehyde. The compositions of the present invention can be prepared using standard mixing and blending techniques that are well known to those skilled in the art. The examples present specific details in the methods for preparing the compositions of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY This invention provides, in its most preferred embodiment, an aqueous cream composition for application to stone floors, especially those made of marble or containing marble such as terrazzo, which returns the floor surface to the beauty and natural shine of the stone original. These compositions are applied with motor-driven, conventional, steel wool or plastic engineered rotary application pads both to finish and polish stone floor surfaces to a high degree of gloss and depth of gloss. They require less work and less cleaning time than has been the case when conventional acid-based oxalic acid treatment compositions or conventional maintenance compositions based on magnesium silicofluorides are used. The following examples are provided to show various aspects of the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof. Unless otherwise indicated, all parts and percentages used in the following examples are by weight. In the examples, times are described, where 3 'means 3 minutes and 20"means 20 seconds, measurements are described where 5 means 12.7 cm, 2 m means 2 meters and 6 mm means 6 mm, weights are described where kg means 10 kilograms and volumes are described where 7 ml means 7 milliliters and 453.6 g represents 453.6 ounces of fluid "Ambient temperature" is approximately 20 ° C. The following ingredients were used in the examples: Abrasive Emulsion A: Emulsion 48% aqueous aluminum oxide, 12% fatty acid mixture A, 1% oleic acid, 37% water and 2% triethanolamine (85%), the emulsion had a viscosity in excess of 50,000 centipoise ( 50.0 pascal «seconds) at room temperature Aluminum Oxide: This abrasive contained 95% Al203, 1.5% Si02, 0.5% Fe203, and 3.0 Ti02, had a mohs hardness of 9.0, and had an average particle size of +325 meshes (at least 98% aluminum oxide abrasive) had an average particle size of less than 44 microns).

Calcium Chloride: Calcium chloride containing at least 94% active material. Fatty Acid Mixture A: A mixture of 55% palmitic acid and 45% stearic acid that was prepared through crystallization in a solvent. It was made from the hydrogenation of stearic acid which was then vacuum distilled to obtain a product containing about 40-45% oleic acid and about 10% linoleic acid in addition to the stearic acid.

The product distilled through vacuum was stored in small containers and cooled to 4 ° C in a refrigerated chamber. The resulting pieces of solid product were wrapped in a cloth and subjected to moderate pressure in a hydraulic press. The liquid that was pressed from this process in "red oil" and the resulting solid obtained is "stearic acid from an individual press". In a similar way, three different grades of stearic acid were produced: one of an individual pressure, a double pressure and a triple pressure, which is of better quality. For the purposes of this invention, the double pressure product is preferred and used; it contained more than about 3% oleic acid. Magnesium hydroxide: Magnesium hydroxide containing at least 97% active material. Magnesium Silicofluoride: magnesium hexafluorosilicate hexahydrate. Phosphoric Acid: Concentrated phosphoric acid containing at least 75% of a phosphoric acid content and the rest is water.

Polyethylene wax: Oxidized polyethylene wax, Chemical Abstracts Service No. 68441-17-8, specific gravity of approximately 0.92-0.99 g / cm3 and a drop point (Mettier) of 104 ° C, obtained as polyethylene wax AC-680 from AlliedSignal of Morristown, NJ. Silicone Fluid, 100 Cstks: Polydimethylsiloxane fluid blocked at its end with trimethylsiloxy with a viscosity of 100 centistokes (0.01 m2 / s) identified as corresponding to Chemical Abstracts Registry CAS No. 63148-62-9 (Name CTFA dimethicone). Silicone fluid, 500 Cstks: polydimethylsiloxane fluid blocked at its end with trimeti loxi of a viscosity of 500 centistokes (0.05 m2 / s) identified as corresponding to Chemical Abstracts Registry CAS No. 63148-62-9 (Name CTFA: dimethicone). Silicone fluid, 1000 Cstks: polydimethylsiloxane fluid blocked at its end with Isyloxy trimethy with a viscosity of 1000 centistokes (0.1 m2 / s) identified as corresponding to Chemical Abstracts Registry CAS No. 63148-62-9 (Name CTFA: dimethicone). Tartaric Acid: Tartaric acid containing 99.5% active material. Tergitol® 15-S-12: name non-ionic surfactant CTFA: Pareth 15-12, a polyethylene glycol ether of a mixture of synthetic C 11 -C 15 fatty alcohols with an average of 12 moles of ethylene oxide from Union Carbide Corporation of Danbury, CT. Triethanolamine (85%): mixture of 85% triethanolamine and 15% diethanolamine. Wax OA: Oxidized polyethylene wax with a specific gravity of 0.96 g / cm3 obtained as "OA" wax from BASF Corporation of Parsippany, New Jersey. In the examples, the brightness value of 60 ° was emitted using a brightness meter model # JG-100 of Power DC, from Japan, using 15 readings per square meter of floor area measured and averaging the readings obtained to obtain the value reported.

Example 1 Table I presents a total formula for a currently preferred crystallizer cream composition of the present invention.

This composition was prepared by preparing an aqueous emulsion of the abrasive, which was then used to prepare the final composition having a pH of about 2.0-2.5. Then, the amounts of each ingredient used are given in parts by weight according to the percentages given in Table I. The aqueous emulsion of the abrasive was prepared by placing the mixture of solid fatty acid A in a container and heating the container with steam during about 15-20 minutes until the fatty acid mixture A completely melted (final temperature about 75-81 ° C). A portion of water (27,072 parts) was placed in a second mixing vessel equipped with a spiral mixer and heated to 80-85 ° C for a period of about 10-15 minutes. After, the aluminum oxide was added to the water in the second vessel with mixing (the mixer was set at 29 rpm) for about a period of 5 minutes (temperature of the contents upon completion is about 75-80 ° C). Then, the oleic acid was added to the mixing contents of the second container over a period of about 3 minutes, while the temperature of the contents was maintained at about 75-80 ° C. The hot, melted stearic acid was emptied from the first container to the mixing contents of the second container over a period of about 3 minutes, while the temperature of the contents was maintained at about 75-80 ° C. The triethanolamine was added to the contents of the second vessel with mixing and the contents allowed to mix for a maximum of 5 to 10 minutes to form the aqueous emulsion of the abrasive having a pH of about 7.5 to about 8.5. The crystallizer cream composition was prepared by placing the rest of the water (2.5 parts) in a mixing vessel equipped with a spiral mixer at 20-25 ° C, and the mixer was activated (40 rpm). Tergitol® 15-S-12 was added to the mixing water in the mixing vessel for 2-3 minutes at 20-25 ° C. The magnesium hydroxide was then added to the mixing contents and allowed to mix for 10 minutes. Then, the phosphoric acid was added to the contents of the mixing of the container and it was allowed to mix for 10 minutes, during that time, the temperature was increased to 50-60 ° C. No heat was added, so the contents of the mixing vessel begin to reduce over time. The silicone fluid, 500 Cstks, was then added to the mixing contents of the container and allowed to mix for a period of 5 minutes at 40-50 ° C. The calcium chloride was then added to the mixing contents of the vessel and allowed to mix for 15-20 minutes (an increase in viscosity occurs as mixing continues) at 25-30 ° C. The speed of the mixer was increased from 40 rpm to 40.60 rpm to ensure good mixing as a result of the increase in the viscosity of the contents. Then, the tartaric acid was added to the mixing contents of the container and allowed to mix for a period of 10 minutes at 25-30 ° C. Then, the magnesium silicofluoride was added to the mixing contents of the mixing vessel and allowed to mix for 10 minutes at 25-30 ° C. The aqueous emulsion of the abrasive was then added to the mixing contents and allowed to stir for a period of 10 minutes at a temperature of 25-30 ° C. The resulting emulsion composition was then recirculated through a homogenizer for a period of 20 minutes to ensure that the contents of the mixing vessel were completely mixed, and a good emulsion formed.

Example 2 This comparative example illustrates a prior art oxalic acid-containing composition for restoring marble floors and improving the gloss angle of 60 ° on the floor surface after which composition is applied to the marble floor using polishing pads of floor rotating and activated by a machine. Example 2 contained 62% oxalic acid, 0.7% tin oxide polishing compound, 0.3% sodium bicarbonate and 33% an aqueous emulsion polishing product. The aqueous emulsion polishing product contained 40% aluminum oxide abrasive, 7.8% stearic acid, 0.8% polyethylene wax, 1.3% petrolatum, 1.5% Pareth 15-12, 9.1% polishing powder (polish) ) and 39.4% water. Example 2 was applied to a test piece of a white marble tile using the following procedure (which was also the same procedure used in the other examples where a laboratory evaluation of brightness value was reported). 1. Sand was added to the surface of the tile under cold running water using wet sanding paper until the surface appeared uniform. 2.- The sanding tile surface was moderately rubbed with a soft sponge to remove any remaining impurities. 3.- Brightness readings were taken on the sand surface (10 readings were taken and the average was reported as the initial brightness value). The target gloss reading for sanded tile surfaces is a brightness value of 60 ° of just 5%. 4.- A portion of the product that will be tested on the tile with a small portion of water was applied and the surface was polished with a manual polishing machine activated with an electric motor for 3 minutes. 5.- The surface of the tile was cleaned with water and absorbent paper to remove any residue. 6.- Dry tile was inspected and brightness readings were taken (10 readings were taken and the average was reported as the final brightness value). The initial 60 ° gloss value of the tile before the treatment in the manner described above was 13%, and the final gloss value of 60 ° after the treatment with Example 2 was 69%.

Example 3 The stone floor surface crystallizer composition described in Table II was a stable emulsion in the form of a white cream that was easy to apply and provide marble floor capacity with a good brightness of 60 ° and a rich marble color.

Example 3 was applied to a black marble tile test piece using a procedure of the same type as described in Example 1. However, the wax emulsion A (not present in Example 1) was added after the addition of phosphoric acid and before the addition of the silicone fluid, 500 Cstks. Another difference was that the last step described in Example 1 involving the recirculation of the final product, was not performed for Example 3 because the equipment used to prepare this composition was not equipped to carry out the recirculation through a homogenizer The initial 60 ° gloss value of the tile before the treatment was 6%, and the final gloss value of 60 ° after the treatment with Example 3 was 60%.

EXAMPLE 4 In these examples, a comparison was made between the application of Example 2 of the prior art and Example 3 of the invention on installed stone floor surfaces that had the need of maintenance and were placed in several locations that were submitted to commercial walking traffic. The compositions were applied using a commercial oscillating machine, a revolving polishing machine activated with a motor operating at 175 rpm that weighed approximately 27.2-32.8 kg. The floor surface was then rinsed to remove any residue of left dry composition, to reduce the appearance of subsequent fogging of the floor surface by any of these residues. The initial floor temperature was approximately 21.7 ° C and the final temperature immediately after application was approximately 29.4 ° C, due to the heat of the polishing operation. In previous evaluations, the application of Example 3 to floor surfaces was found easier and faster than that of Example 2. In all cases involving marble surfaces, the color and the floor after the treatment with Example 3 had a color of richer appearance to the eye that observed it after the application of Example 2. In the evaluations conducted in Tables III-V, the brightness values of 60 ° of the evaluated floor sections were measured before treatment and then of the treatment of the area that is being tested after a specific amount of polishing time to evaluate the effect of the polishing time on the developed gloss. In the assessments conducted in Tables VI-IX, an area of the floor was artificially damaged with three grades of sand-fine sanded paper-150; medium-sand, and coarse-60 sand, to stimulate low, medium and high levels, respectively, of damage to the floor surface. In these evaluations, the floor surface was polished for 9 minutes (until dried) followed by an additional 3 minutes of polishing.

As shown in Table III, Example 3 of the invention produced higher levels of gloss in a shorter period than in the prior art Example 2 containing oxalic acid and abrasive. Operation 7 was the lowest brightness reading for Example 3, but that was comparable with the best brightness reading obtained in Example 2 through operation 2 that was polished twice more.

Table V - Gray Granite Floor Operation Example Time Area Brightness of No. No. 60 ° Initial 60 ° Final Floor (m2) Polished 31 10 Good results were obtained in white terrazzo containing marble pieces, where the granite showed the least improvement in brightness due to its nature.

After simulating the damage using sanding paper, the brown, black and white marble floor all showed better brightness values for the example than for Example 2 of the prior art, except for operation 3 in Table VII in white marble. received high damage by sanding paper.

Example 5 The stone floor surface crystallizer composition described in Table X was prepared to have 12% magnesium silicofluoride.

The composition of Example 5 was valued on a marble tile floor. The initial 60 ° gloss value of the tile before treatment (without sanding the tile) was 28%, and the final gloss value of 60 ° after the treatment with Example 3 was 47% o. In this way, treatment with this composition improved the gloss value of the tile, but not as much as was typically seen for the compositions containing 18% magnesium silicofluoride of Example 3.

Examples 6-7 The stone floor surface crystallizer compositions described in Table XI were prepared with different types and amounts of silicone fluids.

The compositions of Examples 6 and 7 were evaluated on marble tiles according to the test procedure of Example 2. For Example 6, the initial 60 ° brightness value of the tile before the treatment was 2% and the final gloss value of 60 ° after the treatment with Example 3 was 61%. The appearance of the tile after the treatment was judged to be much less desirable than when the highly preferred silicone fluid, 500 Cstks, was used. For Example 7, the initial 60 ° gloss value of the tile before the treatment was 3% and the final gloss value of 60 ° after the treatment with Example 3 was 85%. The tile after the treatment had a high gloss value, but was judged to be much more slippery than when the highly preferred silicone fluid, 500 Cstks, was used.

EXAMPLE 8 The stone floor surface crystallizer compositions of the type described in Example 3 were compared with commercial products for treating marble tile floors in this example using the test procedure described in Example 2. The results obtained are report in Table XII. The PASTA BLANCA ™ marble floor restorative product was a commercial product containing abrasive and oxalic acid of the type described in Example 2, sold by S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. in Mexico. The TERRASHINE ™ marble floor crystallizer was a commercial aqueous emulsion product sold by S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc., in Mexico. TERRASHINE ™ used 18% silico-magnesium silicofluoride as the crystallization agent along with 1% calcium chloride. This contained 3% tartaric acid and 2% phosphoric acid along with 0.3% magnesium hydroxide and a polyethoxylated surfactant and small amounts of wax emulsions, but did not contain any abrasive or oxalic acid. It is intended to be used from time to time to maintain the finish of marble floors between treatments with products containing oxalic acid.

Table XII shows that the compositions of Example 3 work much better than products containing oxalic acid without the disadvantages of having to use such products. An even better gloss was obtained when Example 3 was followed by a treatment with the product TERRASHINE. In this way, a very preferred way of using the composition of the present invention is to use it in combination with a product such as TERRASHINE, which can be used to maintain the appearance of the stone, especially marble or terrazzo, floor. Example 3 contains both an abrasive and a silicone fluid not found in the silicofluoride-containing compositions of the prior art and shows advantages over such compositions as well as over compositions containing oxalic acid containing abrasives.

Claims (16)

1. - A stone floor surface crystallizer composition comprising: A. from about 12% to 25% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of an agent of. crystallization of silicofluoride. B. from about 15% to 25% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of at least one fatty acid selected from the group consisting of natural or synthetic fatty acids containing from about 16 to 22 carbon atoms; C. from about 25% to 45% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of at least one abrasive on particles; D. from about 80% to 140%, based on the stoichiometric amount of carboxyl groups present in the fatty acid of the composition, of at least one alkaline neutralizing agent for the fatty acid (B); E. from about 0.1% to 2% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a silicone fluid such as polydimethylsiloxane fluid having a viscosity of about 100 to 2000 centistokes (0.01 to 0.2 square meters per second) 20 ° C; and F. the rest of the composition comprising water.

2. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the amount of crystallization agent present is from about 15% to 20%; the amount of fatty acid present is from about 18% to 22%; the amount of abrasive is approximately 25% to 35%; the amount of alkaline neutralizing people is from about 90% to 130% of the stoichiometric amount; and the amount of silicone fluid is from about 0.1% to about 1% and the silicone fluid has a viscosity of about 100 to 1000 centistokes (0.01 to 0.1 square meters per second) at 20 ° C.

3. The composition according to claim 2, wherein the crystallization agent is magnesium silicofluoride or zinc silicofluoride; the fatty acid contains from about 16 to 18 carbon atoms; the alkaline neutralizing agent is a volatile amine or ammonium hydroxide; and the silicone fluid is a polydimethylsiloxane fluid.

4. The composition according to claim 3, wherein the crystallization agent is magnesium silicofluoride; fatty acid containing about 18 carbon atoms; and the polydimethylsiloxane fluid is blocked at its end with tri methylsiloxy.

5. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the amount of crystallization agent present is 18%; the amount of fatty acid present is about 20%; the amount of abrasive is from about 30% to 35%; the amount of alkaline neutralizing agent is from about 100% to 130% of the stoichiometric amount; and the amount of silicone fluid is from about 0.1% to 0.5%, and the silicone fluid has a viscosity of about 100 to 1000 centistokes (0.01 to 0.1 square meters per second) at 20 ° C.

6. The composition according to claim 5, wherein the crystallization agent is magnesium silicofluoride or zinc silicofluoride; the fatty acid contains from about 16 to 18 carbon atoms; the alkaline neutralizing agent is a volatile amine or ammonium hydroxide; and the silicone fluid is a polydimethylsiloxane fluid.

7. The composition according to claim 6, wherein the crystallization agent is magnesium silicofluoride; the fatty acid contains about 18 carbon atoms; the abrasive is aluminum oxide; and the polydimethylsiloxane fluid is blocked at its end with trimethylsiloxy and has a viscosity of about 500 centistokes (0.05 m2 / s).

8. The composition according to claim 1, wherein an aqueous emulsion of the abrasive comprising a portion of the water present, the abrasive, the fatty acid and the neutralizing agent is prepared, and the composition is prepared by adding the remaining ingredients together with the aqueous emulsion of the abrasive.

9. - A method to improve the appearance of stone floors through the application of a stone floor surface crystallizer composition to a stone floor surface with an application pad activated with an engine, said composition comprises: A. from about 12% to 25% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a silicofluoride crystallization agent. B. from about 15% to 25% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of at least one fatty acid selected from the group consisting of natural or synthetic fatty acids containing from about 16 to 22 carbon atoms; C. from about 25% to 45% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of at least one particulate abrasive; D. from about 80% to 140%, based on the stoichiometric amount of carboxyl groups present in the fatty acid of the composition, of at least one alkaline neutralizing agent for the fatty acid (B); E. from about 0.1% to 2% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a silicone fluid such as polydimethylsiloxane fluid having a viscosity of about 100 to 2000 centistokes (0.01 to 0.2 square meters per second) to 20 ° C; and F. the rest of the composition comprising water.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the amount of crystallizing agent present is about 15% to 20%; the amount of fatty acid present is from about 18% to 22%; the amount of abrasive is approximately 25% to 35%; the amount of alkaline neutralizing agent is from about 90% to 130% of the stoichiometric amount; and the amount of silicone fluid is from about 0.1% to about 0.5% and the silicone fluid has a viscosity of 100 to 1000 centistokes (0.01 to 0.1 square meters per second) at 20 ° C.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the crystallizing agent is magnesium silicofluoride or zinc silicofluoride; the fatty acid contains from about 16 to 18 carbon atoms; the alkaline neutralizing agent is a volatile amine or ammonium hydroxide; and the silicone fluid is a polydimethylsiloxane fluid.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the crystallizing agent is magnesium silicofluoride; the fatty acid contains about 18 carbon atoms; and the polydimethylsiloxane fluid is blocked at its end with trimethylsiloxy.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the stone floor is a marble or terrazzo floor and wherein the amount of crystallizing agent present is 18%; the amount of fatty acid present is about 20%; the amount of abrasive is from about 30% to 35%; the amount of alkaline neutralizing agent is from about 100% to 130%) of the stoichiometric amount; and the amount of silicone fluid is about 0.1% to 0.5% and the silicone fluid has a viscosity of 100 to 1000 centistokes (0.01 to 0.1 square meters per second) at 20 ° C.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the crystallizing agent is magnesium silicofluoride or zinc silicofluoride; the fatty acid contains from about 16 to 18 carbon atoms; the alkaline neutralizing agent is a volatile amine or ammonium hydroxide; and the silicone fluid is a polydimethylsiloxane fluid.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the crystallizing agent is magnesium silicofluoride; the fatty acid contains about 18 carbon atoms; the abrasive is aluminum oxide; and the polydimethylsiloxane fluid is blocked at its end with tri met i Isi loxi and has a viscosity of about 500 centistokes (0.05 m2 / s).

16. The method according to claim 9, wherein an aqueous emulsion of the abrasive comprising a portion of the water present, the abrasive, the fatty acid and the neutralizing agent, is prepared, and the composition is prepared by adding the remaining ingredients. together with the aqueous emulsion of the abrasive.