NZ270107A - Aerosol propellants and compositions - Google Patents

Description

New Zealand Paient Spedficaiion for Paient Number £70107 Priority Date(s): Complete Specification Filed: Class: '27'jW't995 Publication Date: P.O. Journal, No: ' 1 , f §f-8 DEC 1994 ' PATENTS FORM 5 Number PATENTS ACT 1953 Dated COMPLETE SPECIFICATION IMPROVED AEROSOL COMPOSITION We, CALLINGTON HAVEN PTY LIMITED, a company incorporated under the laws of the State of New South Wales, of 2 Euston Street, Rydalmere, New South Wales 2116, Australia, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement.

THIS INVENTION relates to a composition for application by aerosol. Use of aerosols is well known in the application and dispersion of sprays to spray actives or active ingredients, such as insecticides, deodorants, disinfectants, air purifiers, degreasers, cleaning compounds, electrical and electronic cleaners, water displacers, 5 and lubricants. These are by way of example only. The present invention relates to an improved composition for use in aerosols and for application and dispersion by means of aerosol applicators.

Up until this time, it has been well known to use aerosols to apply and disperse 10 compositions in various areas such as homes, faciories, enclosed areas, airports and in particular, aircraft. However, one of the main problems with aerosols used up until this time has been that they use chloro-fluorocarbons which are ozone depleting. This is particularly disadvantageous in this day and age, and the use of such chloro-fluorocarbons as propellants in aerosols is being strictly monitored and as far as 15 possible reduced, by way of regulation, legislation and the like, throughout the world. Other forms of propellants such as LPG and Butane are also known but are flammable and are thus particularly dangerous. CO2 and NO2 are also known, however due to pressure drop off during spraying these are not always able to be used.

While these problems arise with aerosols for applications in all areas, specific and particular problems arise with the use of aerosols in aircraft. It should be appreciated that many countries require that aircraft be disinsected before arriving in a certain country or before leaving certain countries, and the only effective way of disinsecting 25 such aircraft, is by disinsecting the aircraft in situ. In many cases, it is also desired to apply matter within an aircraft, such as deodorisers, air fresheners, disinfectants, purifiers and the like. It has been found that one of the most effective ways of applying and dispersing such matter within an aircraft, is by aerosol. Thus, problems arise with providing an appropriate composition for use in such aerosol containers, r~ • 1H05 having regard to the problems with chloro-fluorocarbons and having regard to the problems with other propellants such as CO2 and NO2 Strict guidelines are set down by international organisations such as IATA and the 5 World Health Organisation (WHO) for compositions that can be used for disinsecting aircraft. Further, many national and international government and regulatory bodies prescribe strict requirements for the pressure of aerosol containers. It should be appreciated that the use of certain propellants which are high pressure propellants, can when used in aerosol containers, exceed certain requirements and parameters, 10 thus resulting in danger. It will be appreciated that such danger especially applies in aircraft, where explosions can be very dangerous if not fatal.

The use of certain propellants which are generally speaking considered to be non-ozone depleting propellants have been proposed. For example, one non-ozone 15 depleting propellant which has been suggested for use is HFC 134a (1,1,1,2-tetra-fluoro-ethane), hereinafter referred to as HFC 134a. This propellant has been successful as a propellant, but it is what is considered to be a high pressure propellant. Thus, its use as known and proposed up until this time, in certain aerosol compositions, results in such aerosol compositions which exceed pressure 20 requirements. This is particularly dangerous for use in aircraft, and known and up until this time proposed uses of compositions including HFC 134a have generally resulted in aerosol products which fail the necessary pressure requirements and specifications for use in aircraft and which also fail the necessary pressure requirements of the specifications of for example the countries concerned, including 25 Australian Standard 2278-1986 entitled "Metal Aerosol Containers". This Standard manifests the requirements of both international and Australian codes of transportation for dangerous goods. Additionally, it manifests the general standards required for metal aerosol container standards that exist throughout the world. As such, there have been real problems with aerosol compositions using HFC 134a as a 30 propellant. nz. r *■ 1 j - - * t i «. I * f. 1 O fl f' ' j A ,. k J J 270 1 0 In order to effectively use a non-ozone depleting propellant such as HFC 134a, it is usually necessary that the propellant be used with certain solvents or in some other composition form, so as to allow it to be able to be used within the appropriate pressure parameters.

Certain proposals have been made to use compositions involving the use of the propellant HFC 134a, in combination with certain solvents. However, the solvents that have previously been proposed have generally brought about problems in that the amount of solvent required does not meet international or regulatory requirements. 10 Further, many of the solvents proposed bring about toxicity and corrosion problems. It should be appreciated that ideally (although not essentially), any such composition can be used within baggage areas of aircraft and within passenger carrying areas of aircraft, as well as within households, factories and other public areas. There is also a problem with many solvents that they have corrosive properties, which bring about 15 real problems with the interior of aircraft and indeed the interior of other installations, buildings and the like. Additionally, such solvents can create problems with the corrosion of electrical or electronic components, wiring, circuit boards and the like.

One exception to this is a composition that has been proposed 20 wherein an aerosol composition is provided which comprises active ingredient, a propellant in the form of HFC 134a, and a solvent in the form of dibasic ester. It is believed that such a composition meets the necessary regulatory requirements and overcomes the problems associated with the use of high pressure propellants up until this time.

Through further experimentation, we have found that there is a further composition involving the use of a high pressure propellant such as HFC 134a, which provides an effective and straightforward aerosol composition which meets the necessary regulatory requirements and which goes at least some way towards substantially 30 minimising or overcoming the problems associated with aerosol compositions up until this time. 4 y / ; ■ •» v It is an object of this invention to provide a straightforward and efficient composition for application by aerosol.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description.

According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided an aerosol composition including a propellant in the form of HFC 134a (1,1,1,2-tetra-fluoro-ethane) and 141b (C2H3 CL2F).

According to a further aspect of this invention, there is provided an aerosol composition including active ingredient, HFC 134a (1,1,1,2-tetra-fluoro-ethane) and 141b (C2 H3 CL2 F).

According to a further aspect of this invention, there is provided an aerosol composition including HFC 134a (1,1,1,2-tetra-fluoro-ethane) and 141b (C2 H3 CL2 F) together with active ingredient in the form of insecticide, cleaning agent, degreaser, perfume, air freshener or lubricant.

The present invention relates to the use of aerosol compositions which minimise problems associated with ozone depleting propellants and which have particular advantages in use with an aircraft. It will be appreciated, pressure requirements are always particularly important with aerosol containers, but have particular importance where use in aircraft is concerned. It should be appreciated however, that the present invention is in no way limited to use within aircraft, and can be used in association with aerosol compositions for all manner of uses, including applying degreasers, cleaning compounds, water displacement agents, lubricants, insecticides and air fresheners. These are however by way of example only. It is however important that the aerosol composition of the present invention meet the necessary WHO and IATA Standards as well as appropriate standards of local authorities and regulatory bodies and governments within the countries concerned. While in certain forms, of the i c; „ 1 270107 invention, the aerosol composition includes active ingredient, it should be appreciated that in certain forms of the invention, the composition can be used successfully containing HFC 134a and 141b, without additional active ingredient. For example, it has been found that an aerosol composition including HFC 134a and 141b can be 5 particularly useful as a cleaner or degreaser. For example, for a cleaner for electrical, electronic, computer, optical and laser applications, or as a degreaser for any particular application. These are by way of example only, but it should be appreciated that the invention relates to an aerosol composition which includes a combination of HFC 134a and 141b without any added active ingredient, as well as to compositions 10 including active ingredient.

As already referred to hereinbefore, one satisfactory non-ozone depleting propellant has been found to be HFC 134a (1,1,1,2-tetra-fluoro-ethane). This propellant is however a high pressure propellant and apart from this proposal to use HFC 134a 15 with a solvent in the form of a dibasic ester, • other proposals for the use of HFC 134a as a propellant in aerosols have been unsatisfactory. As indicated, primarily this is because HFC 134a is a high pressure propellant and proposals put forward up until this time have not met the necessary regulatory requirements, in that the use of proposed solvents, and active 20 ingredients, in conjunction with HFC 134a, have resulted in compositions of unacceptable pressure and/or compositions having unacceptable corrosive and toxicity levels. Especially when such compositions have been for use in aircraft, said levels have been unable to meet the requirements of international bodies such as I AT A and WHO.

As referred to hereinbefore, further experimentation has resulted in our finding a further composition which meets the necessary standards and regulatory requirements, while at the same time meeting the necessary pressure requirements for use in aerosol containers. Thus, we have found that we are able to use the propellant 30 HFC 134a in a composition with a further propellant/solvent in the form of Di chloro-fluoro-ethane (C2 H3 CL 2 F), - 141b (hereinafter referred to as 141b). This 6 propellant/solvent has been found in experimentation to be particularly successful. It has minimal ozone depleting characteristics and in experimentation has been found to have very low and acceptable levels of toxicity, and is essentially non-corrosive such as to be completely acceptable for use in aircraft and other areas. It has also been 5 found that the propellant/solvent 134a has very low flammability which is a substantial advantage. Particularly, this is so, in areas where metal surfaces and the like are used.

It has also been found in experimentation that the use of an aerosol composition involving HFC 134a and 141b (with or without active ingredient depending on 10 desired use), results in a composition which meets the necessary pressure requirements, and which also has substantially reduced levels of toxicity and corrosiveness, such as to be acceptable for use in aircraft and to be acceptable for use in other areas, particularly where metal surfaces and other surfaces and materials prone to corrosion, are present. In particular however, the combination of the high 15 pressure propellant 134a and the propellant/solvent 141b reduce the pressure of the high pressure propellant 134a to acceptable levels, in that the propellant/solvent 141b (having minimal ozone depleting characteristics), essentially acts as a co-propellant to reduce the pressure of the composition to acceptable (indeed well within acceptable) levels and also results in a composition of reduced and acceptable levels of toxicity 20 and corrosiveness. This then avoids the use of solvents which have given rise to toxicity and corrosiveness problems, and also allows for a composition which can be used for spraying active ingredient throughout aircraft. This is a particular advance, in that the composition of the present invention can be used for spraying the cargo areas of aircraft and for spraying the passenger areas of aircraft (where in particular 25 higher standards apply in so far as toxicity and corrosiveness are concerned).

As hereinbefore referred to, in certain forms of the invention, the composition will include one or more active ingredients, such as those referred to by way of example. There are however certain uses (in particular where the composition is to be used for 30 cleaning or degreasing, that the composition will include only HFC 134a and 141b. 135 I We now set out below and refer to various examples of formulations involving the present invention.

EXAMPLE 1 A formulation for use as an insecticidal formulation: Permethrin: 2% (by weight) 141b) 134a) 98% (by weight) EXAMPLE 2 An insecticidal formulation consisting of: Permethrin: D'Phenothrin Solvent: 141b) 134a) EXAMPLE 3 An insecticidal composition consisting of: D'Phenothrin: 2% (by weight) 141b) 134a) 98% (by weight) 2% (by weight) 2% (by weight) 8% (by weight) 88% n EXAMPLE 4 An air freshener or purifier composition consisting of: Perfume: Propylene Glycol: 134a) 141b) 1.00% (by weight) 0.12% (by weight) 98.88% (by weight) EXAMPLE 5 A composition for use as electrical, electronic, computer, optical and laser cleaning applications: 134a 80% (by weight) 141b 20% (by weight) EXAMPLE 6 A composition for use as electrical, electronic, computer, optical and laser cleaning applications: 141b 70% (by weight) 134a 30% (by weight) 9 - 5 j A i:1995 2/0107 EXAMPLE 7 A composition for use as a degreaser: 134a 60% (by weight) 141b 40% (by weight) EXAMPLE 8 A composition for use as a degreaser for any application: Surface active degreasing agent: 0.1-15% (by weight) 134a) 141b) 85% - 99.9% (by weight) EXAMPLE 9 A composition for use as a penetrant, lubricant, water displacing agent or rust proofing compound: Surface active agent and/or solvent and/or oil and/or corrosion inhibitor: 0.1% - 25% (by weight) 134a) 141b) 75% - 99.9% (by weight) The above examples are by way of example only, and it should be appreciated that other uses can be applied to the present invention and other formulations. Further, where percentage amounts (by weight) combined amounts of 134a and 141b are 30 given, the amounts of 134a and 141b within that combined amount (by weight) can vary, depending upon the desired use. For example, amounts of 134a can increase or 7 decrease depending upon the desire to increase or decrease the pressure. It should be appreciated however, that the examples given above are by way of example only.

It should be appreciated that in certain of the formulations outlined above, certain 5 solvents may be required. For example, in examples 2 and 4 above, solvents are used. It should be appreciated that these solvents will be non-toxic and non-corrosive, and well within levels set by regulatory bodies. By way of example only, such solvents can include EXXOL D-60 D-80 or for example, Isopar. Again however, these are by way of example only. It should be appreciated that modifications and variations may 10 be made to the various formulations, in addition to the provision of other active ingredients, in order to meet the requirements of the user.

It should be appreciated that one of the real advantages of the present invention however is that to a large extent, the use of a combination of 141b and 134a, gives 15 solvency properties to the mixture which would not otherwise be exhibited if the propellant 134a were used on its own. Due to the solvency properties of 141b, the combination of 141b/134a is an ideal aerosol composition. As has already been described, earlier in the specification and by way of example, the use of an aerosol composition including 141b/134a without any active ingredient, is an ideal aerosol 20 cleaning product for non-residual cleaning and degreasing, in addition to providing a good carrying agent for the inclusion of other active ingredients.

It has been found that the aerosol composition of the present invention provides substantial advantages and goes a substantial way towards overcoming the problems 25 that have been occasioned and brought about within the aerosol industry, in recent times.

As referred to hereinbefore, problems have been occasioned with the use of high pressure propellants previously, in that they have not met the necessary regulatory 30 requirements. That is, for example, the standards set by, The Australian Standard No. 2278, relating to the pressure allowable in aerosol containers. That is for use on r - — » i 11 o n ! (17 aircraft or any use. In particular however, it will be appreciated that the pressure of such containers in aircraft is of substantial importance. The present invention has been found to have substantial advantages, in that the compositions arrived at using the present invention have been found to have pressure levels substantially within the 5 upper levels allowed by the appropriate authorities. By way of example only, testing on formulations such as those described hereinafter by way of example only, have been found to have a pressure of approximately 800 Kpa. Generally, it is considered that the upper level for such aerosol containers is 1265 Kpa at 55° It will be appreciated therefore that the present invention allows for compositions of 10 substantially reduced and very acceptable pressure levels. It will of course be appreciated that pressure levels can to a large extent depend very much upon the material from which containers are made.

It should be appreciated that modifications and improvements may be made to this 15 invention without departing from the scope thereof, as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (8)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An aerosol composition including a combination of HFC 134a (1,1,1,2-tetra-fluoro-ethane) and 141b (C2 H3 C^F).

2. An aerosol composition including a combination of HFC 134a (1,1,1,2-tetra-fluoro-ethane) and 141b (C2 H3 C^F) as at least a propellant in said aerosol composition.

3. An aerosol composition as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, including active ingredient.

4. An aerosol composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including active ingredient in the form of insecticide, cleaning agent, degreaser, perfume, air freshener, water displacement agent, rust proofing compound or lubricant.

5. An aerosol composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including added solvent.

6. The use of a combination of at least HFC 134a (1,1,1,2-tetra-fluoro-ethane) and 141b (C2 H3 C12F) as a propellant in an aerosol composition.

7. The use as claimed in claim 6, wherein said composition includes active ingredient in the form of insecticide, cleaning agent, degreaser, perfume, air freshener, water displacement agent, rust-proofing compound or lubricant.

8. The use as claimed in claim 7, wherein said composition includes added solvent. 3 J 'One; PATt'M , An aerosol composition as claimed in claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to any one of examples 1 to 9 as described in the accompanying specification. The use as claimed in claim 6, substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to any one of examples 1 to 9 as described in the accompanying specification. WEST-VSTAUKEB* McCABE