RU2292386C2 - Solid surface cleaning composition and cleaning process - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: cleaning means.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to liquid compositions for cleaning solid surfaces and is proved in the form of clear liquid gel with abrasive component and includes one or several cleaning surfactants, abrasive particles, thickening agent and, if necessary, optional components. Abrasive particles dispersed in liquid gel are macroscopic with average particle size between 0.5 and 2.5 mm, all particles having particle size deviation limits ±70% from average particle size.

EFFECT: improved appearance and cleaning characteristics of composition.

14 cl, 3 ex

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to liquid compositions for cleaning hard surfaces. In particular, the invention relates to liquid cleaning gels containing macroscopic solids.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Liquid abrasive cleaning compositions for hard surfaces are widely known. They are usually finely white. They have significant viscosity at low shear stress in order to retain finely divided particles evenly distributed (dispersed) in a liquid, although at the same time they behave like true liquids when dispensing or pouring from a bottle. The finely divided abrasive particles (powder) in these compositions mainly have a particle size below 200 microns, in the vast majority of cases below 100 microns. Well-known abrasives used in such compositions are silicon dioxide, calcite, feldspar and similar inorganic materials, as well as particles of some organic polymers, all with Moh hardness up to 6. Although many consumers make extensive use of such compositions, some do not rate their sensations or appearance of these products or are afraid that they may not provide gentle care.

Some liquid abrasive products offered for sale consist of a gel-like opaque liquid in which many large unprocessed and small irregularly shaped abrasive polymer particles are dispersed, varying in diameter in the range from less than 1 mm, on the one hand, to the indistinguishable with the naked eye, s the other side. Because of this, the overall appearance of the product is unattractive. Thus, there is a need for a new liquid product for cleaning solid surfaces containing solid particles, which is visually attractive to the consumer and at the same time effectively cleans.

Among the skin cleansers there are those that are known as facial scrubs and consist of a clear, viscous liquid in which coarse abrasive particles are distributed. Since such products are in contact with the skin, they should have a practically neutral pH. They usually contain little or no detergent surfactant at all and such surfactants are selected from those that have a beneficial effect on the skin and are usually expensive. Such products are designed specifically to cleanse the skin and are usually not used for other purposes, more precisely - to remove stubborn dirt on hard surfaces.

US Pat. Nos. 5,741,770 and WO 97/41204 describe liquid crystal-based cleaning compositions that are transparent or slightly hazy and contain small amounts of abrasive particles. These particles can be zeolitic with an average particle size of 8-10 μm from amorphous silicon dioxide with a particle size of up to 300 μm or a polyethylene powder with a particle size of up to 500 μm.

WO 00/65019 describes liquid abrasive cleaning compositions containing finely divided abrasive particles and, in addition, microcapsules containing various additional components such as perfumes, silicone oil, and the like. Due to the specific amount and particle size of the abrasive contained, these compositions are obviously not transparent or translucent.

WO 00/36078 discloses a flowable, transparent washing detergent composition containing at least 15% surfactant. These compositions are thickened to allow for the suspension of macroscopic capsules containing ingredients that it is desirable to protect from exposure to a concentrated and highly alkaline detergent solution. Similar compositions, also from other applications, are described in GB 1303810. Their capsules do not have abrasive properties.

Thus, despite the fact that various liquid compositions containing suspended particles are known from the prior art for large variability of particle size and their unspecified shape, for various purposes and uses, methods and means (or measures) that improve the appearance of such compositions for the consumer, seem to have been left unattended.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides liquid cleaning compositions for hard surfaces, which are water-transparent liquid gels containing one or more detergent surfactants, and macroscopic abrasive particles that are dispersed to a stable state in the bulk of the liquid medium.

The invention also relates to a method for cleaning hard surfaces, comprising the step of applying to this surface a transparent liquid gel that contains one or more detergent surfactants and macroscopic abrasive particles that are dispersed in a liquid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

All amounts indicated in percentages are indicated here by weight and based on the entire composition, unless otherwise specified.

The cleaning compositions of this invention are clear aqueous liquid gels. Thus, all components of the compositions, with the exception of abrasive particles, are soluble in water. The viscosity required to impart a gel consistency to the composition is achieved by the addition of suitable thickening agents that ensure the transparency of the solution.

Such thickening agents are well known and suitable examples are various vegetable or microbial polysaccharides such as gum arabic, xanthan gum, alginates and the like. and synthetic polymers, for example, homopolymers of acrylic, methacrylic or maleic acid and their copolymers with each other and / or other monomers, such as styrene, vinyl esters, etc., such as those offered by various manufacturers under various trademarks, e.g. ACUSOL, POLYGEL, CARBOPOL, RHEOVIS and similar products.

For the purposes of the present invention, it is believed that the gel will be transparent if it transmits at least 50% of the light of any one specific wavelength in the visible part of the spectrum, i.e. between 400 and 800 nm, preferably 550-700 nm, measured in a 1 cm cuvette in the absence of dyes and abrasive particles. Preferably, the light transmission is at least 70%, more preferably at least 90%.

Gels that are considered suitable for the purposes of the present invention generally have a viscosity of 100 to 1000 mPas, preferably at least 250 mPa, more preferably 300-750 mPa in 21 sec ^-1 (measured with a Haake viscometer at 20 ° FROM). The viscosity at a low shear rate is such that macroscopic particles can be suspended in the gel.

In many liquid abrasive cleaning compositions known in the art, the required viscosity is obtained using self-priming (structuring) surfactant mixtures, often in combination with electrolytes. Although it is described that certain specific combinations of surfactants under certain circumstances result in a transparent or translucent liquid crystal structure, such thickening systems are generally not applicable for the purposes of this invention. Most structured surfactant systems make the fluid opaque.

Abrasive particles

In order for the cleaning compositions of this invention to visually attract the attention of consumers, the particles are macroscopic, i.e. distinguishable to the naked eye.

This is the opposite of the vast majority of abrasive powder particles, which mainly have an average particle size well below 0.3 mm and in the vast majority of cases almost 0.1 mm (100 μm).

Thus, the particles according to the invention have an average particle size between 0.3 and 2.5 mm, preferably more than 0.5 mm and at most 1.5 mm. Further, the appearance of the composition is significantly improved, despite the fact that the particles have a more uniform size, for example, they all have a size within ± 70% of the average particle size, preferably within ± 50%, more preferably ± 30%.

Abrasive particles are used in an amount of at least 0.1%, preferably 0.5%. For the composition to be transparent, the maximum number of particles should be 20%, preferably 10%, more preferably 5%.

These particles may be particles of known abrasive materials. So they can consist of granules of one or more well-known inorganic abrasives, such as silicon dioxide, silicates, calcite, and the like. They can consist of polymer granules, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, etc. Particularly suitable are granules from a biodegradable polymer, for example, known starch-based polymers.

Alternatively, the abrasive particles can be made from softer materials such as hard waxes and fats, cured fatty acids, cured fatty acid soaps, and the like. Such materials can also be mixed with crushed particles of any of the known abrasives or with other materials, preferably solid materials, suitable for cleaning processes and therefore containing granules of the desired size.

The attractive appearance of the particles and therefore the composition as a whole is further improved if the particles have a certain minimum sphericity, so that the ratio of the longest and shortest particle diameters in any one direction would be almost 3: 1, preferably almost 2: 1 or even 1.5: 1. Particles of a round, preferably smooth, round shape are particularly preferred. Such particles can be made by curing molten salts by spraying, including melting the material for the particles, turning it into droplets, which are then cooled in a stream of gas (air). Various methods and suitable equipment for this are well known and can be used for organic abrasives, provided they are low melting. High melting powders, for example, inorganic abrasive powders, can be converted into particles with an acceptable shape by various known agglomeration methods, if it is necessary to use an agglomeration binder.

Despite the fact that the cleaning compositions according to the invention may consist of a colorless liquid and solid particles with their natural color (in many cases, white), these compositions are much more attractive to the consumer when the liquid and particles have distinctly different colors. They can have different shades of the same color, for example, dark blue particles in a light blue liquid, or preferably liquid and particles of contrasting colors, for example, white particles in a blue, green or yellow liquid, or vice versa, colored particles in a liquid of a different color.

The pH of the cleaning compositions can vary widely and is generally between 2 and 14. Some surfaces are acid sensitive and compositions with a pH of at least 3, preferably 3.5 or even 4.0 are recommended. Purification of greasy contaminants often improves at alkaline pH, i.e. above 7, preferably above 7.5, pH above 12, mainly not applicable.

Surfactants

The compositions of this invention include one or more surfactants, which can be selected from a wide range of anionic, nonionic, cationic, amphoteric and zwitterionic surfactants, examples of which are given below.

A suitable class of anionic surfactants is water-soluble salts of organic esters of sulfuric acid and sulfonic acids having an alkyl group in the molecule structure with 8-22 C-atoms or an alkylaryl group containing 6-20 C-atoms in the alkyl part.

Examples of such anionic surfactants are water soluble salts:

- sulfates of long chain alcohols (hereinafter referred to as PAS), especially those obtained by sulfating fatty alcohols obtained by the reduction of fat glycerides or coconut kernel oil;

- alkylbenzene sulfonates, for example, those with 6-20 carbon atoms in the alkyl group;

- secondary alkanesulfonates.

Salts are also suitable:

- sulfates of alkyl glyceryl esters, especially esters of fatty alcohols derived from fat of lard or coconut kernel oil;

- sulfates of monoglycerides of fatty acids;

- sulfates of ethoxylated aliphatic alcohols containing 1-8 ethyleneoxy units;

- sulfates of alkyl phenol ethyleneoxy esters with 1-8 ethyleneoxy units per molecule and in which the alkyl groups contain 6-14 carbon atoms;

- the reaction product of fatty acids esterified with isethionic acid and neutralized with alkali.

A suitable class of nonionic surfactants can generally be described as compounds obtained by the condensation of simple alkylene oxides, which are hydrophilic in nature, with an organic hydrophilic compound, which can be aliphatic or alkylaromatic in nature. The length of the hydrophilic or polyoxyalkylene chain that attaches to a particular hydrophobic group can be easily selected so as to obtain a water-soluble compound with the desired balance between the hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties. This makes it possible to select nonionic surfactants with the correct HLB.

Specific examples include:

- condensation products of aliphatic alcohols having 8-22 carbon atoms in a straight or branched chain with ethylene oxide, for example, condensates of ethylene oxide and coconut kernel alcohol, with 2-15 moles of ethylene oxide per coconut kernel alcohol molecule;

- condensates of alkyl phenols with C ₆ -C ₁₅ alkyl groups with 5-25 moles of ethylene oxide per alkyl phenol molecule;

- condensates of the reaction product of ethylene diamine and propylene oxide with ethylene oxide, condensates containing from 40 to 80% ethyleneoxy groups by weight and having a molecular weight of 5000-11000.

Other classes of nonionic surfactants include:

- alkyl glycosides, which are the condensation products of long-chain aliphatic alcohols and saccharides;

- tertiary amine oxides of the RRRNO structure, where one R-alkyl group is 8-20 carbon atoms and where the other R - each has alkyl or hydroxyl functions with 1-3 carbon atoms, for example, dimethyldodecylamine oxide;

- tertiary phosphine oxides of the RRRPO structure, where R is an alkyl group with 8-20 carbon atoms, and the other R are each alkyl or hydroxyalkyl with 1-3 carbon atoms, for example, dimethyldodecylphosphine oxide;

- dialkyl sulfoxides of the structure RRSO, where one R represents an alkyl group with 10-18 carbon atoms, and the other methyl or ethyl, for example methyl tetradecyl sulfoxide;

- fatty acid alkylolamides;

- alkylene oxide condensates of fatty acid alkylolamides;

- alkyl mercaptans.

Suitable amphoteric surfactants are derivatives of aliphatic secondary and tertiary amines containing an alkyl group with 8 to 20 carbon atoms and an aliphatic group substituted by an anionic water-solubilizing group, for example, sodium 3-dodecylaminopropionate, sodium 3-dodecylaminopropanesulfonate and sodium 2-hydroxydodecyl-N-methyltaurate.

Examples of suitable cationic surfactants can be found among quaternary ammonium salts having one or more alkyl or aralkyl groups with 8-20 carbon atoms and two or three small aliphatic (e.g. methyl) groups, for example cetyltrimethylammonium bromide.

Examples of suitable, zwitterionic surfactants can be found among derivatives of quaternary ammonium, sulfonium and phosphonium compounds bearing an aliphatic group with 8-10 carbon atoms and an aliphatic group substituted by an anionic water-solubilizing group, for example 3- (N, N-dimethyl) -N-hexadecyl-ammonium) -propane-1-sulfonate betaine, 3- (dodecylmethylsulfonium) -propane-1-sulfonate betaine and 3- (cetylmethylphosphonium) -ethanesulfonate betaine.

Other examples of suitable surfactants include known compounds used as surfactants described in well-known references: “Surface Active Agents”, vol. 1, Schwartz & Perry, Intersicence 1949, vol. 2, Schwartz, Perry & Berch, Intersience 1958, in the recently published McCutcheon's Emulsifiers and Detergents, published. Manufacturing Confectioners Company or Tensidetaschenbuch, H. Stache, 2nd Edn, Carl Hauser Verlag, 1981.

Anionic and nonionic surfactants and combinations thereof are particularly preferred. Selecting (combination) surfactants should be guided by the fact that they should give a clear solution. If necessary, you can add hydrotropes, such as Na xylene or cumensulfonates or other known analogues.

Surfactants are mainly present in an amount of at least 0.1 wt ./%, but below 15 wt.%, Preferably 0.5-10 wt.%, More preferably at least 1.0 wt. %

Optional components

Compositions according to this invention may contain various optional components, well known in this field, which increase the cleaning ability or attractiveness to the consumer. Therefore, these compositions may include a binder, chelating agents, electrolytes, organic solvents, active halogen-containing or peroxy bleaching agents, pH-regulating agents, anti-foaming agents, antimicrobial agents, preservatives, perfumes, insect repellents, etc.

Way

A method of cleaning a hard surface involves applying to a solid surface a suitable amount of the claimed composition, followed by, as a rule, rubbing the composition on the surface to be cleaned with a rag or rag. The composition may be applied directly to the surface or first to a (preferably wet) rag or rag and then rubbed onto the surface with that side of the rag on which the cleaning composition is applied. In the case where the abrasive particles consist of a polymer or other relatively soft material, such compositions according to the invention are very suitable for cleaning surfaces that are particularly sensitive to cleaning, which can be easily damaged.

Example 1

A transparent blue liquid gel was prepared according to the composition below, with granules based on fatty acids dispersed in it with a size of 0.8 mm ± 20%.

Ingredient Trademark Provider Content% Phosphoric acid 0,050 Nonionic surfactant Neodol 91.8 Condea DAC 3,000 Polymer Carbopol 2623 Goodrich 0.280 Silicon DB31 0.003 Nonionic Neodol 91.5 Condea DAC 2,000 Bicarbonate of soda Baking soda Solvay 0,100 Preservative Proxel gxl Zeneca 0,020 Fatty Acid Granules Simiol 60 Uniqema 1,000 NaOH to pH 8.0 0,110 Perfume 0.270 Blue dye Blu patent Fiori 0,0006 Demineral. water up to 100

Example 2

Prepared a transparent liquid gel of green color according to the composition below, with dispersed in it polyethylene granules with a diameter of 0.8 mm ± 20%. The product had a viscosity of 380 MPa at 21 sec ^-1 , 20 ° C and pH 11.

Ingredient Trademark Content% Xanthan gum Kelzan ST 0.50 Diphosphinic acid Dequest 2010 0.75 NaOH 1.20 Non-ionic C12-C15 7EO Dobanol 23 6.5 3.30 Las acid 1.72 Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether Butyl digol 2.00 Fatty acid Prifac 7907 0.09 Dye Blu Patent V Perfume 0.50 Polyethylene granules AC 316 1.00 Demineral. water up to 100

Example 3

According to the composition below, a slightly acidic (pH about 4.5) was prepared containing hydrogen peroxide, a transparent gel that cleans hard surfaces. Particles of fatty acids dispersed in it containing 10% by weight (based on the mass of these particles) sodium bicarbonate, particle size 1.0 mm ± 20%.

Trademark Dequest 2046 is a sodium salt of ethylene diamine tetramethylene phosphonic acid.

Prifac 7907 is a distilled fatty acid mixture derived from coconut oil and marketed by Uniqema, Gouda, The Netherlands.

The fatty acid used for granules is a mixture of fatty acids derived from fat.

Claims (14)

1. Composition for cleaning hard surfaces in the form of a transparent liquid gel with an abrasive component, comprising one or more detergent surfactants, abrasive particles, a thickening agent and optional components, characterized in that the abrasive particles dispersed in a liquid gel, are macroscopic with an average particle size of more than 0.5 to 2.5 mm and all particles have limits of deviation of particle sizes plus or minus 70% of the average particle size. 2. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the average particle size is about 1.5 mm 3. The composition according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that all particles have a particle size deviation of ± 50% from the average particle size. 4. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the abrasive particles have a spherical shape, and the ratio of the largest and smallest particle diameters in any direction is about 3: 1. 5. The composition according to claim 4, characterized in that the particles have a smooth smooth surface. 6. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a viscosity of 100-1000 MPa at 21 s ^-1 . 7. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the liquid gel and abrasive particles have different colors. 8. The composition according to claim 7, characterized in that the liquid gel and abrasive particles have contrasting colors. 9. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains at least 0.1 wt.%, But less than 15 wt.% Surfactant. 10. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the surfactant is selected from anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants and mixtures thereof. 11. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains 0.1-20 wt.% Abrasive particles. 12. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the thickening agent is selected from the group consisting of polysaccharides and synthetic polymers derived from plants or obtained using microorganisms. 13. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the composition further comprises a binder, chelating agents, electrolytes, organic solvents, active halogen-containing or peroxy bleaching agents, pH-regulating agents, antifoaming agents, antimicrobial agents, preservatives, perfumes, insect repellents, dyes, demineralized water. 14. A method of cleaning a hard surface, comprising the step of applying to the surface a cleaning composition according to any one of claims 1 to 13.