SE468990B - CLEANING PAPER WITH REMOVABLE Abrasive - Google Patents

Description

ON OD 10 15 20 25 30 MC? The components are rinsed off with the wash water, leaving essentially no residue on the cleaned surface, as disclosed in US 3,577,347. Another way of dealing with the problem of abrasive residues is the use of a powdery or particulate water-insoluble matter. abrasives having a maximum particle size below 0.15 mm and about 8% by weight of the abrasive particles have a diameter of about 0.037 mm or greater to provide effective cleaning, and a small amount of an organic hydrotrope (ie sodium cumene sulfonate) to improve fat removal, as disclosed in US 4,289,640.

Likewise, liquid detergent composition for cleaning hard surfaces, containing water-insoluble abrasives suspended in an aqueous medium, has encountered stability problems and the difficulty of completely removing the insoluble abrasive particles from the cleaned surface.

These problems have been addressed in the prior art by preparing a high performance liquid detergent composition containing a water-soluble builder salt with particles of collodial size (below 1 micron and usually 0.1 micron) wherein the particles are dispersed in an aqueous medium containing a fatty acid amide such as emulsifier. means, as disclosed in US 4,057,506. Another way of addressing the stability problem is disclosed in US 3,522,186 wherein a water-insoluble abrasive dispersed in an aqueous agent containing tetrachotassium pyrophosphate, sodium soap, diethanolamide and about 0.25 - 1.5 is disclosed % methanol or ethanol to prevent the separation of the aqueous liquid into two layers. Another way of addressing the stability problem is disclosed in US 4,051,055 in which an aqueous hard surface cleaning composition containing water-insoluble abrasive is suspended in a thickened aqueous medium with at least 1% clay as the thickener, the thickened system preventing Abrasive separates from the liquid medium. The presence of fluoride salts improves the ability of the clay thickened system to retain the abrasive particles in suspension.

US 4,657,692 also discloses a thickened aqueous abrasive which is free from syneresis (separation of solid from liquid material) containing a water-insoluble abrasive suspended in an aqueous medium containing a colloidal alumina as a thickener, water-soluble alkali metal organophosphates such as phosphates, and carbonates etc. and about 0.5 - 3% of a surfactant and a halogen bleach.

European Patent Application No. 0 193 375 refers to the use of a water-soluble salt which acts both as an abrasive and a detergent builder, such as sodium bicarbonate, tripolyphosphate and the like in a pourable homogeneous abrasive containing aqueous detergent composition for cleaning hard surfaces, and also containing a mixture of anionic and nonionic surfactants in the weight ratio of 1: 1 - 9: 1 for anionic to nonionic surfactant.

The aqueous paste-like hard surface cleaner comprising 50-65% sodium bicarbonate and 50-35% by weight water containing sodium chloride and a fatty acid (C12-C16) diethanolamide is disclosed in US 4,179,414.

Aqueous gel containing at least 40% nonionic surfactant and 2-10% water-soluble detergent salts is aspirated in US 4,107,067 as a liquid gel pre-wash detergent composition.

US 4,257,908 also discloses a laundry detergent composition in stable flowable form, containing 25-55% of a phosphate-containing detergent builder salt, 5-40% of an anionic surfactant in 30-50% of an aqueous medium (IN CC). QD \ D CD containing alcohol in a weight ratio of 5: 1 - 20: 1 water to alcohol.

Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 3,981,826 discloses anhydrous liquid paste-like gelatinous detergent compositions having scrubbing properties which comprise a dispersion of a normally solid water-soluble anionic surfactant and a solid particulate water-soluble inorganic salt (a washing enhancing salt) and a suspending agent such as bulky oxides (silica, magnesium oxide, alumina or clay) in about 19-79% of a water-miscible organic liquid solvent such as polyhydric alcohol (glycerol, ethylene glycol and the like) and optionally a lower monohydric alcohol (ethanol, methanol, etc.) / a Another organic solvent-based gelled or thickened hard surface cleaning composition which is liquid and pourable is disclosed in US 3,865,756, comprising a gelling agent which acts as an abrasive such as colloidal silica, an alkaline detergent salt such as water-soluble phosphates and silicates, a surfactant agent, a water-insoluble abrasive electricity, for example calcium silicate, and about 55-90% of an organic cleaning solvent such as a major amount of an aliphatic hydrocarbon mineral spirit mixed with 4-7% US 2,864,770 also discloses a sustainable anhydrous anhydrous organic solvent-based thixotropic liquid detergent. ethylene glycol monobutyl ether. gene composition containing glycols and glycerol such as the organic solvent, an anionic surfactant and a phosphate builder in suspension.

However, none of the above-mentioned patents disclose a non-pourable viscous hard surface cleaning composition which is substantially free of water, comprising a gelled mixture of an organic liquid carrier consisting essentially of water-soluble organic solvents and nonionic surfactants impregnating an ethoxylated grease. 463,990 acid as one of the surfactants, and a small amount of sodium hydroxide which reacts in situ with the ethoxylated fatty acid to form a clear organic non-flowable gel, and about 10-25% of a water-soluble detergent. reinforcing agent / abrasive suspended in the gelled carrier.

It has now been found that the composition of the present novel organic cleaning composition is based on the ability of ethoxylated fatty acid, for example ethoxylated lauric acid, to react with sodium hydroxide in organic media and to form a gel with said media. Another feature of the present new composition is the incorporation of a water-soluble abrasive material into the organic gelling mixture. This allows the preparation of viscous products containing inorganic solids which are suspended in a gelled organic carrier. Although this abrasive is insoluble in the gelled carrier, it becomes soluble upon dilution of the product with water. Cleaning with the undiluted product is facilitated by the abrasive, i.e. the mild abrasive action of sodium pyrophosphate. The whole product is dissolved in water so that no sandy residue is left on or around the cleaned surfaces. Furthermore, this abrasive will become a "surfactant detergent" when the product is used diluted.

Household surfaces such as ceramic surfaces and formica surfaces can be cleaned with the present new products in the absence or presence of water without scratching the surface. This product has both undiluted and diluted significantly improved cleaning effect produced by the triple action of the organic solvent, the nonionic detergent and the abrasive. In the diluted product, the abrasive dissolves in the water and becomes a detergent builder. The organic viscous product for hard surface cleaning in accordance with the present invention can function as a spray cleaner, a scouring cream and an all-purpose cleaner for floors and walls. Simulated floor cleaning tests show that at 3 g / l of the present new cleaning product gave better (eg OO 10 15 20 25 30 \ 0 effect than "Mr Clean" with 15 g / l. This can be illustrated by the fact that 5 bottles of Mr Clean are equal to 1 bottle of the existing cleaning product.

The main object of the present invention is therefore to provide a new viscous organic cleaning product for hard surfaces, comprising an ethoxylated fatty acid and sodium hydroxide dissolved in an organic carrier which reacts in situ to form a gelled carrier.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel viscous organic cleaning composition containing inorganic water-soluble particulate abrasive suspended in the gelled organic carrier.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an abrasive-containing organic gel which dissolves in water without leaving any particulate residue on or around the cleaned surfaces.

Still other objects of the present invention are to provide an organic all-purpose cleaner which has a triple cleaning effect.

Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent in the description which follows, and will be apparent upon the study of the following description or may be learned in the practice of the invention.

To achieve the above and other objects in accordance with the present invention, as designed and broadly described herein, the novel stable non-pourable organic hard surface cleansing gel composition of the invention comprises about 65-80% by weight of an organic liquid carrier consisting essentially of about 15-35% by weight of a water-miscible organic solvent, about 35-70% of a mixture of nonionic surfactants containing an ethoxylated fatty acid as one of the surfactants, and a small amount of to about 0.7 to 1.5% by weight of sodium hydroxide which reacts in situ with the ethoxylated fatty acid to form a clear non-flowable gelled carrier which is substantially free of water and capable of suspending water-soluble inorganic particulate abrasive.

More specifically, the organic gel composition of the present invention comprises about 65-80% by weight of a substantially anhydrous organic carrier consisting essentially of about 15-35% by weight of a water-soluble organic solvent and about 35-70% by weight of a mixture of nonionic surfactants containing an ethoxylated fatty acid as one of the surfactants, about 0.7 - 1.5% by weight of sodium hydroxide, gelled by the in situ reaction of ethoxylated fatty acid with sodium hydroxide; and about 10 to 25% by weight of an inorganic water-soluble particulate abrasive (washing enhancing salt) uniformly suspended in the gelled carrier.

The water-miscible organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl glycol ethers, lower alkyl monohydric alcohols, lower alkyl dihydric alcohols and mixtures thereof.

The described hard surface cleaning products of the present invention are stable, non-pourable, clear, thick (viscous) pastes with a minimum viscosity of about 14,000-15,000 cps units, measured on a Brookfield HATD viscometer. The viscosity of the gel product applies a stable suspension of relatively large particles of water-soluble abrasives, ie larger than particles of colloidal size.

The product of the present invention has many applications such as all-purpose cleaners. Undiluted with water, the product can be used as a scouring agent for sinks and bathtubs, and as a stain cleaner for soiled hard surfaces, giving the product a triple cleaning effect due to the interaction of the organic solvent, the nonionic detergent and the abrasive, without leaving any powdery residue conventional in abrasive cleaners. The present organic pastes, diluted with water, can be used as floor and wall cleaners. The present new organic cleaning pastes can also be used as anhydrous hand cleaners, especially for mechanics and gardeners; for cleaning industrial and institutional pans, urns etc.

The main essential component of the present non-pourable viscous cleaning composition is the nonionic surfactant system which constitutes about 35-70% by weight of a mixture of nonionic surfactants containing about 6-38% of an ethoxylated fatty acid and about 10%. 64% of the other ethoxylated nonionic surfactants which may be a fatty alcohol, an alkylphenol, a propylene oxide-propylene glycol condensation product, or a mixture thereof. More specifically, the additional ethoxylated nonionic surfactant may be selected from the group consisting of polyethylene oxide condensate of an alkylphenol having an alkyl group containing about 6 to 12 carbon atoms, a polyethylene oxide condensate of an aliphatic alcohol containing about 8 to 22 carbon atoms, a polyethylene oxide condensate the condensation product of propylene oxide with propylene glycol having a molecular weight of about 1,500-1,800 and mixtures thereof. Typical examples of polyethylene oxide condensate of alkylphenol are nonylphenol and condensed with about 9.5 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of nonylphenol, dodecylphenol condensed with about 12 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of phenol. Typical examples of ethoxylated alcohol include about 6 moles of ethylene oxide condensed V1 10 15 20 25 30 35 9 468 990 with 1 mole of tridecanol, freshly distilled alcohol condensed with about 10 moles of ethylene oxide, C10-C14 fatty alcohol condensed with about 6 moles of ethylene oxide, C10-C14 alcohol condensed with 5 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol (Alfonic 1012-60).

Examples of polyethylene oxide condensates of the propylene oxide condensation product with propylene glycol are commercially available as Pluronic brand surfactants marketed by Wyandotte Chemicals Corporation. The liquid nature of this product is maintained up to a point where the polyoxyethylene content is about 50% of the total weight of the condensation product. Examples of ethoxylated fatty acids include lauric, palmitic, stearic acid, etc. ethoxylated with about 5-10 ethylene oxide groups per mole of fatty acid. A preferred fatty acid ethoxylate is lauric acid having 9 ethylene oxide groups (Alkasurf-L-9). The presence of the ethoxylated fatty acid in the organic carrier is essential in the formation of the gel, for the in situ reaction in the organic solvent with the sodium hydroxide to form a small amount of soap which thickens and gels the organic liquid medium. A small amount of sodium hydroxide induces time-delayed hydrolysis due to the carrier holding the ethoxylated fatty acid.

Another essential component of the present cleaning composition is the water-miscible organic solvent in an amount of about 15-35% by weight of the total composition. The organic solvent produces an organic medium for the in situ reaction between the ethoxylated fatty acid and the sodium hydroxide upon gelation of the organic medium. Suitable organic water-miscible solvents include lower alkyl monohydric alcohol, lower alkyl dihydric alcohols (glycols), lower alkyl glycol ethers, and mixtures thereof. Examples of water-soluble lower monohydric alcohols are ethanol, isopropanol and butanol.

Examples of suitable glycols are ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol (Carbitol) and propylene glycol. Examples of lower C1 alkyl glycether ethers are diethylene glycol, monobutyl ether with C4H9OCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH which is also known as butyl carbitol (Union Carbide), ethylene glycol monobutyl ether with C4H9OCH2CH2OH and dyl. It is preferred to use a mixture of monohydrogen and dihydrogen alcohols, and the formula: the formula: a mixture of monohydrogen alcohol is more preferred than dihydrogen alcohol and a glycol ether as the solvent for the mixture of nonionic surfactants.

Another essential ingredient in the present viscous cleaning composition is a water-soluble inorganic particulate abrasive, suspended in the gelled carrier, in an amount of about 10 to 25% by weight of the total composition.

The abrasive is insoluble in the gel but soluble in water. The water-soluble abrasive particles are relatively large particles with a diameter of about 0.5 mm. The viscosity of the gelled carrier, which is at least 14,000 - 15,000 cps units, is sufficient to maintain the large particles in suspension. Suitable water-soluble abrasives are selected from the group consisting of alkali metal phosphates, polyphosphates and carbonates. Examples of water-soluble abrasives include pyrophosphates such as tetrasodium or tetra potassium pyrophosphates, tripolyphosphates, tetrapolyphosphates, carbonates, etc. This abrasive becomes a surfactant detergent builder when used diluted, and is easily removed from the cleaned residue, without leaving any powder. The preferred abrasives include tetrasodium pyrophosphate and sodium carbonate.

The hard surface cleaning composition of the invention may also contain minor amounts of conventional additional components to impart the composition to any desired property, which are compatible with the gel and do not adversely affect the gel structure. Suitable additives include colorants, perfumes, preservatives, antiseptics and the like. These additives constitute a maximum of 15% by weight of the composition.

The cleaning composition of the present invention is generally prepared by mixing the organic water-miscible solvent components with an ethoxylated fatty acid and at least one additional nonionic surfactant component to form a clear liquid low viscosity carrier; adding a sodium hydroxide solution to the clear liquid carrier and mixing until the liquid forms a gel, which may vary from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the amounts of the components; and finally mixing the water-soluble abrasive, paint, perfume and any other additional conventional ingredient in the gelled carrier, until the abrasive is uniformly dispersed throughout the gelled carrier and a paste is formed.

The cleaning composition is packed in any suitable container, both flexible or rigid. The paste can also be extruded from a collapsible container.

The final cleaning gel product is a stable, thick (viscous) creamy hard surface cleaning product, which is substantially free of water and has an alkaline pH in the range of about 8 to 11. It can be applied to the surface to be cleaned in any suitable way, i.e. with a sponge or cloth, followed by rinsing the surface with water, leaving no particulate residue.

The following examples illustrate the invention only, but it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. All amounts for the various ingredients in the examples and other locations in the specification are by weight unless otherwise indicated. 10 15 20 12 Example II o \ ° Ingredients Lauric acid ethoxylate (9EO) 28.30 Tetrasodium pyrophosphate 20.00 E Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether 14.00 Ethanol 14.00 C16-C14 alcohol EO 5: 1 10.00 Propylene glycol 6.00 Deionized water 4.00 Caustic soda (Parfaitol 0.40% 0.30 1 1 (1%) = 10.9 The carrier ingredients, namely ethoxylated lauric acid, ethoxylated alcohol, butyl carbitol, ethanol and propylene glycol as well as the perfume, are mixed to form a clear mobile liquid. NaOH is mixed with the clear liquid until the support gels and forms a solid gel. After 5 minutes of gel maturation, the tetrasodium pyrophosphate is mixed with the matured gel to form a cream (paste). The blue pigment dispersion is mixed into the cream.

The composition produces a creamy blue cleaning product that has excellent cleaning properties, and does not leave any grainy residue on the cleaned surface. 10 15 20 25 13 Example II Ingredients Lauric acid ethoxylate (9EO) Sodium carbonate C10-C14 alcohol EO 5: 1 Ethanol Diethylene glycol monobudyl ether Propylene glycol 38% caustic soda Perfume Lemon / lime color solution This product is prepared according to the process in Example I. 468 I o \ ° 28.00 23.00 21.00 12.50 7.00 5.00 3.00 0.30 0.20 This product is a viscous colored paste that also has excellent cleaning properties.

Example III - V Alfonic 1012-sol Alkasurf L-92 Plurafac RA4o3 Pluronic L-644 Butylcarbitol Propylene glycol Ethanol Water and dye NaOH Tetrantrium pyrophosphate Fragrance 48.0 6.0 15.5 ao 20.0 990 14.0 21.0 7.0 7.0 6.0 14.0 5.9 1.5 23.0. 15 xD xš) CI) 14 1. C10-C14 alcohol EO 5: 1 2. Lauric acid E0 9: 1 3. Low foaming polyol: propylene oxide and ethylene oxide polycondensates of propylene glycol 4. High foaming polyol: propylene oxide and ethylene oxide polycondensates of propylene glycol These compositions are prepared according to the process of Example I.

The final products are viscous hard surface cleaning compositions, which compositions are easily removed by rinsing with water without leaving any granular residue.

All of the above undiluted cleaning pastes can be diluted with water for equally effective cleaning of hard surfaces. The entire pasta product dissolves in water without leaving any grainy residue, ie abrasive particles, on or around the cleaned surfaces.

It should be clear that the above detailed description is given by way of illustration only and that variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims (16)

10 15 20 25 4> C fl OO \ O \ O CD 15 P a t e n t k r a v Highly viscous organic hard surface cleaning composition, characterized in that it comprises by weight about 65-80% of an organic liquid carrier consisting essentially of about 15-35% of a water-miscible organic solvent, about 35-70% of a mixture of nonionic surfactants, containing an ethoxylated fatty acid as one of the surfactants, and about 0.7 - 1.5% sodium hydroxide, gelled by the in situ reaction of the ethoxylated fatty acid with the sodium hydroxide to form a clear non-flowable gelled carrier which is substantially free of water; and about 10 to 25% by weight of an inorganic water-soluble particulate abrasive incorporated in the gelled carrier. 2. A composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the water-miscible organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl glycol ether, lower alkyl monohydric alcohol, lower alkyl dihydric alcohol and mixtures thereof. 3. A composition according to claim 2, characterized in that the water-soluble particulate abrasive has particles whose size is larger than collodial size. Composition according to Claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning paste has a minimum viscosity of approximately 14,000 - 15,000 cps units, measured with a Brookfield HATD type viscometer. 5. A composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the ethoxylated fatty acid constitutes about 6 to 38% by weight of the composition. CN OI) 10 15 20 25 kf) 'xO CI) 16 Composition according to Claim 1, characterized in that the nonionic surfactant in the mixture with the ethoxylated fatty acid can be selected from the group consisting of polyethylene oxide condensate of a C 6 -C 22 alkylphenol, a polyethylene condensate of an aliphatic C 5 -C 22 alcohol, a polyethylene oxide condensate condensate of propylene oxide with propylene glycol having a molecular weight of about 1,500 to 1,800 and mixtures thereof. 7. A composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the ethoxylated fatty acid is lauric acid with 9 ethylene oxide units per mole of lauric acid. 8. A composition according to claim 2, characterized in that the water-miscible organic solvent is a mixture of a monohydric alcohol, a dihydric alcohol and a glycol ether. 9. A composition according to claim 8, characterized in that the water-miscible organic solvent is a mixture of ethanol, propylene glycol and diethylene glycol monobutyl ether. 10. A composition according to claim 2, characterized in that the water-miscible organic solvent is a mixture of ethanol and diethylene glycol monobutyl ether. 11. ll. Composition according to Claim 6, characterized in that the nonionic surfactant is polyethylene (5E0) C10-C14 or OH. ' 12. A composition according to claim 3, characterized in that the water-soluble particulate abrasive is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal phosphates, polyphosphates and carbonates. "11 10 15 990 17 468 13. A composition according to claim 12, characterized in that the water-soluble abrasive is tetrasodium pyrophosphate. 14. A composition according to claim 12, characterized in that the water-soluble abrasive is sodium carbonate. Composition according to Claim 14, characterized in that the water-miscible organic solvent is a mixture of ethanol, propylene glycol and diethylene glycol monobutyl ether and in that the mixture of nonionic surfactants is C10-C14 alcohol EO 5: 1 and ethoxylated 9EO lauric acid. Composition according to Claim 13, characterized in that the water-miscible organic solvent is a mixture of ethanol, propylene glycol and diethylene glycol monobutyl ether and in that the mixture of the nonionic surfactants is an ethoxylated fatty acid and an ethoxylated fatty alcohol.