US1380299A - Wax-finish remover - Google Patents

Description

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JOEE F, HURLEY, 0F DENVER, COLORADG.

WAX-FINISH REMOVEE.

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Ito Ilrawingi To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, JOHN F. HURLEY,a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Wax-Finish Remover; and he does hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to detergent compositions of the class known as finish reniovers, and to a process of making them. It appertains more specifically to compositions adapted to romove Waxy coatings such as polishes containing a Waxy body.

An object of the invention is to produce a composition having the capacity to remove a. waxy polish or. wax-coatlng completely and easily without injury to the surface underneath said waxy polish or coating.

It comprises, in general, a process of treating a soap solution with an acld, capable of reacting with the soap, and freeing a portion of the fatty acid, and then adding a small quantity of a soap solvent having also a mild loosening action on a waxy coating; and it also comprises a pasty or gelatlnous, semi-liquid composition, resulting from the said process, having the detergent proper ties. of soap, and the property of loosen ng the Waxy polish or other wax-containlng surface coating so that it may be completely washed away without destruction of or 1njury to the subjacent surface. Reference is made to the appended claims, Wl1lCl'1 more particularly point out and distinctly define the process and product comprised in my invention. I

It is a commonpractice. to coat; floors, furniture, motor or other vehicle bodles, and numerous other objects, with a pol sh containing some form of vegetable, animal or lwax which ma be rendered lossy mmem I V g solved and while the solution is still hot, a

by friction, and the gloss of which, when dulled by time and atmospheric influence, may be renewed by rubbing with brushes or polishing cloths. W an coatings are frequently applied over a varnished orpainted surface. llhe presence of a wax pOllSh offers a serious obstacle to repainting or re varnishing, since. the paint pr varnish will not dry properly when applied over a wax,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 31, 1921.,

Application filed July 6, 1920. Serial No. 394,316.

and if so applied it quickly loses its luster and tends to crack or check. It is necessary, therefore, to remove all vestiges of wax polish, as well as greasy substances (to which motor vehicle bodies, in particular, are pecullarly exposed) which tend to mingle with it, as an essential preliminary to or revarnishing, It is impracticable to scrape away a wax coating without marring the surface beneath, particularly when said coating is laid over varnish or paint; sand papers and the like become clogged with wax and are not effective, even if their scratchy action were not prohibitive of their use. The known strong alkaline and benzolic removers are unsuitable for use in removing waX coatings applied over paint or varnish where it is desired to retain the foundation coat uninjured.

The composition herein disclosed is adapted to effectively loosen a waxy coating applied over paint or varnish, so that all traces of it may be wiped away, without injury to the underlying coating.

In preparing my wax-coating remover'll take a quantityof soap, preferably a hard laundry soap containing sodium oleate, or sodium oleate and stearate, divide itlnto small parts to facilitate dissolution, and mix it with a quantity of water sufficient to thoroughly dissolve the soap, when heated, but not suflicient to free the fatty acid therefrom. A stronger, even substantially a saturated solution of the soap. in hot water is adequate for the purpose of the invention. Having placed the soap in water, the mixture should be heated until all of the soap is dissolved. I have found that approximately one part of soap to four parts of water by weight is a suitable proportion, one half pound of soap dissolved in one quart of water constituting a satisfactory soap solution. During solution the water may be heated nearly or quite to the boiling point.

After the soap has been completely disquantity of an acid capable of reacting with the soap should beadded to the solution and the mixture of soap solution and acid thoroughly agitated. Although most acids will react with a soap solution, freeing the fatty acids, an acid should be selected that will not produce, as a result of the reaction, a substance injurious to the underlying surrepainting face to which the waxy-coating-removing composition is to be applied; also, a quantity of acid should be used such that the whole of the acid will be neutralized in the reaction and some material quantity of soap will remain unchanged. I have found oxalic acid to be most suitable for the purpose, as it and its reaction products with soap 'do not injure varnish or paint over which the waxy-coating may be applied, and that approximately one part of acid to eight parts of soap by weight will effect the result desired.

The mixture having assumed a gelatinous, pasty or semi-liquid condition as a result of the reaction, is allowed to cool. A

small quantity of soap-solvent, havinga.

generally alcoholic action as a wax'coating loosener, is then stirred into the pasty mixture and thoroughly disseminated through it. This soap-solvent may be a finish loosener such as acetone, but is preferably an alcohol. For practical reasons I have used the lower alcohols preferably the denatured alcohol of commerce and have found that about one part of alcohol to eight parts of soap (by weight) constitutes a suitable mixture.

A satisfactory formula for the manufac ture of my wax coating remover is as follows:

Eight ounces of laundry soap.

One quart of water.

One ounce of oxalic acid.

One fluid ounce of denatured alcohol.

In use the composition may be applied to a waxed surface by means of a brush, damp sponge or the like, and allowed to remain on the surface a sufficient time for it to loosen the waxy material. It should not, however, be permitted to dry. From ton to twenty minutes has been found to be sufficient. Then the surface must be thoroughly washed with water. All of the wax polish or other waxy coating will be removed with the detergent composition.

The fatty acids in the composition are be 'lieved to attack the Wax, partially dissolve and loosen it from its mechanical hold upon the surface, renderingit soft. The soap partially emulsifies the wax, rendering it susceptible of easy removal, and attacks dirt and grease likely to be found adhering to or mixed in the Waxy coating. The alcohol aids in loosening the wax and in dissolving other ingredients of the polish, and has an important function in retarding the tendency of the soap to harden.

When oxalic acid is used with a solution of a sodium soap there will be a sodium oxalate formed as a result of the reaction. The sodium oxalate is supposed to besubstantially inert in the composition but probably has a valuable function giving body to the paste. 1

neeoaea @wing to the gelatinous state of the composition, it does not run on vertical surfaces but remains long enough to permit it to loosen the coating thereon; it also imprisons the more volatile constituents, retarding their evaporation.

The soap, in addition to its detergent, adhesive and evaporation-retarding properties, renders the composition smooth, easy working and readily removable. I

have found that the described composition willremove all waxy polishes of which I have knowledge.

Having described my invention in the form now best known to me, what I claim and now desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A process of making a wax-coating remover which consists in preparing a strong solution of soap in water, then introducing sufficient weak acid into the solution to react with a portion only of the soap, agitating the mixture, and finally adding a wax-coating loosening material capable of dissolving soap.

2. A process of making a wax-coating remover which consists in preparing a strong solution of soap in water, then introducing sufficient weak acid into the solution to react with a portion, only, of the soap, agitating the .mixture, and finally adding a relatively small quantity of a lower alcohol.

3. A process of making a wax-coating remover which consists in preparing a strong solution of soap in water, then introducing suflicient oxalic acid to react with a portion, only, of the soap, agitating the mixture, and adding a relatively small quantity of a wax-coating loosening material capable of dissolving soap.

4. A process of making a wax-coating re mover which consists in adding substantially, eight parts of soap to thirty-two parts of water, by weight, heating the water and dis solving the soap therein, introducing into the hot solution substantially one part by weight of oxalic acid, agitating the mixture, allowing it to cool and adding substantially one part by weighteof alcohol.

5. A process of preparing a wax-coating remover which consists in adding substantially e1ght parts of soap containing sodium oleate to thirty-two parts of water by weight, heating the water and dissolving the soap therein, introducing into the hot solution substantially one part by weight of oxalic acid, agitating the mixture, allowing it to cool and adding substantially one part by weight of alcohol.

6. Acom osition for removing wax-coat- 1ngs for varnish or other surfaces resulting from the mixture, by weight, of an aqueous solution of substantially eight parts of soap in thirty-two parts of water, withone part of a weak acid capable of reacting with soap, and one part of a generally alcoholic Wax-coating loosening solvent capable of dissolving soap.

7. A composltlon for removmg Wax-coat ings for varnish or other surfaces resulting from the mixture, by weight, of an aqueous solution of substantially eight parts of soap in thirty-two parts of Water, With one part of oxalic acid and one part of a generally alcoholic Wax-coating loosening solvent capable of dissolving soap.

ings for varnish or other surfaces resulting from the mixture, by Weight, of an aqueous solution of substantially eight parts of soap containing sodium oleate in thirty-two parts of Water, one part of oxalic acid and one part of alcohol. I

10. A composition for removing Wax-coatings for varnish or other surfaces comprising essentially a pasty mixture, by Weight, of approximately eight parts of vmixed soap and free fatty acid, one part of a soap solvent having a generally alcoholic waxcoating loosening action, and substantially thirty two parts of Water.

11. A composition of pasty consistency for removing wax coatings from varnish or other surfaces, consisting substantially of free oleic acid, soap, sodium oxalate, a lower alcohol and Water.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN F. HURLEY.