Composition for the removal of adhering substances, an application thereof, as well as a method of removal thereof
The present invention relates to a composition for removing adhering substances, such as in particular (synthetic) resins, paint lacquers, polymer foams, fats and mastics. The invention further relates to an application hereof and to a method for removing an adhering substance. The invention is of particular importance as such in for instance polyester and paint processing as takes place on a large scale.
It is noted for the sake of completeness that the term (synthetic) resins includes both natural resins and synthetic resins, such as raw materials for paint compounds, for instance alkyd resins, glues, for instance on a basis of epoxy compounds, printing ink and other such substances.
Compositions for removing resins, being either natural resins or synthetic resins, are already known. These compositions usually comprise solvents which are harmful to the environment and the surrounding area, such as acetone, methylene chloride and toluene. A solvent such as terpentine is often used to remove paint products on an alkyd resin basis. The same or similar solvents are normally employed to remove other adhering substances such as fats, mastics and polymer foams.
The means common heretofore for removing such substances have in common that they are more or less harmful to the environment and should preferably be prohibited for this reason. A feasible, environmentally-friendly alternative has however never been available, so that it has been necessary to resort to such means which are less suitable from the environmental viewpoint.
The present invention has for its object to meet this need by providing a composition for removing the above stated and other substances with an effective activity and without any environmental impact whatsoever.
In order to achieve the stated objective, a composition of the type stated in the preamble comprises according to the invention at least a glucoside, a glycol compound and a sodium salt. Such a composition is found not only to be very effective in removing adhering substances of diverse nature, in particular the above mentioned (synthetic) resins, polymer foams, mastics and paint lacquers, the composition is also soluble and very readily biodegradable in water, which brings significant advantages from an ecological and commercial viewpoint. The composition is as such especially environmentally-friendly without this having an adverse effect on the cleaning qualities thereof.
Glucosides are generally known degreasants. However, in order to realize an effective removal of occurring adhering substances, in particular (synthetic) resins, glucosides per se are sometimes not sufficient. It is precisely the combination of a glucoside with a glycol compound and with a sodium salt which produces a composition which is found to be very effective in removing such substances. It is suspected that the glycoside in the composition is responsible for detaching and isolating the substance for removal. The strands which are herein possibly drawn are subsequently 'chopped' into pieces by the glycol component, whereafter the sodium compound ensures that the debris is finally deposited out of the solution. All the above mentioned components thus contribute toward an effective cleaning.
In a particular embodiment of the composition according to the invention it comprises 2.5 to 4.95% by weight glucoside. What is involved here, as in the other concentrations mentioned in the present application, unless expressly stated otherwise, is the application concentration of the composition dissolved in water. In other words, the given concentration is that in the form in which the composition is actually used.
The quantity of glycoside in the composition is normally greater than that of the other active substances in the composition. The glucoside thus forms an important, if not the most important, active constituent in the composition. Although in principle numerous glucosides can be applied, wherein there is however a significant preference for
C6-C10-alkyl glucosides, in a preferred embodiment of the composition according to the invention the glucoside comprises octyl glucoside.
In a further embodiment the composition according to the invention advantageously comprises 0.1 to 2% by weight of a glycol compound. In a particular embodiment the glycol compound herein comprises butyl diglycol. In contrast to some other glycol compounds, this compound is non-toxic and moreover biodegradable.
Although the sodium compound can in principle be of diverse nature, for instance can comprise sodium hydroxide, a further embodiment of the composition according to the invention has the feature that the sodium compound comprises a sodium salt. The composition according to the invention herein preferably comprises 0.1 to 2% by weight of a sodium salt. The salt acts in the composition mainly as a complexing agent. This sodium salt can for instance comprise sodium silicate, but the sodium salt advantageously comprises sodium triacetate.
In order to further increase the activity of the composition, a further embodiment thereof advantageously comprises according to the invention a quaternary fatty amine ethoxylate and an alcohol ethoxylate. As the other constituents of the composition, these compounds are both biodegradable. The composition particularly comprises 0.1 to 0.2% by weight of a quaternary fatty amine ethoxylate and 0.2 to 0.3% by weight of an alcohol ethoxylate.
In another embodiment the composition comprises in addition to the above mentioned basic constituents hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride. The composition herein advantageously comprises 0.01 to 10% by weight hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride.
In a further preferred embodiment the composition according to the invention comprises additional surfactant compounds. Such compounds advantageously comprise 0.0005 to
1% by weight of the composition. Very advantageous surfactant compounds are those having molecules comprising hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups.
The composition according to the present invention is preferably in concentrated form. Such a concentrate has to diluted, preferably with water, in order to obtain the desired application concentration. The advantage of the concentrated form is that the composition can be supplied in a relatively small volume, which has notable advantages, for instance in respect of transport.
In the concentrated form the composition according to the invention comprises in a further preferred embodiment 50 to 99% by weight glucoside; 2 to 40% by weight glycol compound and 2 to 40% by weight sodium salt.
The present invention also relates to the use of a composition according to the present invention to remove (synthetic) resins.
As already stated in the foregoing, the use of the composition according to the present invention results in many advantages. The use realizes an effective cleaning, while the environment is significantly protected. The composition is also non-toxic and very readily biodegradable.
The composition is in particular diluted prior to application thereof. The concentration of the concentrated composition can be such that a dilution with water in a ratio of 1 :20 produces the desired application concentration.
Finally, the present invention relates to a method for removing an adhering substance from a surface, characterized in that the surface is herein exposed at increased temperature to an optionally diluted composition according to the invention.
The method according to the invention is suitable for cleaning objects of diverse nature.
The object can thus comprise a paint-brush or roller from which paint residues must be
removed. The object can however also comprise a printing roller from which printing ink has to be removed. Hands too can also be cleaned particularly effectively using a composition and/or method according to the invention. With a view hereto, a further embodiment of the composition according to the invention has the feature that it is provided in the form of a hand-soap.
A very advantageous, particular preferred embodiment has the feature herein that the composition comprises a peeling additive, and more particularly shell sand. Such an additive provides a mechanical removal in addition to the chemical action of the product. Shell sand is found in this respect to be a particularly efficacious means of removing the most obstinate adhering substance from the hands in a short time.
A more effective activity can be achieved by heating the composition. The composition is preferably heated to a temperature of at least 25 C. Most preferably the temperature of the composition is however brought to 40-45 C.
In order to enhance the cleaning action, the object for cleaning is advantageously subjected to a supplementary cleaning treatment. The supplementary cleaning treatment particularly comprises a mechanical treatment. The surface of the object for cleaning is herein processed mechanically, for instance by means of a brushing, scraping or wiping process or using a high-pressure jet, in order to enhance removal of the (synthetic) resin.
The supplementary cleaning treatment preferably takes place with the use of an ultrasonic pulse generator. The implosions brought about in the composition by this treatment also enhance (synthetic) resin removal. This treatment is particularly suitable for hard surfaces.
The present invention will be further elucidated hereinbelow with reference to a number of examples.
In the examples preferred recipes of the composition according to the present invention are given in concentrated form. In order to obtain a suitable application concentration, these compositions must be diluted with water in a ratio of 1 :20.
EXAMPLE I compound percent by weight
Octyl glucoside, 65% (balance: water) 70
Butyl diglycol 15
Sodium triacetate 15
EXAMPLE II compound percent by weight
Octyl glucoside, 65% (balance:water) 60
Butyl diglycol 15
Sodium triacetate 15
Quaternary fatty amine ethoxylate 4
Alcohol ethoxylate 6
EXAMPLE III compound percent by weight
Octyl glucoside, 65% (balance: water) 68
Butyl diglycol 15
Sodium triacetate 15
Hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, 29% (balance: water) 1 Surfynok* 1
* Surfynok: from Air Products
EXAMPLE IV (a degreaser) compound percent by weight
Glucoside (AGP 6202) 20
Butyl diglycol 20
Metasilicate 6
Sodium triacetate (STA) 1
Berol 260 20 supplement with water to 100
EXAMPLE V (a (hand) soap) compound percent by weight
Glucoside (AGP 6202) 6.2 Butyl diglycol 1.5
Arquad 0.4
Sodium triacetate (STA) 1.5
Stearic acid 0.4
Benzoate 0.1 Comperphane 1.5
Bermocon 1
Benzoate 0.1 supplement with water to 100
EXAMPLE VI (a (hand) soap with improved action) compound percent by weight
Glucoside (AGP 6202) 4.5
Butyl diglycol 2
N-Benzoate 0.15 Amide-KDO 2
Kelsan-S 1
Alkan ph7 5
Lemon scent 0.6
Sodium triacetate (STA) 1.5 supplement with water to 100 supplement with shell sand to 200
EXAMPLE VII (For removing polymer foams, in particular polyurethane foam) compound percent by weight
Glucoside (AGP 6202) 62
Butyl diglycol 15 Arquad 4
Sodium triacetate (STA) 15 Stearic acid 4 supplement with water to 100
EXAMPLE VIII (generally applicable concentrate) compound percent by weight
Glucoside (AGP 6202) 70
Butyl diglycol 15
Sodium triacetate (STA) 15
Although the invention is further elucidated above solely with reference to these embodiments, it will be apparent that the invention is by no means limited thereto. On the contrary, many other variations and embodiments are possible for an ordinary skilled person within the scope of the invention. A skilled person can thus adjust the mutual ratios of the composition as required to a specific application or, with this in mind, omit or conversely add components as compared to the examples given above. A silicone oil can for instance thus be added to prevent foaming and a quaternary ammonium compound generally provides a better penetration into fibrous materials. Stearic acid reinforces the precipitation of the substance out of the solution by the sodium compound, while the combination thereof with a glycol, in particular butyl diglycol, has been found to resist corrosion on a metal surface treated therewith.