WO2001044394A1

WO2001044394A1 - Glass cleaning composition

Info

Publication number: WO2001044394A1
Application number: PCT/AU2000/001532
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marc Victor Pinci
Original assignee: Marc Victor Pinci
Priority date: 1999-12-14
Filing date: 2000-12-14
Publication date: 2001-06-21
Also published as: AUPQ464699A0

Abstract

A glass cleaning composition is described having 20 % - 60 % by volume of alcohol, such as methylated spirits, 5 % - 30 % by volume of a volatile solvent, 1 % - 20 % by volume of an abrasive agent in powder form such as ceric oxide, and 0.5 % - 5 % by volume of a wetting agent, the balance of the volume being made up of water. In use, the cleaning composition is sprayed directly onto the glass surface and then wiped off using a soft, dry, clean cloth. The resulting finish produces excellent clarity and a visible sheen on the glass surface.

Description

GLASS CLEANING COMPOSITION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a glass cleaning composition for cleaning windows, optical lenses, photographic plates and other glass surfaces. The cleaning composition is also suitable for cleaning and polishing marble, granite, tiled, stainless steel, chrome, aluminium and copper surfaces as well as jewellery and precious metals. It can be used for cleaning automobile surfaces including glass, painted and enamelled surfaces.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

A variety of cleaning compositions are currently available commercially, some of which are designed specifically for the purpose of cleaning windows. Such prior art cleaning compositions typically comprise about 70% water, 27-29% alcohol and 1-3% of a surface active agent (surfactant) or rinse aid. The presence of the alcohol helps to give the composition rapid drying properties to avoid or minimise streaking as the window is wiped clean. Such prior art window cleaners generally provide a satisfactory result. However in some applications, for example, when cleaning motor vehicle window screens, the cleaning properties of the window cleaner may be inadequate and/or the finish achieved on the glass surface may be unsatisfactory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention was developed with a view to providing an improved glass cleaning composition that provides a better finish on the glass surface.

Throughout this specification the term "comprising" is used inclusively, in the sense that there may be other features and/or steps included in the invention not expressly defined or comprehended in the features or steps subsequently defined or described. What such other features and/or steps may include will be apparent from the specification read as a whole.

According to the present invention there is provided a glass cleaning composition comprising: (a) 20%-60% by volume of alcohol;

(b) 5%-30% by volume of a volatile solvent;

(c) 1 %-20% by volume of an abrasive agent in powder form; and, (d) 0.5%-5% by volume of a wetting agent, and the balance of the volume being made up of water.

Typically said abrasive agent is a mineral powder suitable for use as an aid to polishing or grinding of glass. Preferably said abrasive agent is a mineral oxide provided in powder form or as a dispersion in a carrier fluid. More preferably said abrasive agent is eerie oxide, CeO₂, or aluminium oxide, Al₂O₃.

Preferably said alcohol is an absolute or denatured alcohol. Typically said alcohol is methylated spirits. Preferably said volatile solvent is selected from the group comprising turpentine type solvents and turpentine substitutes, including white spirits, mineral spirits and any petroleum distillate with a flash point above 38°C and a distillation range between 190°C and 213°C.

The cleaning composition may further comprise 1%-10% by volume of a degreasing agent. A suitable degreasing agent is kerosene, be it commercial grade, deodorised and/or de-colourised. Alternatively any mixture of hydrocarbons or petroleum distillates having from 10-16 carbon atoms per molecule may be used.

Preferably said wetting agent is a water-based surfactant, (be it anionic, cationic or uncharged), with surface wetting properties.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In order to facilitate a better understanding of the nature of the invention a preferred embodiment of the glass cleaning composition will now be described in detail, by way of example only.

In one preferred form of the invention the glass cleaning composition comprises: (a) 40% by volume of methylated spirits;

(b) 20% by volume of white spirits;

(c) 7.5% by volume of eerie oxide; (d) 1 -2% by volume of a wetting agent;

(e) 3% by volume of kerosene.

The balance of the volume to 100% is made up of water.

Preferably the glass cleaning composition is made up in accordance with the above formulation by mixing each of the components (a) to (e) in the order in which they are listed above. A failure to mix the components in the above order may result in coagulation in some of the components and/or inadequate dispersion of the components throughout the composition. It may be necessary to agitate the composition vigorously, for example, by shaking the container in which the composition is held in order to produce a uniform suspension prior to use.

In use, the cleaning composition is sprayed directly onto the glass surface and then wiped off using a soft, dry, clean cloth. The resulting finish produces excellent clarity and a visible sheen on the glass surface.

Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is thought that the presence of the eerie oxide in the form of a finely ground powder effectively polishes or grinds the surface of the glass removing any irregularities and fine dirt particles which adhere to the glass surface. Any other suitable mineral oxide provided in powder form or in a dispersion in a carrier fluid may be employed as an abrasive or polishing aid. For example, in some applications finely ground aluminium oxide, Al₂O₃, may be used instead of eerie oxide, CeO₂. Preferably the abrasive agent comprises between 1% - 20%, more preferably 5%-15% by volume of the total composition.

The white spirits acts as a solvent for non-water soluble materials which may be adhered to the glass surface. Also, being volatile it dries quickly without leaving unsightly residues. Because the methylated spirits is soluble in water and in spirits, it acts as a bridge between the water and the solvent. It also helps to get rid of the water on the surface of the glass more quickly and acts as a drying aid. The wetting agent or rinse aid helps to distribute the composition uniformly over the surface of the glass and to avoid beading. Any water-based surfactant with surface wetting properties may be employed, be it anionic, cationic or uncharged.

One or more further components may be added to the composition to improve or modify the cleaning properties of the composition. Advantageously, it has been found that the addition of a calcined seaweed powder, for example, kelp, can improve the cleaning properties of the composition when used on automobile paint or enamelled surfaces. The addition of between 2% and 35% by volume of kelp to the mixture enhances its' polishing properties on automobile paint surfaces. After polishing the paint surface has a remarkably rejuvenated appearance.

One or more components of the composition may be omitted without significant deterioration in the cleaning properties of the composition. For example, the kerosene may be omitted, particularly where there is likely to be little or no greasy substances present on the glass surface. Any absolute or denatured alcohol may be employed instead of methylated spirits. The alcohol should comprise anywhere between 20%-60% by volume of the composition. Any other suitable volatile solvent may be employed instead of white spirits, for example, any turpentine type solvent or turpentine substitute may be used. Typically between 5%-30% by volume of a volatile solvent is employed in the composition. Any commercial grade, deodorised and/or decolourised kerosene product may be employed. Alternatively, any mixture of hydrocarbons or petroleum distillates having from 10-16 carbon atoms per molecule may be employed. Optionally between 1%-10% by volume of kerosene product or petroleum substitute may be employed. Typically the wetting agent or rinse aid comprises between l%-2% by volume of the total composition.

Now that a preferred embodiment of the glass cleaning composition and variations thereof have been described in detail, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the chemical arts that numerous variations and modifications may be made, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts. All such variations and modifications are to be considered within the scope of the present invention, the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A glass cleaning composition comprising:

(a) 20%-60% by volume of alcohol;

(b) 5%-30% by volume of a volatile solvent;

(c) l%-20% by volume of a abrasive agent in powder form; and,

(d) 0.5%-5% by volume of a wetting agent, and the balance of the volume being made up of water.

2. A glass cleaning composition as defined in claim 1, wherein said abrasive agent is a mineral powder suitable for use as an aid to polishing or grinding of glass.

3. A glass cleaning composition as defined in claim 2, wherein abrasive agent is a mineral oxide provided in powder form or as a dispersion in a carrier fluid.

4. A glass cleaning composition as defined in claim 3, wherein said abrasive agent is eerie oxide, CeO₂, or aluminium oxide, Al₂O₃.

5. A glass cleaning composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the abrasive agent comprises between 5% to 15% by volume of the total composition.

6. A glass cleaning composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein said alcohol is an absolute or denatured alcohol.

7. A glass cleaning composition as defined in claim 6, wherein said alcohol is methylated spirits.

8. A glass cleaning composition as defined in claim 1, wherein said volatile solvent is selected from the group comprising turpentine type solvents and turpentine substitutes, including white spirits, mineral spirits and any petroleum distillate with a flash point above 38°C and a distillation range between 190°C and 213°C.

9. A glass cleaning composition as defined in claim 1, wherein the cleaning composition may further comprise 1%-10% by volume of a degreasing agent.

10. A glass cleaning composition as defined in claim 9, wherein said degreasing agent is kerosene, be it commercial grade, deodorised and/or de-colourised.

11. A glass cleaning composition as defined in claim 9, wherein said degreasing agent comprises any mixture of hydrocarbons or petroleum distillates having from 10- 16 carbon atoms per molecule.

12. A glass cleaning composition as defined in claim 1, wherein said wetting agent is a water-based surfactant, (be it anionic, cationic or uncharged), with surface wetting properties.

13. A glass cleaning composition as defined in claim 1, wherein the cleaning composition further comprises 2% to 35% by volume of a calcined seaweed powder.