EP1321514A1 - Liquid scouring composition containing polyethylene particles - Google Patents

Abstract

Liquid detergent (I) with a scouring action for cleaning solid surfaces comprises water, surfactant(s) and suspended polyethylene particles. <??>An Independent claim is also included for production of (I) by adding the ingredients to at least 20 wt.% of the water and then adding the rest of the water.

Description

Introduction

The present invention relates to liquid detergents for cleaning solid surfaces for universal or specific use.

State of the Art Reveals Many Action Cleaning Products scouring. These usually contain one or more substances abrasives, inorganic salts, surfactants and other additives and / or adjuvants, such as bleaches, stabilizers, complexing agents, dyes, perfumes, thickening agents, etc.

The abrasive substances generally recommended are particles of powdery mineral matter of often irregular shape with a grain size average between 10 and 100 µm.

The problem with these cleaning products is that their scouring or abrasive, which comes mainly from the hardness of the material and the size and forms particles, greatly increases the risk of scratches and scratches on solid surfaces, even on resistant materials. These compositions are therefore completely unsuitable for the supports sensitive, such as paints, plastics, wood, etc.

Reducing the hardness and / or particle size of the abrasive particles largely helps to avoid or alleviate the problem of damage support, but it simultaneously affects product efficiency for cleaning, eg eradicating stuck grease or other residues dried from various origins.

Japanese patent JP000204035 discloses a weakly acidic cleaning product for the skin which may optionally contain, inter alia, powdered polyethylene, the objective of adding powdered polyethylene being to improve the quantity and quality of the foam.

Subject of the invention

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide products of general purpose cleaning liquids with scouring action, allowing elimination stubborn stains, eg burnt grease and smoke residue on solid supports, without scratching, scratching or tarnishing the treated surfaces.

General description of the invention

According to the invention, this objective is achieved by a liquid detergent to scouring action for cleaning solid surfaces containing water, or more surfactants and particulate polyethylene in suspension.

The use of polyethylene as an abrasive or scouring agent in detergents of the present invention makes it possible to significantly reduce the risk of scratching, scratch or tarnish the cleaned surfaces, while benefiting from high scouring.

These detergents are of relatively universal use and are particularly indicated for the removal of stubborn stains from dried or burnt grease, smoke residues and encrustations of various origins.

Another advantage highlighting the universal nature of the present detergents is that they are also suitable for cleaning heavily soiled textiles.

The polyethylene used preferably consists of fine particles, with a average particle size in the range of 30 to 100 µm, preferably with a narrow particle size distribution. A more preferred range is between 40 and 80 µm, with a maximum particle size less than 150 µm.

The abrasive agent, i.e. particulate polyethylene, is in suspension in liquid detergent. Its content in detergents of this invention can be varied to a large extent and will depend on one hand on the intended use and on the other hand the expected storage period, i.e. the desired stability of the suspension. The abrasive agent generally represents less than 15% by weight, preferably from 0.1 to 10% by weight, or preferably from 1 to 5% by weight of the detergent composition of the present invention.

To further improve the long-term stability of these suspensions, it can be appropriate to add one or more supports for the polyethylene. The the nature of these supports is not critical insofar as they facilitate or stabilize the polyethylene suspension and are compatible with other ingredients. These will generally be components with a simultaneous affinity for polyethylene and for the solvent, i.e. water, by example in general of the surfactants, described below, but in particular nonionic surfactants. A favorite group of carrier compounds for polyethylene are ether-type fatty alcohols alkylated polyethylene glycol, the content of which is preferably between 2 and 15% by weight.

Surfactants within the meaning of the present invention may be anionic, cationic, nonionic and / or amphoteric surfactants. Content total of surfactants in the detergents of the present invention does not generally not more than 40% by weight and it is in particular between 0.1 and 30% by weight, preferably between 5 and 20% by weight.

Suitable anionic agents include for example carboxylic _acids, C ₆ -C ₂₂ and their salts, alkylbenzenesulfonic acids C ₈ -C ₂₀ and their salts, alkyl _sulphates, C ₆ -C ₂₂ and alkylpolyoxyalkylènesulfates C ₆ -C ₂₂ with 1 to 20 units of oxyethylene and / or oxypropylene.

Preferred anionic surfactants are C ₆ -C ₂₂ fatty acids, saturated or unsaturated, branched or not, as well as their salts, for example their alkali or alkaline earth metal salts, in particular sodium and potassium. Preferred fatty acids are oleic, palmitic, stearic acid, as well as their mixtures.

The nonionic surfactants can be chosen from the group of C ₆ -C ₂₂ fatty alcohols or oxoalcohols and their adducts with ethylene oxide.

It is also possible to prepare liquid detergents according to the invention by incorporating one or more amphoteric and / or cationic surfactants therein.

To increase the performance of detergents, it is also planned to mix one or more organic co-solvents, chosen from the group of alcohols, for example methanol, ethanol, propanol, etc., glycols, for example ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, ethers, for example diethyl ether, dibutyl and / or glycol ethers, for example, mono-, di-, tri- or polyethylene glycol ether. A preferred co-solvent is butyldiglycol.

The viscosity of the compositions of the present invention can be adjusted by according to needs. One or more thickening agents are there added, preferably before the introduction of the other ingredients. We can cite as an example of organic compounds, agarose, tragacanth, pectins polyoses, starch, gelatin, carboxymethylcellulose, poly (meth) acrylates, polycarboxylic acids, etc. or compounds inorganic, such as silicic and polysilicon acids, zeolites, etc.

In addition to the ingredients already mentioned, detergents can contain one or more other common additives and adjuvants. These are for example substances chosen from stabilizers to improve the qualities of the suspension, foam inhibitors, complexing agents to complex certain ions metallic, sequestrants to mitigate the effects of water hardness, preservatives for longer term protection the agents for bleaching such as sodium perborate, bactericidal agents or disinfection, anti-corrosion agents, anti-static agents, dyes, for example to allow the identification of the different desired uses, perfumes, etc.

The pH of detergents can be adapted to requirements. Generally in such detergents, it is recommended to use sodium hydroxide to facilitate wetting and therefore the elimination, among other things, of grease on the surfaces which are not sensitive to basic pH. Sometimes, for example in the case of textiles it may be more appropriate to use potassium hydroxide which is less oxidizing for these applications.

The pH insofar as it is not imposed by the chosen ingredients, can be adapted by adding an acid or a base, for example citric acid or sodium and / or potassium hydroxide.

The order of addition when preparing the liquid detergents in this invention of ingredients is not critical, as long as it is not necessary not by common sense. Indeed, for example the support compounds for the polyethylene will preferably be added before the latter to avoid a deposit premature particles.

For the preparation of the liquid detergents according to the invention, it is practical to start with a minimum of 20% by weight of water, to which we add then the other ingredients one by one or in the form of partial premixes and the volume is finally adjusted with the remaining water.

The following examples of detergents are given only to illustrate the possibilities offered by the present invention.

Examples

a) Liquid detergent formulation particularly suitable for cleaning mineral oil residues, garage floors, machine parts, etc. components Percentage by weight Water 20 Sodium hydroxide 3 A in C ₈ -C ₂₄ 4 Aminocarboxylic acid 2.5 Butyldiglycol 3 Powdered polyethylene (1 - 50 µm) 0.8 Soda borate 1.5 Tall oil fatty acid 2 Potassium gluconate 0.5 Water Balance

b) Formulation of liquid detergent specially intended for applications in the hotel and restaurant sector for the removal of residue from burnt fats, for example, on ovens, hoods, etc. components Percentage by weight Water 20 Potassium hydroxide 8 Sodium metasilicate 10 Powdered polyethylene (1 - 50 µm) 2 Zinc gluconate 1.5 Sodium lauryl ether 4 Coconut fatty acid 6 Conservative 1.5 Citric acid up to pH = 10.5 to 11 Water Balance

c) Liquid detergent formulation for sanitary applications. components Percentage by weight Water 20 Butyl glycol 10 Powdered polyethylene (1 - 50 µm) 3 Sodium lauryl ether 5 Sokolan pa50 (BASF) 4 Potassium gluconate 6 Diméthylbutylphénol 2 Sodium hydroxide 4 Sodium metasilicate 3 Citric acid up to pH = 10.5 to 11 Water Balance

Claims (10)

Scouring liquid detergent for cleaning solid surfaces, containing water, one or more surfactants and polyethylene particulate matter in suspension. Detergent according to claim 1, containing one or more carriers for polyethylene chosen from the group of fatty alcohols of alkylated ether type polyethylene glycol. Detergent according to claim 1 or 2, in which the particle size of the particulate polyethylene is between 30 and 100 µm. Detergent according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the particulate polyethylene represents less than 15% by weight. Detergent according to any one of the preceding claims, in which surfactants are chosen from surfactants anionic and / or non-ionic. Detergent according to claim 5, in which the anionic surfactants are chosen from the group of C ₆ -C ₂₂ carboxylic acids and their salts, C ₈ -C ₂₀ alkylbenzenesulfonic acids and their salts, C ₆ alkyl sulfates -C ₂₂ and C ₆ -C ₂₂ alkylpolyoxyalkylene _sulfates . Detergent according to claim 4 or 5, in which the nonionic surfactants are chosen from the group of C ₆ -C ₂₂ fatty alcohols or oxoalcohols and their adducts with ethylene oxide. Detergent according to any one of the preceding claims, containing in addition one or more organic co-solvents, chosen from the group of alcohols, glycols, ethers and / or glycol ethers. Detergent according to any one of the preceding claims, containing in addition to other common additives and adjuvants chosen from stabilizers, foam inhibitors, complexing agents, sequestrants, thickeners, preservatives, bleaches, bactericidal agents, anticorrosion agents, antistatic agents, dyes, perfumes, etc. Method for the preparation of liquid detergents according to any one of the preceding claims consisting in introducing in a minimum of 20% by weight of water all the ingredients and finally adding the remaining volume.