Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
Patent
1998-05-06
1999-11-09
Douyon, Lorna M.
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
510220, 510238, 510245, 510247, 510253, 510254, 510362, 510434, 510477, 510488, C11D 320, C11D 334
Patent
active
059814497
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to aqueous acidic liquid cleaning compositions. More specifically, acidic compositions are described which give optimal performance in removing limescale stains and encrustations while ensuring appropriate surface safety. The compositions herein may be used on a variety of surfaces, ranging from bathrooms, toilets and kitchen surfaces to various appliances like automatic dish washers and washing machines.
BACKGROUND
Tap water contains a certain amount of solubilized ions which upon water evaporation eventually deposit as salts such as calcium carbonate on surfaces which are often in contact with said water, resulting in an anaesthetic aspect of said surfaces. This limescale formation and deposition phenomenon is even more acute in places where water is particularly hard.
It is well known in the art that limescale can be removed chemically with acidic solutions, and a great variety of acidic cleaning compositions have been described for this purpose.
However, in many instances acidic compositions may cause the problem that they present hazards to the surfaces treated therewith. Indeed the acids which are used in acidic compositions, such as phosphoric acid and the like can damage the surfaces being treated. In particular, some corrosion/staining may occur when metal surfaces such as aluminium, chromed steel or stainless steel are treated with such acids.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to obviate this issue in providing a cleaning composition possessing excellent limescale removing capacity while being safe to the surfaces treated therewith.
It is also desirable to formulate a composition particularly suitable to remove limescale in large appliances like automatic dish washers and washing machines. Indeed, limescale deposits in said appliances may build-up on the heater element making heat exchange more difficult. In other words, limescale deposits in said appliances are undesirable not only because they result in an anaesthetic aspect but also as said limescale deposits may result in higher consumption of energy, poorer machine performance and eventually malfunction.
It is thus a further object of the present invention to formulate a cleaning composition suitable to be used for removing limescale in large appliances, said composition possessing excellent limescale removing capacity while being safe to the surfaces treated therewith, especially metal surfaces like heating elements, walls, bottom and any inner part.
It has now been found that the above objects are met by formulating liquid compositions comprising an acid-stable thickener and a specific acidic system, i.e. maleic acid and a second acid which has a first pKa not exceeding 5, or mixtures thereof. Indeed it has been found that the compositions of the present invention comprising maleic acid, said second acid and said acid-stable thickener are significantly safer to the surfaces treated therewith, than the same compositions without said acid-stable thickener, while being also particularly effective in removing limescale. In other words, the use of acid-stable thickeners in an aqueous acidic liquid composition comprising maleic acid and said second acid improves surface safety of the surfaces treated with said composition. Furthermore, it has been found, in the broadest aspect of the present invention, that the use of an acid-stable thickener, in an aqueous acidic liquid composition comprising maleic acid improves limescale removing performance.
An advantage of the aqueous acidic liquid compositions of the present invention particularly suitable for removing limescale in large appliances such as automatic dish washers and/or washing machines is that said compositions provide excellent limescale removal on different types of limescale deposition present in said automatic dish washers and/or washing machines, e.g. on the severe limescale deposits which build up on the warm parts such as the heating element as well as on homogeneous lighter deposits which build up on the extended su
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Rapisarda Dario
Vos Eddy
Cook C. Brant
Douyon Lorna M.
Rasser Jacobus C.
The Procter & Gamble & Company
Zerby Kim W.
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