Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-16
2001-03-06
Gupta, Yogendra (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
C134S184000, C134S040000, C029S081010, C427S307000, C427S327000, C427S341000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06197736
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention is in the field of water-base alkaline cleaning solutions that are used to descale and derust objects made of steel and other iron alloys. The object that needs to be descaled and derusted, for example a drill bit, may be contaminated with a water-insoluble machining lubricant and a smut consisting generally of machining lubricant and small metal particles congealed together. Conventional water-base alkaline cleaning solutions do not have the ability to completely dissolve machining lubricants. The present invention has this ability.
An example of a widely used water-based alkaline cleaning agent is a product manufactured by McGean-Rohco, Inc., of Livonia, Mich. 48150, and sold under the trademark ROPREPP® DERUSTER WT. This product, ROPREPP® DERUSTER WT, is a liquid deruster concentrate containing surfactants, complexing agents, and 25-30 wt. % sodium hydroxide. Consequently, it has a pH that is strongly basic. It is used to derust and descale objects made of steel and other iron alloys. Further information about the composition of ROPREPP® DERUSTER WT may be found in its Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS No. 13075, revision 3, of May 1, 1997) which is incorporated by reference herein.
An example of a widely used water-insoluble machining lubricant is a machining lubricant manufactured by The Orelube Corporation, of Plainview, N.Y. 11803, and sold under the trademark BOELUBE® 70106. This product, BOELUBE® 70106, is a long chain alcohol-base machining lubricant, which is a free flowing, water-insoluble liquid at room temperature. Further information about the composition of BOELUBE® 70106 may be found in its Material Safety Data Sheet of Aug. 6, 1997 which is incorporated by reference herein.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect the invention is an improved alkaline cleaning solution that has the ability to descale, derust, and completely dissolve machining lubricants coated on steel and other iron alloy objects, the alkaline cleaning solution consisting essentially of: (a) water; (b) about 10% to 95% by volume of a water-soluble descaling and derusting agent; and (c) about 2% to 8% by weight of a water-soluble sequestering agent selected from the group consisting of sodium gluconate and its functional equivalents.
In another aspect the invention is a process for descaling, derusting, and completely dissolving and removing machining lubricants coated on steel and other iron alloy objects, the process comprising the steps of: (a) providing an alkaline cleaning solution consisting essentially of water, about 10% to 95% by volume of a water-soluble descaling and derusting agent, and about 2% to 8% by weight of a water-soluble sequestering agent selected from the group consisting of sodium gluconate and its functional equivalents; and (b) contacting the object with the alkaline cleaning solution at a temperature of about 120° F. to 140° F. for about 15 to 35 minutes, whereby the object is descaled, derusted, and the machining lubricant is completely dissolved and removed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an improved water-base alkaline cleaning solution that will completely dissolve and remove a water-insoluble machining lubricant, such as BOELUBE® 70106 (hereafter referred to as “BOELUBE®”), from objects made of steel and other iron alloys, for example, steel drill bits that have been used in drilling and that have become contaminated with machining lubricant and a smut generally consisting of machining lubricant and small metal particles congealed together. Complete solubilization of the machining lubricant is achieved by adding a water-soluble sequestering agent, such as sodium gluconate or its functional equivalent, to the water-based alkaline cleaning bath containing a commercially available descaling and derusting agent, such as ROPREPP® DERUSTER WT. The present improved alkaline cleaning solution invention can also be used on other tools (such as reamers, saws, broachers, grinders, taps, millers, thread cutters, deburrers, punches) that have become coated with machining lubricant and smut.
Prior to this invention, no water-based alkaline cleaning agent was known that would completely dissolve the water-insoluble machining lubricant. The water-based descaling and derusting agent ROPREPP® DERUSTER WT itself contains one or more surfactants that will dissolve machining lubricants better than most other alkaline cleaning agents. But by adding the sequestering agent to the solution of ROPREPP® DERUSTER WT, the machining lubricant, such as BOELUBE®, is dissolved and removed completely.
The metal build-up and dust from mechanical operations results in metal ions in the alkaline cleaning solution. The metal ions (such as aluminum ions) must be tied up to prevent them from interfering with the cleaning and to prevent redeposition on the object to be cleaned. The sequestering agent (such as sodium gluconate) keeps the metal ions soluble and away from the object to be cleaned.
There are numerous other commercially available alkaline cleaning agents intended to remove common oil and smut on metals. But they were unsuccessful in completely removing the machining lubricant BOELUBE® and the smut generally consisting of the machining lubricant and small metal particles congealed together. The improved alkaline cleaning solution of this invention will completely dissolve and remove the machining lubricant BOELUBE® and the smut.
The improved alkaline cleaning solution of the present invention is a water-based mixture of a descaling and derusting agent and a sequestering agent. The preferred descaling and derusting agent is the commercially available product ROPREPP® DERUSTER WT. The concentration of the descaling and derusting agent may vary between about 10% by volume to 95% by volume. The preferred concentration of the descaling and derusting agent is 30% by volume.
The preferred sequestering agent is sodium gluconate. The concentration of the sequestering agent may vary between about 2% by weight to 8% by weight. The preferred concentration of the sequestering agent is 5% by weight. The object to be cleaned should be in contact with the alkaline cleaning solution for about 15 to 35 minutes at a temperature of about 120° F. to 140° F., whereby the object is descaled, derusted, and the machining lubricant is completely dissolved and removed
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Cullom, Jr. Paul C.
Gupta Yogendra
Hamlin D G
The Boeing Company
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