Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Reexamination Certificate
2002-10-15
2004-02-24
Ogden, Necholus (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
C510S424000, C510S434000, C510S436000, C510S492000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06696399
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is related, in general, to detergent compositions, and more particularly, to detergents utilized in transportation applications, such as automobile and truck washing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Detergent compositions are utilized in a wide variety of applications, all having differing requirements, such as detergents for household use, detergents for industrial use, and detergents for vehicle washing and other transportation applications. Household and industrial detergents, for example, are being created to require one application and no rinsing, such as that disclosed in Aszman et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,462,010, issued Oct. 8, 2002, entitled “All Purpose Liquid Cleaning Compositions Compromising Solubilizers”, which illustrates a detergent for typical household use. Such detergents are unsuitable for a vehicle washing environment, in which the components to be removed include oily soils, mineral soils, innumerable types of organic and inorganic matter, mud, tar, grease, oil, and virtually any other item which may be found in a transportation environment, for automobiles, trucks, trains, airplanes, jets, boats, and ships.
Vehicle washing has also evolved from various mechanical systems having physical contact with the vehicle, such as by using brushes and cloths, to non-mechanical washing systems which spray detergent on the vehicle and then rinse with water under high pressure, without the use of brushes, cloths or other mechanical aids. In addition, such non-mechanical systems may also use a two-detergent application washing process in which one detergent is applied, followed by a variable lag or dwell time, followed by application of a second detergent, again followed by a variable lag or dwell time, and then rinsing with high pressure water. In this environment, because of the absence of friction with the soiled surface from a mechanical device, more effective types of detergents are required to achieve comparable cleaning.
In the prior art, in a two-detergent non-mechanical vehicle washing process, the first detergent applied is frequently a low pH detergent containing a mineral acid, such as hydrofluoric acid (HF). These hydrofluoric acid detergents are highly corrosive, both to the vehicle and to the vehicle wash facility, are toxic to consumers and the environment, are dangerous to make, ship, and use, and may be otherwise damaging to a vehicle's surface. In the application of a second detergent, an alkaline detergent is often utilized, containing, for example, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, or various sodium and potassium silicates, carbonates or phosphates.
A need remains, therefore, for a detergent composition having a low pH, which is noncorrosive and nontoxic, but which is highly effective in a transportation cleaning application. In addition, a need remains for new washing procedures, which are equally effective as these prior art HF processes.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there will be described herein in detail specific embodiments thereof, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.
As indicated above, a need exists for a new detergent composition which is highly effective in vehicle and other transportation washing applications, such as automobile washing, but which does not have the corrosive effect and toxicity of the prior art detergents containing hydrofluoric acid or its variants, such as ammonium bifluoride (ABF). In accordance with the present invention, a detergent composition is provided which utilizes an organic acid, such as a hydroxycarboxylic acid, with various surfactants, and with a high concentration of a terpene such as d-limonene. The detergent composition of the invention provides significant and equal effectiveness in vehicle cleaning, without the harmful corrosive and toxic side-effects of hydrofluoric acid-based or other mineral acid-based low pH detergents
In addition, the detergent composition of the present invention may be utilized in a two-detergent vehicle washing process, first involving the application of the detergent composition of the invention, followed by a variable dwell time, followed by application of an alkaline detergent, followed by a variable dwell time, and then followed by high pressure water rinsing. The detergent composition of the present invention is especially effective at removing road film, comprised of various oils, mineral soils, innumerable types of organic and inorganic matter, mud, tar, and grease, which common detergents are less effective at removing.
The terms “surface active agent”, “detergent”, “surfactant” and “emulsifier”, as used herein have their ordinary meaning as is well known in the detergent and emulsion arts.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a noncorrosive, nontoxic emulsion for cleaning metals, plastics, glass, rubber, and other materials, such as those materials used in a vehicle, and so, which may be coated or uncoated, such as a painted automobile body, a coated windshield, and an uncoated alloy wheel. The composition contains at least one surface active agent, from 3 % to 30 % of a hydroxycarboxylic acid having a pK of from 10
−5
to 10
−2.5
, and from 2% to 50% of a terpene, with all percentages by weight. The surface active agents are a detergent, a surfactant or an emulsifier. In one embodiment, a co-emulsifier is an acid salt such as potassium or sodium citrate. Another surface active agent is a surfactant such as an anionic or nonionic surfactant. Preferably, the emulsion includes a plurality of surface active agents including detergents, surfactants and emulsifiers.
Exemplary and preferred anionic surfactants include a linear C10-C16 alkyl benzene sulfonate, the sodium, potassium, ammonium and ethanolammonium salts of a linear C8-C16 alkyl benzene sulfonate, a C10-C20 paraffin sulfonate, an alpha olefin sulfonate containing about 10-24 carbon atoms, or a C8-C18 ethoxylated alkyl sulfate. (It should be noted that the notation “Cx” as used herein, denotes the number (or range of numbers) of carbon atoms in a chain of the corresponding molecular structure, such as C10-C20 paraffin sulfonates denoting paraffin sulfonates having 10 to 20 carbon atoms in its molecular structure (molecule)).
Exemplary and preferred nonionic surfactants include an ethoxylated C8-C18 alkylphenol, a condensation product of a higher alcohol condensed with about 2 to 14 moles of ethylene oxide. The surface active agent can also be an emulsifier. Such emulsifiers are well known in the art.
The emulsion contains high levels of a terpene. Preferably, the amount of terpene is from 2 weight percent (%) to 40 weight percent (%) or higher. More preferably, the emulsion contains from 3% to 20% terpene and, more preferably from 3% to 10% terpene. Exemplary and preferred terpenes are well known in the art and set forth hereinafter.
The emulsion contains a hydroxycarboxylic having a pK of from 10
−5
to 10
−2
. Preferably, the pK of the hydroxycarboxylic is from 10
−3
to 10
−4
. The hydroxycarboxylic contains from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and can be linear, branched chain or cyclic. Preferably the hydroxycarboxylic is linear or branched chain and contains from 2 to 4 carbon atoms. Exemplary and preferred such hydroxycarboxylic are glycolic acid, citric acid or lactic acid. The emulsion contains from 2 weight percent (%) to 25 weight percent (%) of the hydroxycarboxylic. The pH of the emulsion is less than 7. Preferably, the pH is from 1.5 to 5. More preferably, the pH is from 1.5 to 4.
The emulsion can include other ingredients such as a hydrotrope, such as sodium xylene sulfonate or similar compounds.
In one preferred embodiment, the low pH, noncorrosive detergent of the present invention comprises, approximately by percentage weight:
(a
Chernin Vladimir
Kubala Ronald W.
Martens Richard
Cleaning Systems, Inc.
Gamburd Nancy R.
Ogden Necholus
LandOfFree
Cleaning composition does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Cleaning composition, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cleaning composition will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3319320