Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Patent
1993-07-19
1999-12-14
Kalafut, Stephen
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
510434, C02F 510
Patent
active
060017929
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to cleaning compositions for hard surfaces. Specifically, compositions are described which are designed to give optimal performance in removing limescale stains and encrustations.
BACKGROUND
Tap water always contains a certain amount of water hardness salts such as calcium carbonate which eventually deposit on surfaces which are often in contact with said water, resulting in an unaesthetic aspect of said surfaces. This limescale deposition phenomenon is even more acute in places where water is particularly hard.
Typically, these limescale deposits are removed by using a cleaning composition comprising an acid which "dissolves" limescale, typically phosphoric acid. however, phosphoric acid has become subject to discussions, in relation to environmental questions. It is therefore an object of this invention to find an alternative to phosphoric acid in this particular context.
In addition, it has been observed that state of the art compositions do not perform equally well on all limescale-containing stains, particularly on limescale-containing stains which are mainly found in the bathroom. These bathroom-type stains appear to contain not only calcium carbonate, but also soap scum, and it has now been found that soap scum is detrimental to the limescale removing performance of said compositions.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to obviate this issue in providing a cleaning composition for the removal of limescale, said composition possessing a superior limescale removing capacity, said composition being also effective on limescale-containing bathroom-type stains.
DE 33 40 033 describes a composition for the removal of limestone traces on laundry; these compositions contain maleic acid and nonionic surfactants, as well as high amounts of phosphoric acid and urea.
EP 200 776 describes a method to remove precipitates containing mainly calcium carbonate by using a mixture of a Lewis acid and a protonic acid, possibly maleic acid.
J 61 28 3700 (abstract) discloses detergent compositions for bathroom which comprises a maleic acid or anhydride-based polymer and a nonionic surfactant; these compositions also comprise cationic surfactants.
EP 0 336 878 discloses an acidic cleaning composition comprising conventional surfactants and a dicarboxylic acid. Maleic acid is not mentioned.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The compositions according to the invention are aqueous compositions comprising from 1% to 15% by weight of the total composition of a nonionic surfactant or mixtures thereof and from 4% to 25% by weight of the total composition of maleic acid; said compositions having a pH as is of from 1.0 to 4.0.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.
The present invention is partly based on the finding that Maleic acid possesses an unexpected superior limescale removing capacity, compared to phosphoric acid and compared to other dicarboxylic acids at equal levels.
Therefore, the compositions according to the invention comprise from 4% to 25% by weight of the total composition of maleic acid. This percentage is calculated on the basis of the molecular weight of the acid form, but maleic anhydride is equally convenient for use in the compositions according to the present invention. Indeed, maleic anhydride is generally cheaper and it is transformed into the acid form when incorporated in an aqueous medium.
It has been observed that the limescale removing capacity of the composition raises with the amount of maleic acid, up to a certain amount where a plateau in the limescale removing performance is reached. Accordingly, the compositions preferably comprise from 6 to 10% of maleic acid.
The compositions according to the invention have a pH as is of from 1.0 to 4.0. The limescale removing capacity of the composition is strongly dependent on its pH, and the lower the pH, the better the limescale removing performance; the pH of the composition also has an effect on the shine performance of the compositions, and the higher the pH, the better the shine; one therefo
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Aylor Robert B.
Kalafut Stephen
The Procter & Gamble & Company
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