Method to render a hard surface hydrophilic

Details Method to render a hard surface hydrophilic Method to render a hard surface hydrophilic

1999-03-10

2002-06-11

Nakarani, D. S. (Department: 1773)

Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions

Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing

For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...

C510S182000, C510S421000, C510S476000, C510S480000, C510S506000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06403545

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of imparting or enhancing of anti-fog and anti-static properties to a hard surface by applying thereto a composition containing an associative polymeric thickening agent and a particular surfactant containing ethylene oxide.
RELATED BACKGROUND ART
There are many applications where it is desirable to render a hard surface hydrophilic or to enhance the hydrophilic properties of a hard surface. For example, it is desirable for a mirror surface not to fog up under conditions of high humidity such as in a shower stall or in a bathroom. As another example, a boat hull would better maintain a shiny glossy appearance if water drained off the surface in a sheet rather than remaining on the surface as agglomerated droplets. Similarly, automobile finishes would appear cleaner after washing if the residue water did not dry as individual droplets on the surface but instead dried as a uniform sheet.
In another application, a hydrophilic surface would provide more efficient movement through a water medium because the surface boundary layer would not detach as readily from the surface. Such better controlled boundary layers reduces turbulence, thereby increasing efficiency. Thus, the formation of a hydrophilic layer or film on a boat surface would desirably make the surface more “slippery” while moving through water.
Similarly, water discharged through a confined channel such as a hose could be discharged at a higher rate for a given head pressure if the water flow were less turbulent in the hose. The formation of a hydrophilic layer at the water/channel interface would improve the hydrodynamic characteristics of such discharges, thereby allowing water to be pumped farther and/or with greater volume through a given hose.
Such hydrophilic properties can also provide anti-static effects that allow the hydrophilic surface to remain clean longer because ionic dust particles are less attracted to the surface. Thus, it would be desirable to provide a composition that imparts or enhances anti-static properties to hard surfaces such as, for example, glass, furniture and floors. In particular, a composition which can be conveniently applied as, for example, a glass cleaning composition, a surface paste, or a continuously supplied fluid supplement to impart or enhance hydrophilic properties to a surface would be desirable.
Various glass cleaning compositions are well-known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,482 describes a non-streaking glass cleaning composition containing ethylene glycol monohexyl ether and a surfactant in water together with a small amount of an organic co-solvent.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to a method of rendering a hard surface hydrophilic by applying to the surface a composition containing i) an associative polymeric thickening agent and ii) a compound represented by the following chemical structure:
wherein Z=H, CH
3
, or C
2
H
5
; Y=H, CH
3
, or C
2
H
5
; M=1 to 30; N=0 to 30; R
1
=H, CH
3
, C
2
H
5
, a branched or unbranched C
8-22
alkyl or alkylene substituent, or nothing; R
2
=H, CH
3
, C
2
H
5
, a branched or unbranched C
8-22
alkyl or alkylene substituent, O, or nothing; X=N, O, S, P, Si, PO
3
, or SO
3
; and Y=R
2
when N=0.
This invention is also directed to a composition and a film formed from the residue of that composition. The composition contains i) an associative polymeric thickening agent and ii) a compound having the chemical structure (I) described above.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a method of providing anti-fog, hydrophilic, water sheeting, and/or anti-static properties to a hard surface (and/or enhancing such properties) by applying a composition containing from about 0.01% to about 30% by weight of an associative polymeric thickening agent and from about 0.01% to about 55% by weight of a compound having the following chemical structure:
wherein Z=H, CH
3
, or C
2
H
5
; Y=H, CH
3
, or C
2
H
5
; M=1 to 30; N=0 to 30; R
1
=H, CH
3
, C
2
H
5
, a branched or unbranched C
8-22
alkyl or alkylene substituent, or nothing; R
2
=H, CH
3
, C
2
H
5
, a branched or unbranched C
8-22
alkyl or alkylene substituent, O, or nothing; X=N, O, S, P, Si, PO
3
, or SO
3
; and Y=R
2
when N=0. It is preferable that M equal N and each be from 5 to 10 (total of M+N=10 to 20).
The present invention is also directed to a method of forming a residual layer on a hard surface, and the thus formed surface layer, effective to provide or to enhance anti-fog, hydrophilic, water sheeting, and/or anti-static properties to the resulting coated surface, from the application of the composition described above containing i) an associative polymeric thickening agent and ii) a compound having the chemical structure (I) to the surface.
The hard surface can be any convenient firm surface, as will be clear from the following nonlimiting examples: glass, enameled metal, metal, painted wood, flexible polymeric surfaces, clear or opaque composite surfaces, fiberglass surfaces, glass or plastic bottles, metal or synthetic composition containers, rubber hoses, plastic window panes, shower curtains, and vinyl or aluminum siding.
All percentages herein are by weight unless specifically stated otherwise.
Associative polymeric thickeners are water-soluble or water-swellable polymers that have chemically attached hydrophobic groups that are capable of non-specific hydrophobic associations similar to those of conventional surfactants. Associative polymeric thickeners are also known as hydrophobically modified water soluble polymers. Any convenient associative polymeric thickener may be used such as, for example, the associative polymeric thickeners described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,652,208 and 5,648,326, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. The associative thickener is typically an addition polymer of three components: an alpha-beta-monoethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic acid or dicarboxylic acid of from 3 to 8 carbon atoms such as acrylic acid or methacrylic acid to provide water solubility, a monoethylenically unsaturated copolymerizable monomer lacking surfactant capacity such as methyl acrylate or ethyl acrylate to obtain the desired polymer backbone and body characteristics, and a monomer possessing surfactant capacity which provides the pseudo plastic properties to the polymer and is the reaction product of a monoethylenically unsaturated monomer with a nonionic surfactant compound wherein the monomer is copolymerizable with the foregoing monomers such as the reaction product of methacrylic acid with a monohydric nonionic surfactant to obtain a monomer such as CH
3
(CH
2
)
15-17
(OCH
2
CH
2
)
e
OOCC(CH
3
)=CH
2
where “e” has an average value of about 10 or 20. An exemplary associative polymeric thickener that may be used is “ACUSOL 823,” an acrylic polymer available from Rohm & Haas Co. (Philadelphia, Pa.).
In the present invention, the associative polymeric thickener is used in conjunction with compound (I) which can be described as a neutralizing agent or a non-ionic surfactant. The neutralization of an acrylic polymer by long chain amine functional neutralizing agents to improve the stability of hair spray resins is described by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,874,604 and Re. 34,157, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein. A preferred neutralizing agent is an ethoxylated cocoamine such as Varonic K-215, a PEG-15 cocoamine made by Witco Corporation (Dublin, Ohio) represented by the following chemical structure:
wherein the sum of m and n is 15; and R
3
=coco. It is known in the art that “coco” represents C
10-20
linear and/or branched aliphatic substituents. In the case of Varonic K-215, the coco has a median distribution at C
12-14
.
The composition of the present invention can conveniently include other components. Advantageously, the composition may include an anionic surfact

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