Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-22
2002-01-22
Delcotto, Gregory (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
C510S245000, C510S264000, C510S401000, C510S422000, C510S499000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06340660
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present subject matter is related: generally to cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions therefor or processes of preparing compositions (Class 510), cleaning compositions or processes of preparing (Subclass 108), for cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific contaminant (Subclass 109); more particularly to such compositions or processes intended for cleaning bare metal surfaces (Subclass 245); and most specifically to such compositions or processes intended for use on a non ferrous surface further possessing a corrosion inhibiting or solvent stabilizing component (Subclass 255) and such compositions or processes with a corrosion or embrittlement inhibiting component possessing an organic nitrogen containing substituent (Subclass 264).
2. General Background
The present innovation is concerned generally with cleaning railroad cars including the interior metal surfaces of tanks and other containers and the exterior of railroad cars, particularly passenger rail cars which have polycarbonate glazed acrylic windows which are considered a standard in the industry currently. It has been a common practice to use phosphate detergents for this purpose but the use of phosphates has become prohibited by regulation in certain states including New York out of concern for the environmental degradation resulting.
Tanks for holding many liquids, edible and otherwise, and other container type rail cars for transporting fluent materials, edible and otherwise, are commonly manufactured from stainless steel or aluminum. The bodies of passenger rail cars are typically constructed with formed aluminum sheet exteriors with stainless steel fittings. Windows previously made of glass are typically now made of acrylic such as Lexan™ for resistance to fracture glazed with polycarbonate for scratch resistance. Cleaning solutions for passenger rail cars must avoid corrosion of these construction materials.
Discussion of the Prior Art
Urea is an organic nitrogen containing compound, CO(NH
2
)
2
, which has been recognized as a useful stabilizing component for hydrochloric acid, HCl, which has been long recognized as an effective solvent for cleaning many metals including stainless steel, however, the use of urea hydrochloride on aluminum, particularly, often results in blackening of the surface indicative of corrosion. The use of various surfactants including amphoteric and nonionic surfactants and the use of ethylamine, including mono ethanol amine, as an adjunct in small amounts in addition to a water based urea hydrochloride solvent is known but these additives are not effective in preventing corrosion of aluminum surfaces by urea hydrochloride. And no known corrosion inhibitor has been found to be considered satisfactory in preventing this corrosion.
Butylene is recognized, by a dictionary definition, as “any one of three gaseous isometric ethylene hydrocarbons, C
4
H
8
, used principally in making synthetic rubbers”. Use of butylene oxide as a solvent stabilizer is known, especially the use of 1,2-butylene oxide, together with nitromethane and 1,3-dioxolane as stabilizers for chlorobromomethane in a solvent mixture “for cleaning articles having hydrocarbon soluble contaminants, especially in a vapor degreaser” (Abstract) as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,801,136 issued to Henry.
Economic manufacturing means for the production of acetylenedicarboxylic acid, COOHC|CCOOH, more recently known as butynediol, are known. U.S. Pat. No. 4,288,641 issued to Codignol et al. discloses a “process for the preparation of 1,4-butynediol through the reaction of acetylene with formaldehyde in the presence of a catalytic metal, preferably copper” improved by use of a “molecular sieve or synthetic zeolite to which the catalytic metal is chemically bonded through an ion exchange reaction” which increases production rates and prevents formation of acetylene polymer, i.e. cuprene (Abstract).
The use of either butyne or butynediol, however, as a stabilizer or corrosion inhibitor for urea hydrochloride in a solvent for cleaning bare metal is not known in the prior art.
Statement of Need
A need for an environmentally superior alternative to phosphate detergents for the cleaning of bare metal surfaces, particularly stainless steel and aluminum, which will not result in aluminum corrosion and which furthermore will not damage polycarbonate glazed acrylic is recognized. The use of urea hydrochloride, with appropriate surfactants, amphoteric and nonionic, has been recognized as effective on stainless steel but as causing corrosion of aluminum. The addition of ethylamine to such a urea hydrochloride cleaning solution has been recognized as a useful stabilizing agent or adjunct but an effective additive for inhibiting corrosion of aluminum by a urea hydrochloride water based cleaning solvent is unknown and a poignant need for the same is recognized in providing an environmentally superior alternative to phosphate detergents for the cleaning of bare metal surfaces, particularly stainless steel and aluminum, which will not result in aluminum corrosion and which furthermore will not damage polycarbonate glazed acrylic so that the same cleaning solvent may be utilized for all routine rail car cleaning operations including the exterior of passenger cars and the exterior and interior of tanker cars and other container cars used in transporting fluent material edible and otherwise.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Objects of the Invention
The encompassing object of the present invention is the provision of a cleaning solution effective upon stainless steel and aluminum bare metal surfaces which is environmentally superior to phosphate detergents and which will corrode neither aluminum nor polycarbonate glazed acrylic.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a water based urea hydrochloride cleaning solution effective upon stainless steel and aluminum bare metal surfaces which is environmentally superior to phosphate detergents and which will corrode neither aluminum nor polycarbonate glazed acrylic.
An auxiliary objective of the present invention is to inhibit corrosion of aluminum and polycarbonate glazed acrylic by a water based urea hydrochloride cleaning solution effective upon stainless steel and aluminum bare metal surfaces which is environmentally superior to phosphate detergents and which will corrode neither aluminum nor polycarbonate glaze acrylic.
Another auxiliary objective of the present invention is to optimize, with the specification of appropriate substituents, the effectiveness of a water based urea hydrochloride solution in cleaning stainless steel and aluminum bare metal surfaces which is environmentally superior to phosphate detergents and which will corrode neither aluminum nor polycarbonate glazed acrylic.
An ancillary objective of the present invention is the specification of an adjunct stabilizer appropriate for a water based urea hydrochloride cleaning solution effective upon stainless steel and aluminum bare metal surfaces which is environmentally superior to phosphate detergents and which will corrode neither aluminum nor polycarbonate glazed acrylic.
Another ancillary objective of the present invention is the specification of appropriate surfactant for a water based urea hydrochloride cleaning solution effective upon stainless steel and aluminum bare metal surfaces which is environmentally superior to phosphate detergents and which will corrode neither aluminum nor polycarbonate glazed acrylic.
Principles Relating to the Present Invention
In fulfillment of the above state objects it is suggested that corrosion of aluminum and polycarbonate by a water based urea hydrochloride cleaning solution or solvent be prevented by an inhibitor which is compatible, and therefore effective, with urea hydrochloride and further that other compatible solution substituents be identified. For clarity and consistency of language in definition of the present invention urea hydrochloride is considered to comprise the only mai
Delcotto Gregory
Gibson Peter
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