Synthetic resins or natural rubbers -- part of the class 520 ser – Synthetic resins – At least one aryl ring which is part of a fused or bridged...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-23
2001-07-10
Szekely, Peter (Department: 1714)
Synthetic resins or natural rubbers -- part of the class 520 ser
Synthetic resins
At least one aryl ring which is part of a fused or bridged...
C524S277000, C524S474000, C524S475000, C524S477000, C524S478000, C524S479000, C524S487000, C524S488000, C524S489000, C524S272000, C106S010000, C106S011000, C427S011000, C427S154000, C427S421100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06258882
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to protective and decorative polish formulations which when applied to various surfaces protect and polish the surfaces without causing any detrimental effects. The polish formulations contain materials with long-term chemical stability that provide consistent high quality which is particularly important for preserving and refinishing antiques and historic objects.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Wax- and silicone-containing polishes used for protective and decorative purposes are well-known in the art. They provide shine to furniture, floors, and other surfaces by leaving a glossy coating on the surface. Such polishes contain ingredients that protect surfaces from tarnish and weather, remove old coatings, clean, and/or smooth rough surfaces. Many polishes, however, contain ingredients which are detrimental to certain surfaces, especially the fragile surfaces of many antiques, for example, and also can be detrimental to the user's health.
Often, the glossy coating on a polished surface is caused by buffing a surface with a wax-containing polish. Examples of commonly used waxes include paraffin wax, carnauba wax, microcrystalline petroleum wax, vegetable wax, animal wax, and oxidized polyethylene and other synthetic polymeric waxes. Although useful, these wax formulations often fail to provide the desirable combination of durability and malleability. In addition, although synthetic waxes are not per se objectionable, they often can be problematic when added to certain formulations; the presence of certain synthetic waxes can make some formulations difficult to apply thinly and to buff to an even sheen. Polishes that are difficult to apply often can give the polished surface an unsatisfactory appearance.
If the glossy coating is not caused by a wax film, then it may be due to a silicone film created using dimethylsilicones or amino functional silicone products. The advantage of silicone is its ease of application. Silicone, however, can contaminate surfaces and can be difficult to remove, especially amino functional silicones which crosslink and bond to the surface being polished.
Polishing formulations also frequently comprise a solvent, typically a volatile organic solvent. Solvents in commercially available polishes generally have a high aromatic content which can be toxic to the user and potentially damaging to the object being polished. For example, some formulations contain the solvent kerosene which can damage historic and cultural artifacts, antiques, and other objects. Most known commercial polishes lack long-term stability and contain unspecified and variable ingredients or undesirable ingredients, resulting in products of inconsistent or deleterious quality. The use of such products can be detrimental to objects, especially museum-quality artifacts and fragile antiques, and can create application problems.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of known polishes by providing superior surface polishes that are safe and easy to use by professional finishers, cabinetmakers, collectors, and individual consumers. It is a further object of the invention to provide polishes which comprise an organic solvent having little to virtually no aromatic content, so that the health risks associated with the use of the polishes are low and the polishes can be used on almost any hard surface without harm. The polishes of the present invention combine low toxicity, ease of application, long term stability, and consideration of the fragile nature of cultural artifacts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, polish formulations are provided which comprise:
a) an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent comprising a maximum of about 10% aromatic hydrocarbons;
b) an acrylic resin; and
c) a wax product that is thermoplastic, transparent, a solid at room temperature and has a melting/softening range of about 60° to about 90° C.; wherein said acrylic resin and wax product are present in a wt.:wt. ratio of about 1:3 to about 1:8 and the wt:wt ratio of resin and wax to solvent is about 1:1 to about 1:9. Preferably the ratio of resin and wax to solvent is about 1:1 to about 1:5. Modifiers, such as colorants, abrasives, slip-reducing agents, preservatives and ultraviolet light inhibitors, also can be included in the formulation.
The formulations are intended to fill the need for polishing antiques and other fragile surfaces including wood, metal, stone, varnished or painted surfaces, and other non-porous surfaces. They also can be used to fill dents and cover scratches. The formulations contain ingredients of low toxicity, known long-term chemical stability, and high purity, e.g. pharmaceutical or food grade. An important feature of the polish formulations is the absence of strong alkaline or acidic components. Additionally, the formulations do not contain silicone and comprise an organic solvent which has very little or no aromatic content. Both silicone and organic solvents with a high aromatic content can be detrimental to the preservation of historic objects. Another advantage of the formulations is the low environmental impact due to a high solids content which creates few volatile organics. Thus, the formulations can be used by anyone, including professional conservators, on any stable surface, including furniture, statuary, floors, walls, and ceilings, that is not sensitive to the solvent in the formulations.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The polish formulations of this invention function as a surface polish for polishing and preserving hard, stable surfaces such as wood, stone, metal, and varnished and painted surfaces. Applying the formulation is simple. The ingredients allow for easy, thin application (essential to a successful polish) so that the surface can be buffed readily by hand or machine. Left unbuffed, the polish becomes a matting agent. In addition, the polish is removable using mineral spirits and can be reapplied without having to remove the entire original coating.
Key ingredients in the formulations are an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent, an acrylic resin, and a wax product that is both malleable and durable. The resin provides durability to the polish and can be selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic acrylic resins, such as polyisobutyl acrylic resins, and polybutyl methacrylate; polycyclohexanone resin, and mixtures thereof. The preferred resin is methacrylate resin, which is preferred due to its hardness and its ability to go into solution in aliphatic solvents. The concentration of the resin can vary from about 1% to about 13% by weight of the total formulation. The ratio of acrylic resin to the wax component of the formulation is within the range of about 1:3 to about 1:8. Desirably, the ratio of resin to wax is about 1:5 to about 1:7.
The acrylic resin should be soluble in the hydrocarbon solvent used in the formulation. Mineral spirits, heat, or a combination of the two can be used to enable the resin to go into solution with the aliphatic solvent. Thus, the resin optionally can be combined with mineral spirits at a preferred concentration of from about 1% to about 10%. The most preferred concentration is about 4%.
As noted above, the formulations contain a hydrocarbon solvent with a low aromatic content. “Low aromatic content” is defined to mean a maximum of about 10% aromatic hydrocarbons. Preferably, the aromatic content is less than about 1%. Examples of solvents with low aromatic content include Stoddard solvent, odorless mineral spirits, California Rule 66 solvent, and mixed alkanes solvents. Suitable mixed alkanes are those with a flash point of about 40° C. The most preferred solvent is Stoddard solvent. The preferred concentration of the solvent is from about 50% to about 90% by weight of the total formulation.
The ratio of solvent to the wax and resin components helps determine the consistency of the formulation. If it is desired for the formulation to have the consistency of a paste polish, the wt:wt ratio of solve
Rothwell Figg Ernst & Manbeck
Szekely Peter
The Smithsonian Institution
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