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Description  |
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This invention relates, as indicated, to cleaning compositions which are
especially useful for removing waxes, fats, oils, and greases and
difficultly removable materials such as Bunker C oil or other crude oil
compositions. The composition is a water-in-oil emulsion. It is
characterized by a relatively short BOD compared to, for example,
petroleum derived solvent compositions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART
In order to impact a protective coating and/or to improve the appearance of
many surfaces, it has been customary in the past to apply a wax coating.
These coatings are by no means permanent and, where exposed to elements
such as weather, salt, human traffic, etc., the wax surface gradually
becomes flawed or disappears entirely. Prior to applying a new wax
coating, it has been found desirable to remove the weathered or worn wax
with a solvent or solvent composition. Many of the solvents which are
available for this prupose have a tendency to deleteriously affect the
substrate, particularly where the substrate is a painted or other organic
chemical material, as for example the surface of an automobile. To
overcome these problems, the prior art has developed various emulsion
compositions which are based primarily upon the use of petroleum derived
hydrocarbons, e.g., kerosene, petroleum distillates, e.g., n-hexane, etc.
While these materials are quite effective to remove wax from a surface,
they are environmentally undesirable, principally because of the prolonged
BOD, e.g., up to 40 days in duration.
I have now found that a highly effective cleaning composition especially
suited for removal of wax or wax-like materials from surfaces can be
prepared using a natural material, e.g., a terpene hydrocarbon material,
such as citrus limonene, alpha-pinene beta-pinene, or delta-3-carene. This
material together with a suitable dispersing agent described below is
dispersed in an aqueous medium in the form of a water-in-oil emulsion. In
this form, the oil phase comes immediately into contact with the wax or
other organic substance to be removed, and because of the high solvency
power of the terpene hydrocarbons is able very quickly to dissolve the old
surface coating including oils, fats, waxes and greases. Because the
emulsion is a water-in-oil emulsion and has suitable rheological
properties when on the surface even though vertically disposed, and does
not "run". After a suitable contact time, additional water can be added to
the surface, usually in the form of a spray which causes an inversion of
the emulsion to an oil-in-water emulsion whereby the cleaning compositions
is readily removed from the surface.
BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
Briefly stated, the present invention is in a composition of matter
consisting essentially of a water-in-oil emulsion of (a) an oil phase
consisting essentially of from about 95 to 85 parts by volume of an
unsaturated terpene hydrocarbon and from about 5 to 15 parts by volume of
the condensation product of from 1.5 to 3.0 moles of a mono-, di-, or
trialkylolamine with 1 mole of a C.sub.8 -C.sub.10 fatty acid, or fatty
acid mixture of two more fatty acids containing from 8 to 18 carbon atoms
and (b) from 5 to 8 parts by volume of water per part by volume of
component (a). The compositions of the present invention may contain small
amounts, i.e., less than 10% by volume of additional ingredients which do
not adversely effect the manner in which the water-in-oil emulsion
operates. Such materials include emulsion stabilizers, such as ordinary
cornstarch, hydroxymethylcellulose, or fungicides, bactericides, or
mildewcides, colorants, antioxidants, odorants, or mixtures thereof and
the like. The terpene hydrocarbon materials at the recommended
concentrations have a pleasant citrusy odor, and normally odorant
components or masks are not necessary.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND SPECIFIC EXAMPLES
As indicated above, the compositions of the present invention contain 3
essential ingredients: (a) an unsaturated terpene hydrocarbon, preferably
an unsaturated cyclic terpene hydrocarbon containing 10 carbon atoms and
selected from limonene or dipentene, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, mixtures
of alpha- and beta-pinene, carene, etc.; (b) a water soluble amide of a
coconut oil fatty acid or mixture of coconut oil fatty acids; and (c)
water.
The unsaturated terpene hydrocarbon solvents of the present invention are
derivatives of pine tree products or citrus by products, and, therefore,
are naturally occuring materials. These hydrocarbons can be used alone or
as mixtures. A readily available, inexpensive unsaturated hydrocarbon, and
one which is preferred for use in accordance herewith is citrus limonene
or dipentene. Turpentine which is a mixture of predominately alpha-and
beta-pinene may also be used. Alpha- and beta-pinene may also be used
individually as the solvent ingredient for the oil phase. The various
carene isomers may be used as a mixture or as individual components, e.g.,
delta-3-carene. Numerous other unsaturated terpene hydrocarbons are known
to those skilled in the art and may be used herein. However, those
mentioned above are the most readily available and least expensive.
The second essential component of the cleaning compositions hereof is an
alkanolamide derivative of a fatty acid or other vegetable fatty acids or
a mixture of fatty acids. Coconut oil fatty acids are preferred and
include caprylic (about 8% of the fatty acids naturally occuring in
coconut oil), capric acid (about 7%), lauric acid (about 48%), myristic
acid (about 17.5%), palmitic acid (about 8.2%), stearic acid (about 2%),
oleic acid (about 6%), and linoleic acid (about 2.5%). The fatty acids
containing from 8 to 18 carbon atoms, and particularly lauric acid are
preferred.
Reference may be had to the patent to Kritchevsky U.S. Pat. No. 2,089,212
dated Aug. 10, 1937 for details of the preparation of coconut oil fatty
acid alkanolamides useful in accordance with the present invention. The
preferred coconut oil fatty acid alkanolamide useful herein is that
produced by condensing 2 moles of diethanolamine with 1 mole of the fatty
acid mixture derived from coconut oil. U.S. Pat. No. 2,089,212, supra., is
incorporated herein by reference thereto.
A typical example of an emulsifying agent useful herein is prepared by
reacting 1 mole of coconut oil fatty acids with 2 moles of diethanolamine
at a temperature of from 145.degree. C. to 200.degree. C. for a few hours.
The resulting condensate is soluble in water and has excellent properties
as an emulsifying agent. (See Examples 3 and 4 of U.S. Pat. No.
2,089,212). Instead of diethanolamine, equivalent quantities of
monoethanolamine or triethanolamine may be used. Reference may also be had
to U.S. Pat. No. 3,373,173 to Foley et al dated Mar. 12, 1968 which
discloses a modified (phthalic anhydride) coconut oil fatty acid alkanol
amide.
The third essential ingredient of the compositions of the present invention
is water. Ordinary tap water, or distilled water, or deionized water may
be used. Clearly ordinary tap water is preferred for the reason of low
cost. The insignificant amounts of dissolved impurities in tap water do
not appear to affect adversely the compositions hereof for their intended
purpose.
Optional components such as emulsion stabilizing agents may be included
although it has been found that emulsions made of the foregoing 3
essential ingredients in the proportions stated below are stable over long
periods of time at ambient temperatures above about 50.degree. F. Where
lower temperatures are encountered, it may be found desirable to include
an emulsion stabilizing ingredient. It has been found that common
cornstarch in an amount of from 1 to 2 ounces per gallon of emulsion is
highly effective for this purpose. A much smaller quantity, e.g., 0.1 to
0.2 parts by volume of hydroxymethylcellulose per gallon of water is very
effective. Other stabilizing agents such as gum arabic may also be used.
Where the emulsion is freshly prepared and used directly, such stabilizers
have not been found necessary, However if several days to several months
are to elapse before use, inclusion of a stabilizer or anti-oxidant is
desirable for best results.
Other nonessential ingredients for purposes of conferring desired
properties such as odor control, resistance to fungus growth, resistance
to mildew growth, etc. may be included. The amount of these ingredients
ranges generally from about 0.1 to 1% by volume.
The emulsions of the present invention are very easily fabricated. All that
is necessary is to dissolve the fatty acid alkanolamide in water and add
the unsaturated terpene hydrocarbon thereto with vigorous stirring as with
an ordinary Waring blender. Although an oil-in-water emulsion may be first
formed, when the composition is diluted with water to the desired
concentration, the emulsion will spontaneously invert to a water-in-oil
emulsion which is the preferred form for use in accordance herewith.
It has been found that for best results, the water-in-oil emulsions hereof
contain 1 part by volume of the organic phase and from 5 to 8 parts by
volume, preferably 6 to 7 parts by volume of water. The ratio of
unsaturated terpene hydrocarbon to fatty acid alkanolamide is desirably
within the range of from 95 to 85 percent by volume of the terpene
hydrocarbon and 5-15 percent by volume of coconut oil fatty acid
alkanolamide. Especially satisfactory results are obtained when the ratio
of unsaturated terpene hydrocarbon to fatty acid alkanolamide is 90:10 by
volume.
It becomes convenient at this point to illustrate the invention by giving
specific examples of water-in-oil emulsions in accordance with the present
invention. Example 1 below is the best mode of carrying out the present
invention. The emulsions were made using a Waring blender for period of
about 5 to 15 minutes at room temperature.
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EXAMPLE 1
Limonene 90 parts by volume
Coconut Oil Fatty Acid diethanolamide
10 parts by volume
Water 550 parts by volume
EXAMPLE 2
Limonene 90 parts by volume
Coconut Oil Fatty Acid diethanolamide
10 parts by volume
Water containing 0.1 part by volume/gal.
550 parts by volume
of water of hydroxyethylcellulose
Example 2 represents the best mode of carrying out my invention.
EXAMPLE 3
Limonene 85 parts by volume
Coconut Oil Fatty Acid diethanolamide
15 parts by volume
Water 550 parts by volume
EXAMPLE 4
Limonene 95 parts by volume
Coconut Oil Fatty Acid diethanolamide
5 parts by volume
Water 550 parts by volume
EXAMPLE 5
Alpha-pinene 90 parts by volume
Coconut Oil Fatty Acid diethanolamide
10 parts by volume
Water 500 parts by volume
EXAMPLE 6
Beta-pinene 90 parts by volume
Coconut Oil Fatty Acid diethanolamide
10 parts by volume
Water 700 parts by volume
EXAMPLE 7
Delta-3-carene 85 parts by volume
Coconut Oil Fatty Acid diethanolamide
15 parts by volume
Water 800 parts by volume
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Water-in-oil emulsions having compositions such as illustrated above have
been found highly effective in removing materials such as Bunker C oil,
paraffin wax, roofer's cement, carnauba wax, beeswax, automobile wax
compositions, surfboard wax and ski wax compositions, lipstick
composition, vegetable, and animal type oils, fats, greases and the like.
The mode of wax removal contemplates for best results simply spraying the
emulsion onto the surface coated with the material it is desired to
remove, allowing the emulsion to remain in contact with the material to be
removed for a period of from about 3 to 10 minutes, and then applying by
spray means as from an ordinary garden hose, tap water in an amount
sufficient to wash off the emulsion together with the old coating
material. In some cases such as in the case of Bunker C oil, it may be
found desirable to make a second application of the emulsion. Bunker C oil
is one of the most difficult materials to remove from a surface it being
highly resistant to all known solvents. When the substrate is a painted
metal surface, such as the body of an automobile, the emulsions of the
present invention have been found to have no effect upon the substrate,
particularly where the varnish is a urethane type varnish. These materials
may also be used to remove furniture wax without damaging the varnished
substrate.
The inclusion of a small amount of a stabilizer such as mentioned above has
been found to smooth out the film of water-in-oil emulsion which is spray
applied. Thus, one to two ounces of cornstarch per gallon of emulsion will
also confer desired rheological properties on the spray applied film.
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