FR2538238A1 - Dry wiping napkin and method for manufacturing it - Google Patents

Abstract

Napkin, sheet or yarns for dry cleaning, consisting of a substrate impregnated with a surface-active compound: the substrate contains a fat component and/or a polyol which may be liquid at ordinary temperature but is used in such a proportion that the substrate remains dry.

Description

 The present invention relates to a new type of towel or other sheet used for cleaning objects or body parts. It also relates to a process for manufacturing such towels.

 Among the many articles for maintenance, there are napkins or sheets, generally made of paper, like blotter, impregnated with a liquid, and enclosed in waterproof bags; at the time of their use, the sachet is torn, and the wet sheet is used for the desired cleaning or washing, in particular for washing the hands. The principle of this article lies in impregnating the paper with a solution, generally alcoholic, for example cologne, containing a little detergent. These napkins are very useful, especially when traveling or during meals where they advantageously replace the traditional finger-rinses with lemon water. However, an important drawback taints the practice of these napkins: although the sachet containing them is in principle waterproof, it is very often found on opening that the sheet is no longer wet, the liquid having evaporated, and the towel no longer has any effectiveness.

 The present invention provides a marked improvement in the above-mentioned field. It allows the production of towels, sheets, pads, sponges, cotton balls, etc. wiping, of the type mentioned above, but acting dry, without any volatile liquid, the new towels according to the invention not only do not lose their effectiveness over time, as a result of any evaporation of the liquid, but they can even be stored in unsealed bags.

As these towels act dry, and clean different surfaces as well as wet towels, they can be used for a certain time from their extraction from the sachet, and no longer for a short time, as is the case with towels or already known finger rinses. Besides, dry running is often very pleasant, avoiding sensitive people the feeling of wetness which is not always pleasant. This property makes it possible to use the towels according to the invention for different uses where the wet towels are ill-suited; thus they can be used for quick, dry disinfection of surfaces such as telephone handset, toilet seat, tables, automobile steering wheel, armrests, etc.

The invention results from the unexpected observation that a very effective detergent effect can be obtained by means of a porous material which has absorbed a fatty substance and / or a polyol, together with a surfactant compound, the whole remaining dry, without exudation of any liquid. Starting from this new fact the invention allows - under
various forms of execution - obtaining dry sheets or wiping towels bringing the advantages indicated above.

 The sheet or napkin according to the invention is characterized in the first place in that it consists of a porous material, for example cellulosic or other, which has been made to absorb one or more fatty substances and / and polyols, together with one or more surfactant compounds, in a proportion such that there remains no excess of any of these constituents on the surface of the porous material.

 The porous substrate, which can be used for carrying out the invention, can be of very varied nature; practically the most industrially accessible materials are cellulosic or synthetic materials, that is to say papers, fabrics or natural or elastomeric sponges. This substrate can be in very diverse physical forms, in particular in sheets, threads, flock, tampons, etc., although - for the simplicity of the expression - we continue to speak of towels or sheets in the continuation of this description.

 The fatty substance, west the polyol, absorbed by the pores of the substrate, which can be solid or liquid, is preferably liquid, at ordinary temperature, but as its proportion does not exceed the absorbency of the substrate, the feel of that - this does not give the feeling of wet. The fatty substance may be a fatty acid, saturated or unsaturated, for example oleic, linoleic, caprolic or other liquid acid, or even a solid acid at ordinary temperature, but mixed with others or with a hydrocarbon, for give a liquid mixture capable of penetrating into the pores of the substrate. The fatty substance can advantageously be formed by one or more fatty acid esters, namely a vegetable or animal oil, or alkyl esters, especially C1 to C12 alkyl. Thus substances such as palm oil can be used , olive, copra, corn, etc. or / and esters such as, for example, hexyl laurate, isopropyl myristate, butyl palmitate, ethyl or octyl stearate, methyl arachidate, propyl or methyl glycol oleate. The fatty substance can be replaced, or preferably accompanied, by one or more hydrocarbons of low vapor pressure, decane, dodecane, or petroleum jelly.

 The role of fatty cbrps-consists in dissolving fat-soluble substances, present on the surface to be cleaned.

 The second mandatory component in towels, according to the invention, is a surfactant, a small amount of which allows the removal by the towel of the aqueous parts of the surface to be treated. It is of course appropriate to choose the surfactant compound most compatible with the fat used. In general, the three types of surfactants are suitable, that is to say the nonionic, cationic and anionic.

Thus one can use the various alkyl-phenoxy-polyoxyethylenes, such as for example- nonyl- ouoctyl-phenoxy-polyethoxy-ethanol, stearate or laurate of polyoxyethylene, sorbitan monooleate (SPAN 80) or the addition product of polyoxyethylene with sorbitan mono-oleate; N-acyl sarcosinates or sodium morpholinates, sodium alkyl-sulfonate, sodium alkyl-aryl-sulfonate, polyethers of alkylaryl alcohols, for example alkylbenzene sulfonates whose alkyl is C12 to -C18, sodium salts of monoglycerides sulfonated fatty acids, chlorides or quaternary ammonium bromides containing a C12 to C18 alkyl, for example lauryl-dimethyl-benzylammonium bromide, etc.

 When it comes to wiping towels for parts of the human body, the surfactants are, of course, chosen from those which have no harmful action on the skin.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, in addition to the constituents indicated above, it is advisable to also use a compound capable of preventing the fatty substances used from exuding or from flowing. Compounds enjoying the property of exerting such an action, on the fatty substances absorbed by the substrate, are in particular higher alcohols, mainly C6 to
C18, derivatives of abietic acids and solid triglycerides of fatty acids. In particular, these are bodies with a melting point above 400C or even 600C.

Thus one can fix the fatty substance (s) in the pores of the substrate by the addition of an alcohol such as octanol, decanol, dodecanol, tetradecanol or hexadecanol (cetyl alcohol or whale whites), ethyl abietate or benzyl, beeswax, -stearin, etc.

 Another constituent, very useful, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, is a polyol, in particular diol or triol. In particular, glycols have the advantage of ensuring the connection between the lipophilic or hydrophilic phases of the bodies present. On the other hand, they serve for the dissolution of pesticide compounds, in particular insecticides, bactericides and / or fungicides which are generally incorporated in the towels according to the invention. Thus, according to the particular feature of this, the towel contains a diol or a triol, preferably in C2 or C3 to C12. In practice, glycols or polyglycols are very suitable, such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, hexylene glycol or the like, polyethylene glycols of different molecular weights, polyethylene glycol p-isooctylphenyl ether, etc.

 As mentioned above, it is generally advisable to combine one or more pesticide substances with the fatty substances and other constituents of the new wiping towel. It may also be useful to use an insecticide or / and an insect repellant. Among the various bactericides, fungicides and insecticides which can be used, there may be mentioned, by way of nonlimiting examples, the following products: dithiocarbamates, benzyl-2-chloro-4 phenol, benzyl-2 or 4 phenol, acid esters phenoxylic fats, p-chloro-m-cresol or its sodium salt, hexaminium salts, phenyl-2-phenol, quaternary ammoniums, such as, for example, benzyl-dimethyl-alkyl ammonium chloride or bromide; dichloro-2-3-naphthoquinone 1-4, dithia-1 -4-anthraquinone of carbonitrile-2-3, dodecyl-guanidine acetate, merthiolates, dimethyl phthalate, terpenes, etc.

 The presence of bactericides makes it possible to use the new towels for rapid, dry disinfection of different surfaces, such as wood, plastic, fabric, a wall or the like.

 Since the quantity of fatty substances retained by the substrate depends on the physicochemical properties of the latter, that is to say on its absorbing power, the proportions of fatty substances in the towels, according to the invention, can vary widely, they can for example constitute 1 to 20% of the weight of the towel and, most often, from 1 to 10%, without however these quantities being limiting.

 As for the surfactant compounds s, their contents in wettable medium are generally low, most often of the order of 0.01 to 1% by weight. This is also the case for towels according to the invention, but it may be advantageous, with certain surfactants, to push their proportion up to about 5% or more, of the total weight of the impregnated towel.

 The proportion of compounds, preferably with a melting point above 600, which is added to fix the fatty substance in the substrate, in particular the higher alcohol, beeswax or stearin, is of the same order as that of the bodies. greasy in the towel.

 As regards the polyols and more particularly the glycols, to be added to the composition, they must in general be present in a relatively high proportion relative to the fatty substance E preferably, their content in the finished object is equal to 1 to 3 times the weight of fatty substances. As is well known, pesticides are used in practice in low doses, which depend moreover on their bactericidal, fungicidal or other effect.

 The addition of perfumes is often indicated.

 The invention also includes the process for manufacturing sheets or napkins impregnated with the components described above. This process consists in passing a strip of fabric, paper or other porous substrate, in a solution of fatty substances and surfactants, and possibly of the other constituents according to the invention, this solution having been prepared by means of a volatile solvent. , easily removable, preferably the solvent having a boiling point of 400 to 1000C. After this passage of sufficient time for the substrate to be practically saturated with solution, the strip is dried until complete removal of the solvent. The drying can be carried out in the known manner with infrared / under a stream of air.

 Of course, in an industrial installation, the solvent vapors are collected with a view to recovering the latter. The various well-known solvents can be used, provided that at least part of the constituents are dissolved and those of the constituents which are not soluble therein are dispersed. Optionally, the solvent consists of water or a mixture of water and alcohol, the compounds according to the invention being emulsified therein, thanks to the presence of the surfactant.

 The invention is illustrated by the following non-limiting examples.

EXAMPLE 1
A mixture of a liquid fatty substance, isopropyl myristate is prepared with - as surfactant sodium lauryl sulfate; cetyl alcohol is added as the higher alcohol and, as glycol, hexylene glycol; pesticides are the two phenolic compounds listed below.

Here is the composition, in g, of the liquid mixture
Isopropyl myristate 20
Sodium lauryl sulfate 13
Cetyl alcohol 12
Hexylene glycol 48.75
Phenyl-2-phenol 2.50
Benzyl-2-chloro-4 phenol 3.75 100 .--
This mixture is diluted in 1 kg of methylene chloride.

According to the method described above, strips of absorbent paper, for towels, are impregnated in the solution thus obtained.

After impregnation, spinning and drying, the paper strip is cut into napkins of desired dimensions, which are placed in boxes or in closed sachets.

The towels contain 37.4% by weight of mixture, the composition of which is given above, the methylene chloride having been completely eliminated.

As a result, the various constituents are found in the towel in proportions of
7.5t isopropyl myristate
Sodium lauryl sulfate 4.9
Cetyl alcohol 4.5
Hexylene glycol î8,3
Bactericides 2.35
EXAMPLE 2
A preparation similar to that of Example 1 was carried out with the mixture
Octyl stearate 24 g
Polyethoxylated nonylphenol to
11 CH2O 9 groups
Octyl alcohol 7
Propylene glycol 59.7
Lauryl dimethyl bromide
benzyl ammonium 0.3 100. -
EXAMPLE 3
A preparation similar to that of the preceding examples is carried out with the fatty mixture below
Methyl glycol oleate 34 g
Polyethoxylated lauryl alcohol 6
Ethyl abietate 12
Butylene glycol 47.8
Hexamidine isethionate 0.2 100 .--
EXAMPLE 4
The composition contains the following substances, in g
Paraffin oil 38
Sodium toluene sulfonate 11
Hexyl alcohol 9
Butylene glycol 41
ethyl p-hydroxy benzoate 0.4
Linalol 0.60
100.
EXAMPLE 5
The composition for the impregnation of disinfectant towels contains in g
Ethyl Laurate 22
Na 14 lauryl sulfate
Cetyl alcohol 12
Ethyldiethylene glycol 50
Benzalkonium 2
100
Using methylene chloride, as in Example 1, strips of paper are impregnated, which are finally cut into rectangular sheets of 10 × 15 cm, folded, and sealed in waterproof bags.

In order to test the efficacy of these towels, 5 agar cultures were prepared, in known manner, of the following bacteria:
Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
Escherichia coli,
Staphylococcus aureus,
Streptococcus faccalis and
Salmonella typhi murium.

Each of these cultures was diluted with distilled water so as to contain approximately 105 germs / ml; 50 ml of this liquid were sprayed onto rigid plastic sheets of 250x250x10 mm and left to dry.

The plates were then wiped dry with the towels prepared as indicated above.

For each bacterial strain two plates are treated, one for 30 seconds, the other in 60 seconds of contact with the towel. After this wiping, each plate is taken up in 50 ml of distilled water and the germs in the collected water are counted.

The results are roughly the same for the five crops. Found in water
after wiping for 30 seconds .. about 100 seeds / ml """" 60 seconds .. "0"
The towels are therefore well suited for the rapid disinfection of telephone earphones, that of toilet seats or other objects subject to microbial proliferation.

Claims (13)

Claims  1. Towel, sheet or thread for dry cleaning, consisting of a substrate impregnated with a surfactant compound, characterized in that the substrate contains a fatty substance and / or a polyol which can be liquid at ordinary temperature, but used in a proportion such that the substrate remains dry.  2. Article according to claim 1, characterized in that the fatty substance is a saturated or unsaturated acid, a fatty acid ester and / or a hydrocarbon with low vapor pressure.  3. Article according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fatty substance is formed by one or more compounds of the type of oleic, linoelic, caprolic acids, fatty acid esters of C1 to C12 alkyls, and aliphatic hydrocarbons C10 or more.  4. Article according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fatty substance is there in the proportion of 1 to 20% of the weight of the towel.  5. Article according to one of the preceding claims, in which the surfactant compound is anionic, cationic or nonionic, characterized in that the content of this compound is from 0.01 to 5% by weight.  6. Article according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it contains a compound capable of preventing the fatty substance from exuding, this compound preferably being a higher alcohol, a derivative of abietic acid -or a solid triglyceride.  7. Article according to claim 6, characterized in that said compound has a melting point greater than 400C.  8. Article according to claim 6, characterized in that said compound is cetyl alcohol, white whale, ethyl abietate, beeswax or sten nostril.  9. Article according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it also contains a polyol, more particularly a diol or triol, in particular a C2 to C6 alkylene glycol.  10. Article according to claim 9, characterized in that it contains a weight of polyol equal to approximately 1 to 3 times the weight of the fatty substance.  11. Article according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it contains a pesticide, in particular a bactericide, a bacteriostatic, a fungicide, a fungistatic, an insecticide and / or an insect repellent.  12. A method can manufacture an article according to one of claims 1 to 11, which consists in impregnating the substrate in a solution of the ingredients to be absorbed, characterized in that the solution is prepared by dissolving these ingredients in an organic solvent which is then completely evaporated.  13. Method for the manufacture of an article according to one of claims 1 to 11 which consists in impregnating a substrate with an aqueous emulsion of the ingredients to be absorbed, the article then being dried so as to completely remove the water from the 'emulsion.