GB2031455A

GB2031455A - Liquid abrasive cleaning composition

Info

Publication number: GB2031455A
Application number: GB7840411A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Colgate Palmolive Co
Current assignee: Colgate Palmolive Co
Priority date: 1978-10-13
Filing date: 1978-10-13
Publication date: 1980-04-23
Also published as: GB2031455B

Abstract

A stable opaque liquid hard surface cleaning composition comprises, by weight, from 1% to 20% of a water-insoluble particulate inorganic abrasive having a particle size in the range of 1 to 40 microns; from 3% to 15% of a water-soluble, synthetic, organic, anionic detergent; from 1% to 7.5% of water soluble, alkyleneoxylated C8-C22 alkanol nonionic detergent; from 1% to 15% of water-soluble builder salt comprising 1% to 3% by weight of an alkali metal silicate having an alkali metal oxide to silicon dioxide ratio of 1:1.5 to 1:4, the weight ratio of builder to total detergent being in the range of 1:4 and 2:1; and an aqueous medium, the proportions of the components being so adjusted within the specified ranges that some of the detergent is present in liquid crystal form and the abrasive is maintained in stable suspension.

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved all-purpose liquid cleaner This invention relates to liquid cleaning compositions suitable for cleaning hard surfaces, hereinafter referred to as liquid hard surface cleaning compositions.

Liquid hard surface cleaning compositions have generally been classified into two types.

The first type particulate aqueous suspensions having water-insoluble abrasive particles suspended therein. Some of the compositions of this type suffer a stability problem. The second type are the so-called all purpose liquid detergents intended for general cleaning purposes not requiring an abrasive.

The invention can provide liquid hard surface cleaning compositions that combine the functions of both the above-mentioned types of liquid surface cleaning composition in a satisfactory manner.

According to the invention a stable opaque liquid hard surface cleaning composition comprises, by weight, from 1% to 20% of a water-insoluble particulate inorganic abrasive having a particle size in the range of 1 to 40 microns; from 3% to 15% of a water-soluble, synthetic, organic, anionic detergent; from 1% to 7.5% of water-soluble, alkyleneoxylated C8-C22 alkanol non ionic detergent; from 1% to 15% of water-soluble builder salt comprising 1% to 3% by weight of an alkali metal silicate having an alkali metal oxide to silicon dioxide ratio of 1:1.5 to 1:4, the weight ratio of builder to total detergent being in the range of 1:4 to 2:1; and an aqueous medium, the proportions of the components being so adjusted within the specified ranges that some of the detergent is present in liquid crystal form and the abrasive is maintained in stable suspension.

The proportions of the components within the specified ranges which will provide the requisite properties are to some extent mutually dependent. For any given proportion of one component, appropriate proportions of the others can readily be ascertained by routine trial and error experiments. Alternatively, one can simply follow the Examples herein.

Although the invention does not depend on the correctness of the theory it may be that the builder drives some of the detergent (probably wholly or mainly anionic detergent) out of solution and into liquid crystal form, thereby increasing the viscosity of the composition, and it may be that there is some physical interaction between the liquid crystals and the abrasive particles whereby the latter are hindered from setting out and remain stably suspended.

The composition may be used undiluted as an abrasive-containing cleanser of pourable, stable, creamy consistency. Alternatively, if the composition is diluted, the detergent all, or substantially all, becomes a solute, the viscosity of the composition is lowered and the abrasive comes out of suspension. The composition can then be used in the same manner as a conventional all purpose liquid detergent.

Compositions embodying the invention have been found to exhibit removal of grease and other soils from glass, woodwork, vitreous, pained and enamelled surfaces, and from metal surfaces such as aluminium ware and copper pan bottoms, with effective polishing action and virtually no scratching. The compositions are also effective for removing soil from vehicle tyres, for removing wax from waxed surfaces, and for a variety of other applications.

The compositions can be formulated to exhibit a high degree of stability upon storage at normal room temperature of about 70"F over a period of many months without any appreciable precipitation or formation of layers.

When subjected to elevated temperatures of about 100"F or cooled to about 40"F the compositions may remain stable. As a result of this stability, even when only very small quantities are dispensed the components will be present in the correct proportions. The compositions may be packaged in any suitable containers such as metal, plastic or glass bottles, bags, cans or drums.

Synthetic anionic detergents employed in the compositions can be broadly described as water-soluble salts, particularly alkali metal salts, of organic sulphuric reaction products having in the molecular structure a higher alkyl radical (i.e., an alkyl radical containing from 6 to 22 carbon atoms in a straight or branched chain) and a radical selected from sulphonic acid or sulphuric acid ester radicals, and mixtures thereof.Illustrated examples of synthetic anionic detergents are sodium and potassium alkyl sulphates, especially those obtained by sulphating the higher alcohols produced by reducing the glycerides of tallow of coconut oil; sodium and potassium alkyl benzene sulphonates in which the alkyl group contains from 9 to 1 5 carbon atoms, especially those of the type described in United States Patent Specifications Nos. 2,220,099 and 2,477,383; sodium alkyl glyceryl ether sulphates, especially those ethers of the higher alcohols derived from tallow and coconut oil; sodium coconut oil fatty acid monoglyceride sulphates; sodium and potassium salts of sulphuric acid esters of the reaction product of one mole of a higher fatty alcohol (e.g. tallow or coconut oil alcohols) and about 1 to 5 preferably three, moles of ethylene oxide; sodium and potassium salts of alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulphate with about four units of ethylene oxide per molecule and in which the alkyl radicals contain about 9 carbon atoms; the reaction product of fatty acids esterified with isethionic acid and neutralized with sodium hydroxide where, for example, the fatty acids are derived from coconut oil, and mixtures thereof; and others known in the art, a number being specifically set forth in United States Patent Specification Nos.

2,486,921; 2,486,922 and 2,396,278.

The most highly preferred water-soluble synthetic anionic detergents are the ammonium and substituted ammonium (such as mono, di and triethanolamine), alkali metal (such as sodium and potassium) and alkaline earth metal (such as calcium and magnesium) salts of higher alkyl benzene sulphonates and mixtures with C,2 to C20 olefin sulphonates, higher alkyl sulphate and the higher fatty acid monoglyceride sulphates. The most preferred are higher alkyl aromatic sulphonates, e.g., sodium salts of higher alkyl benzene sulphonates or of higher-alkyl toluene, xylene or phenol sulphonates, alkyl naphthalene sulphonate, ammonium diamyl naththalene sulphonate, and sodium dinonyl naphthalene sulphonate. Mixed long chain alkyls derived form coconut oil fatty acids and the tallow fatty acids can also be used along with cracked paraffin wax oiefins and polymers of lower monoolefins.In one type of composition there may be used a linear alkyl benzene sulphate having a high content of 3 (or higher) phenyl isomers and a correspondingly low content (well below 50%) of 2 (or lower) phenyl isomers; in other terminology the benzene ring is preferably attached in large part at the 3 or higher (e.g. 4, 5, 6 or 7) position of the alkyl group and the content of isomers at which the benzene ring is attached at the 2 or 1 position is correspondingly low. Mixtures of various cations can be used.

Nonionic detergents employed in the compositions can be broadly described as watersoluble compounds produced by the condensation of alkylene oxide groups (hydrophilic in nature) with an organic hydrophobic compound, which may be aliphatic or alkyl aromatic in nature. The length of the hydrophilic or polyoxyalkylene radical which is condensed with any particular hydrophobic group can be readily adjusted to yield a water-soluble compound having the desired degree of balance between hydrophilic and hydrophobic elements; for example, the condensation product of aliphatic alkanols having from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, in either straight or branched chain configuration, with ethylene oxide, such as a coconut alcohol ethylene oxide condensate having from 2 to 1 5 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of coconut alcohol.

Suitable alkanols are those having a hydrophobic character, preferably having from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, more preferably saturated fatty alcohols having 8 to 1 8 carbon atoms.

Examples thereof are iso-octyl, nonyl, decyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl, octadecyl and oleyl alcohols which may be condensed with the appropriate amount of ethylene oxide, such as at least 2 moles, preferably 3 to 8, but up to about 1 5 moles. A typical product is tridecyl alcohol, produced by the oxo process, condensed with about 2, 3 or 6 moles of ethylene oxide. Where desired, a mixture of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, may be used in place of ethylene oxide in the foregoing condensates, with the proportions of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide being selected so that the resultant condensate will exhibit water-solubility. The corresponding higher alkyl mercaptone or thioalcohols condensed with ethylene oxide are also suitable for use in the compositions of the invention.

Still other suitable nonionics are the polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene adducts of 1-butanol. The hydrophobe of these nonionics has a minimum molecular weight of 1,000 and consists of an aliphatic monohydric alcohol containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms to which is attached a heteric chain of oxyethylene and oxypropylene. The weight ratio of oxypropylene to oxyethylene covers the range of 95:5 to 85:15. Attached to this is the hydrophilic polyoxyethylene chain which is from 44:4 to 54:6 of the total molecular weight.

The compounds formed by condensing ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic base formed by the condensation of propylene oxide with propylene glycol which are sold under the trademark "Plumnic" also can be used. The molecular weight of the hydrophobic portion of the molecule is of the order of 950 to 4,000 and preferably 1 ,200 to 2,500. The addition of polyoxyethylene radicals to the hydrophobic portion tends to increase the solubility of the molecule as a whole. The molecular weight of the block polymers varies from 1 ,000 to 15,000, and the polyethylene oxide content may comprise 20% to 80% by weight.

The builder employed in the composition may be a single compound such as sodium or potassium silicates having a mole ratio of sodium or potassium oxide (M20) to silicon dioxide (six2) of 1:1.5 to 1:4 or a mixture.

Where a mixture is employed it may comprise the silicate with a mixture of similar salts, e.g., sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate, or a mixture of two distinct classes, e.g., an inorganic salt and an organic salt; for example, an alkali metal carbonate and an alkali metal salt of an organic acid. Suitable further builder salts include the sodium, potassium and ammonium salts of ethylene diaminetriacetic acid and nitrilotriacetic acid, sodium and potassium tripolyphosphate, sodium and potassium acid pyrophosphates, sodium and potassium pyrophosphates, trisodium and tripotassium phosphates, sodium and potassium phosphates, and sodium and potassium carbonates and bicarbonates.

Particularly satisfactory compositions result when 1-3% by weight of sodium silicate is used in admixture with a phosphate builder salt or a mixture of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate.

Small amounts of sodium or potassium chloride or sulphate may be included in the liquid hard surface compositions for the purpose of modifying viscosity.

The particulate abrasive employed may be calcite, preferably finely ground natural calcite, which is calcium carbonate in which substantially all of the carbonate is in the calcite crystalline form. Other abrasives used in cleanser compositions may be employed, such as silica and feldspar, e.g., labradorite.

The particles will be in the particle size range from 1 to 40. For the more highly abrasive materials such as silica the particle size should be in the lower end of the said range, e.g.

from 1 to 5, to minimize scratching, but for less abrasive materials such as calcite larger particles can be employed, e.g. from 2 to 40.

A higher fatty acid soap is an optional component which may be employed in amounts of up to 2.5%, preferably from 0.5% to 1 % by weight for the purpose of modifying the amount and nature of the foam produced. It may be formed in situ, for instance by including a higher fatty acid as a component in a formulation containing sodium carbonate builder. Urea is another optional component and may be employed in amounts of up to 8% by weight, preferably from 2 to 4% where employed. Its use may be dictated by the anionic detergent employed.

Further optional additives such as dyes, perfumes and germicides may also be included in the composition in conventional amounts, not exceeding 5% by weight in total.

The balance of the composition is water.

The amount of abrasive present is preferably from 5% to 15%, by weight.

The amount of anionic detergent employed is preferably from 3% to 12% by weight; while the amount of nonionic detergent is preferably from 2% to 4% by weight. The weight ratio of one to the other may vary and preferably is from 1.75:1 to 3:1, e.g., about 2:1.

The amount of builder employed is preferably from 2% to 6% by weight. Where two distinctly different classes of builder salt are employed, the weight ratio of one to the other may be from 10:1 to 1:10, preferably from 3:1 to 1:3. The weight ratio of builder to anionic detergent is preferably in the range from 1:3 to 2:1. The ratio of builder to nonionic detergent is preferably in the range from 1:1 to 2:1.

The compositions of the invention may be produced by any of the techniques commonly employed in the manufacture of liquid detergent compositions. Generally, the compositions are produced by a batch process wherein the anionic detergent and saop are mixed with water under moderate agitation at a temperature in the range of about 25"C to 60"C, preferable 30"C to 50"C to form a solution. The water-insoluble abrasive is dispersed in the solution of anionic detergents with good agitation and, thereafter the nonionic detergent ingredient and the watersoluble builder salts are added with agitation.

The resultant composition is cooled to about 25 to 30"C, if necessary, while continuing the agitation and the perfume is added along any colour solution and/or any preservative such as formalin. In the foregoing process the anionic detergent and, optionally, soap may be added in salt form or in acid form. When the acid form is used, the desired sodium or potassium hydroxide will be added to the water prior to the addition of the anionic detergent and soap in acid form. Such procedure results in the formation of a desirable self-opacified phase wherein part of the detergent is present in the form of liquid crystals.

The proportions of the various ingredients are suitably adjusted to provide a minimum viscosity of 350-500 centipoises (cps) as measured on a Brookfield Viscometer using the 3 spindle at a speed of 20 R.P.M. Generally, the viscosity will range from 350 cps. to about 1500, preferably from 600to 1000 cps.

The following Examples illustrate the invention. All percentages are by weight.

EXAMPLE 1 Component Sodium Cg-C13 linear alkylbenzene sulphonate 5 Cg-C1, alkanol condensed with 5 moles of ethylene oxide 2.5 Sodium coconut oil Cg-C,8 fatty acid soap 0.8 Calcium carbonate (a) 5.0 Sodium carbonate 3.0 Sodium bicarbonate 1.0 Sodium silicate (b) 1.5 Formalin 0.1 1% Tartrazine yellow solution 0.8 Perfume 0.4 Water to 100 (a) Ground natural calcite having a particle size range of 2-40 microns and a median particle size of 5 microns.

(b) Sodium silicate having an Na2O to SiO2 ratio of 1:3.26.

The foregoing composition is stable at room temperature and on aging and is effective at removing soil from hard surfaces. Both the anionic detergent and the soap were formed during the process of making the composition as the acid form of each was added to the composition along with sodium hydroxide.

EXAMPLE 2 The composition of Example 1 is repeated except that 2.5% by weight of the sodium silicate (b) are included in the composition and the proportion of water is correspondingly reduced. The resultant product exhibited particularly satisfactory stability upon aging.

EXAMPLES 3 and 4 The composition of Example 1 is repeated except that silica and Labradorite (a magnesium aluminosilicate) of a particle size in the range of 1 to 40 microns are substituted respectively for the calcium carbonate abrasive. These products were stable upon aging and were similar in performance to the composition of Example 1.

EXAMPLE 5 The composition of Example 1 is repeated except that a builder mixture of 2.8% by weight of trisodium nitrilotriacetate monohydrate and 5% by weight sodium carbonate is substituted for the sodium carbonate-sodium bicarbonate builder mixture and the proportion of water is adjusted accordingly. The resultant product is comparable in soil removal to the product of Example 1.

Claims

1. A stable, opaque, liquid hard surface cleaning composition comprising by weight, from 1 % to 20% of a water-insoluble particulate inorganic abrasive having a particle size in the range of 1 to 40 microns; from 3% to 1 5% of a water-soluble, synthetic, organic, anionic detergent; from 1% to 7.5% of water soluble, alkyleneoxylated C8-C22 alkanol nonionic detergent; from 1 % to 1 5% of watersoluble builder salt comprising 1 % to 3% by weight of an alkali metal silicate having an alkali metal oxide to silicon dioxide ratio of 1:1.5 to 1:4, the weight ratio of builder to total detergent being in the range of 1:4 and 2:1; and an aqueous medium, the proportions of the components being so adjusted within the specified ranges that some of the detergent is present in liquid crystal form and the abrasive is maintained in stable suspension.

2. A composition according to Claim 1 wherein the abrasive is calcium carbonate of calcite crystalline form, silica or feldspar.

3. A composition according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the anionic detergent is a salt of a sulphuric reaction product having a C8-C22 alky group and either a sulphonic acid or sulphuric acid radical in its molecular structure.

4. A composition according to any Claims 1 to 3 wherein the anionic detergent is a sodium or potassium salt.

5. A composition according to any of Claims 1 to 4 wherein said anionic detergent is a sodium C9-C15 alkylbenzene sulphonate.

6. A composition according to any Claims 1 to 5 wherein the builder salt further comprises a 10:1 to 1:10 mixture, by weight, of two different nonphosphate alkali metal builder salts.

7. A composition according to Claim 6 wherein the mixture of non-phosphate alkali metal builder salt comprises sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate.

8. A composition according to any of the preceding Claims which includes in addition a water-soluble C8-C18 fatty acid soap.

9. A composition according to any of the preceding Claims wherein the weight ratio of anionic detergent to nonionic detergent is in the range of 1.75:1 to 3:1.

1 0. A composition according to any of the preceding Claims which includes in addition up to 8% by weight of urea.

11. A composition according to any of the preceding Claims wherein the proportion of abrasive is 5% to 15% by weight, the proportion of anionic detergent is 3% to 12% by weight, the nonionic detergent is a condensation produce of C8-C22 alkanol and 2 to 1 5 moles of ethylene oxide and is present in a proportion of 2% to 4% by weight, and the proportion of builder salt is from 2% to 6% by weight.

1 2. A composition according to Claim 11 wherein said abrasive is calcium carbonate, said anionic detergent is a sodium salt of a sulphuric reaction product having a C8-C22 alkyl group and either a sulphonic acid radical or a sulphuric acid radical in its molecular structure, the weight ratio of anionic detergent to nonionic detergent is in the range of 1.75:1 to 3:1, the builder is a mixture of sodium inorganic and alkali metal silicate builder salts and said composition further includes up to 1.5% by weight of a watersoluble sodium C8-C,8 fatty acid soap.

1 3. A stable opaque liquid hard surface cleaning composition substantially as described in the Examples.