WO1999041349A1

WO1999041349A1 - A cleaning and coating composition for glass, ceramic and metal surfaces

Info

Publication number: WO1999041349A1
Application number: PCT/GB1999/000305
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Somerville Armstrong
Original assignee: Agency Design Services Limited
Priority date: 1998-02-17
Filing date: 1999-02-16
Publication date: 1999-08-19
Also published as: AU2527299A; GB9923817D0; GB2339205A

Abstract

A dishwashing detergent and a rinse aid, each including a polyglycol ether emulsifying agent and a silicone surfactant or emulsion, dispersed in an excess of water. The silicone may comprise any one or more of the group comprising organosilicone co-polymers, such as silicone glycol co-polymers, silicone-silicone co-polymers, polyorganosiloxanes and polyorganosilanols. The emulsifying agent is preferably present in any amount of 0.5 to 25 % by weight. The silicone compound is preferably present in an amount of 0.5 to 10 % by weight. A windscreen washing composition, which also provides a coating facilitating rain water run off, has the same basic composition, but relatively lower amounts of the emulsifying agent.

Description

- 1 -

A CLEANING AND COATING COMPOSITION FOR GLASS, CERAMIC AND METAL SURFACES

This invention concerns a composition specifically designed for cleaning glass, ceramics and metal, e.g. stainless steel, surfaces in general, and for the removal of lipstick soiling in particular.

The majority of commercial detergents available for use in automatic glass cleaning machines rely heavily on the use of high alkali constituents such as sodium carbonate to remove stubborn staining. It is, however, well established that these products although efficient for the removal of food debris etc. are largely ineffective in removing soiling by lipstick. In addition repeated use of these high alkali cleaners causes surface damage to the glassware.

Lipstick soiling of glassware is a huge problem in the licensed trade and catering industries resulting in a large number of customer complaints annually. The principal components of modern lipsticks are mixtures of waxes, synthetic esters and glyceride waxes. The strong hydrophobic nature of these waxes make them highly resistant to removal by conventional glass washing machines and formulations. - 2 - In the applicant's earlier International application 098/04660 a glass washing composition is disclosed which is effective in removing lipstick residues and comprises a non-ionic surfactant or mixture thereof in the range 2.5-50% (w/w) and selected from the group comprising alkoxylates, ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block co-polymers, and short-chain alkyl esters of mono- or di- carboxylic acids. In particular, the Synperonic LF/RA series of non-ionic surfactants comprising alkoxylated alcohols and supplied by ICI Surfactants of Cleveland were disclosed as being effective in aqueous solution, with a preferred isopropyl alcohol co-solvent and citric acid as water softening agent.

Although the formulations disclosed were effective in initial trials in respect of lipstick removal, upon further testing, they were found not to be reliable in their ability to effect complete removal of lipstick stains. Moreover, in trials undertaken within the licensing trade, complete lipstick residue removal was not achieved in over 50% of the instances of use. This was doubtless a result of the many different types of glass washing machines used in these trials and the different local water conditions.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved composition which will, more effectively and reliably than hitherto clean all the stains associated with food and drink, as well as lipstick residue, not only from glassware but from ceramics and stainless steel surfaces too. - 3 - Another object of the invention is to provide a composition which when used for cleaning beer glasses will enhance the subsequent beer head retention - in contrast to conventional detergent mixtures which generally result in poorer beer head retention after the cleaning process.

With these objects in view, the present invention provides a cleaning and coating composition for glassware, ceramics and metal comprising an emulsifying agent or a mixture thereof selected from the group comprising poly glycol ethers, and a silicone surfactant and/or emulsion.

In preferred dishwashing/rinsing formulations in accordance with the invention the emulsifying agent and the silicone surfactant and/or emulsion are dissolved in water in amounts sufficient to achieve complete removal of any lipstick residue from glassware, ceramics or metal.

Many practical formulations of dishwashing/rinsing formulations in accordance with the invention additionally include a non-ionic surfactant, preferably selected from the group comprising alkoxylates, ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block co-polymers, and short-chain alkyl esters of mono- or di- carboxylic acids. Although inclusion of a non-ionic surfactant is preferred for best results in cleaning a variety of light and heavily soiled dishes and glasses, some of which may have lipstick adhered, it is not essential in all circumstances of potential use, i.e. not essential to the invention. - 4 - The poly glycol ether emulsifying agent which is used in the composition of the invention is capable of producing an emulsion with the hydrophobic waxes in the lipstick stains thus rendering them amenable to the solvent action of the non-ionic surfactants in these formulations. With these constituents at the optimum concentration and ratio, the cleaning composition of the invention reliably removes lipstick stains no matter how persistent.

Typical examples of this group of emulsifying agents are the alkylarylpolyglycol ether Emulsogen ELN and the fatty alcohol polyglycol ether EPN.207 both from CLARIANT Specialities Limited (formerly Hoechst) of Hoechst House, 50 Salisbury Road, Hounslow, Middlesex, TW46JH. Other examples are the EMULSOGEN range 1557, L, LP, M, MEB, MHK, MS, NO60, N090, OG, P, also all from Clariant Specialities Limited.

Preferred dishwashing/rinsing formulations in accordance with the invention include a blend of non-ionic surfactants carefully chosen to provide optimum conditions in foam control and hard surface wetting properties. These surface active ingredients, when combined with the emulsifying agent impart good emulsification and grease removal to the product.

The non-ionic surfactants used in preferred formulations are speciality alkoxylates whose structure has been carefully designed to give a balance in foam control, cloud point, wetting and low foam detergency in a high temperature environment. - 5 - Surfactants meeting these specifications can be found in the ICI Synperonic LF/RA series and equivalent products by other manufacturers. Details of the ICI Synperonic LF/RA series and various comparable non-ionic surfactant products of other manufacturers are provided in the applicant's earlier application WO98/04660.

Other effective non-ionic surfactant which may be used in formulations in accordance with the invention are the fatty alcohol alkoxylates sold under the names Genapol 2822 and Genapol 2908 by Clariant Specialities Limited (see above for their address) , and mixtures of various members of the Plurafac LF range sold by BASF, such as binary mixtures of 401 and 403.

Comparable results can be achieved using different permutations of these surfactants and typical arrangements are demonstrated in the example formulations provided.

An innovative aspect of this invention is that by careful adjustment of the emulsifying agent: surfactant ratio the formulation can find application both as a wash and rinse composition.

A further constituent which aids the wetting of the surface by the emulsifying agent, allows for effective cleaning at a lower temperature, e.g. 55°C, and additionally provides a surface coating which enhances beer head retention in the case of beer glasses, is a silicone glycol co-polymer. Commercially available - 6 - examples of such silicone glycol co-polymers, which have been found to be highly effective are Dow Corning DC 193 and Basildon Chemical's BC 403.

The Dow Corning 193 can be obtained from Dow Corning Limited, Avco House, Castle Street, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 7DZ.

Basildon 403 can be obtained from Basildon Chemical Company Limited, Kimber Road, Abingdon, Oxon, 0X14 1RZ.

An alternative silicone emulsion constituent which has a similar effect is a water soluble organosilicone co-polymer hitherto sold under the name SILWET (Registered Trade Mark) Co-polymer 2020 by OSi Specialities, a Witco Company, but now also sold under the name SILSOFT (Registered Trade Mark) by the same Company.

The preferred formulations also contains a builder component which may be any complexing agent capable of bonding to the minerals present in wash water. Typically this can be provided by the presence of citric acid, EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetate) or NTA (nitrilotriacetate) separately or in combination in the formulation.

A viscosity regulator in these formulations can be any aliphatic alcohol of which iso-propyl alcohol (IPA) is a good example.

Also included in these formulations there may be an anti-foam to inhibit foam formation. This may be a silicone oil type product - 7 - and effective examples are the products FD supplied by Basildon Chemical Co. Limited or Dow Corning Anti-foam compound or equivalents by other manufacturers. However, as a silicone oil may adversely affect beer head retention, a preferable alternative anti-foam product may include a mineral oil instead. An example of such a product is that sold under the name BEVALOID 691 by Rhodia of Woodley, Stockport, Cheshire.

Formulations in accordance with the invention may also include other conventional detergent components such as perfumes, dyes, germicides, preservatives, etc.

Similar formulations, also including, in accordance with the invention, an emulsifying agent, or a mixture thereof, selected from the group comprising poly glycol ethers, and a silicone surfactant and/or emulsion, have been found to be highly effective as vehicle windscreen washing agents which also provide a surface coating facilitating rain water run off.

In preferred windscreen washing formulations the silicone surfactant and/or emulsion is preferably selected from the group comprising silicone glycol co-polymers, organosilicone co- polymers more generally, silicone-silicone co-polymers, polyorganosiloxanes and polyorganosilanols, or any mixture thereof .

Specific examples of such silicone surfactant and emulsions are: - 8 - Dow Corning DC 193 and Basildon Chemicals BC 403, both of which are silicone glycol co-polymers and have been referred to previously for use in preferred dishwashing/rinsing formulations.

Dow Corning 3225C, which is a volatile silicone-silicone co- polymer, more specifically a dispersion of a high molecular weight silicone surfactant in a volatile silicone fluid.

Dow Corning 2-8707 which is an emulsion of polydimethylsilanol fluid.

Dow Corning 8075 which is a polydiorganosiloxane.

Dow Corning 7224 which is an emulsion of amino functional polydimethylsiloxane .

SILWET (Registered Trade Mark) 2020 or SILSOFT (Registered Trade Mark) 2020 which is a water soluble organosilicone co-polymer and is available from OSi Specialities (a Witco Company) .

The above-mentioned Dow Corning preparations - 3225C, 2-8707, 8075 and 7224 are noted as useful for inclusion in car polishes and shampoos and plastics and vinyl surface treatments compositions. Dow Corning 3225C is known to have been used in cosmetic preparations such as sun tan lotions and SILWET/SILSOFT are promoted for use in cosmetics, hair shampoos, sunscreens, body lotions and anti-perspirants. None of them are known to have been used previously in glass (windscreen) cleaning - 9 - compositions .

Dow Corning 3225C has the property of depression of the freezing point of water and therefore usefully serves an additional antifreeze function in windscreen washing preparations which incorporate same.

In reasonably temperate climates (including UK) windscreen washing compositions in accordance with the invention can be dispersed in an excess of water. In more severe climates, where cold temperatures down to -40°C may be encountered, windscreen washing compositions in accordance with the invention should be dispersed in an excess of an alcohol, such as industrial methylated spirits, methanol, ethanol, iso-propyl alcohol or n-propanol .

The invention will now be described further, with reference to the following examples. All amounts in the Examples are expressed in percentages (weight/weight) .

Example 1

A series of tests were carried out with detergent and rinse aid formulations, modified for hard water conditions. A formulation was obtained where satisfactory cleaning and complete lipstick removal was achieved with specified wash and rinse temperatures. The washed glasses were also deposit free, being left with only very slight water marking after drying. - 10 - Detergent Formulation

Emulsogen EPN 207 20%

Synperonic LFRA 280 10%

Synperonic LFRA 290 10%

IPA 20%

Water up to 100%

Rinse Aid Formulation

Emulsogen EPN 207 2%

Dow Corning 193 10%

Synperonic LFRA 280 3%

Synperonic LFRA 290 3%

Citric Acid 20%

IPA 20%

Water 42%

Method

Stage One

Glasses were washed in a Lamber (by Newscan) glass washer.

The detergent was modified by the addition of citric acid and EDTA to give improved results in hard water areas. Additional anti-foam agent was also added. - 11 - Lipstick was thickly applied to test glasses before washing. The removal of lipstick and the overall appearance of the glasses assessed.

Twenty consecutive washes were carried out on new glasses. Lipstick was applied before each wash. The wash water was 65 °C and the rinse water 70°C.

Stage Two

The basic detergent was used with further quantities of citric acid being added but without the use of EDTA. The rinse aid volume was increased to approximately 5 ml per cycle and the temperature of the rinse cycle reduced to 68 °C to prevent surfactant breakdown. The wash water temperature was increased to 75°C.

Stage Three

The quantity of rinse aid was reduced to 2.5 ml per wash cycle. The wash temperature was set at 65 °C and the rinse temperature at 60°C.

Stage Four

The solvent level of the rinse aid supplied was increased by the addition of 10% isopropyl alcohol. Twenty further washes were run with the wash water at 65 °C and the rinse water at 60 °C. - 12 - Results

Stage One

Lipstick was completely removed after the full wash cycle. In most cases the lipstick had been removed after ten seconds of washing.

Insufficient rinse aid was being delivered during the rinse cycle with the result that the glasses became coated in visible lime deposits.

Stage Two

No lipstick remained on the glasses following washing through one cycle. Once dry the glasses were clear with no deposits and very few water marks. No etching or crazing was observed on the glasses.

Stage Three

Total lipstick removal was found after each wash. The glasses had a good clear finish with a few water marks visible.

Stage Four

Good finish on the glasses was obtained after 20 washes with no etching apparent. - 13 - A few water marks were visible on the glasses once dry. There was not a noticeable improvement obtained by using the rinse aid with additional isopropyl alcohol.

Conclusion

Addition of citric acid to the glass washer detergent supplied improved washing. Complete lipstick removal was obtained.

The rinse aid formulations tested gave a clear finish to glasses with few water marks being visible.

Additional Testing: Method

Glasses were put through a wash and rinse cycle in a Lamber glass washer using the rinse aid formulation given above, and the following detergent formulation, which is derived from that used in the above method:

Emulsogen EPN 207 20%

Synperonic LFRA 280 10%

Synperonic LFRA 290 10%

Citric Acid 10% EDTA 2%

IPA 20%

Water up to 100%

Glasses were washed once and twelve times. - 14 - Lemonade plus refrigerated and room temperature ASDA bitter was poured into the glasses. Observations were made of nucleation as well as lacing and beer head retention in the case of the beer.

The same procedure was carried out using an alkaline hypochloride cleaner commercially available under the trade name Renovate.

Result

The lemonade in the test glass that had been washed twelve times produced bigger bubbles over a longer period than that in a Renovate treated control glass. The enhanced nucleation was seen to continue for longer than two hours. ^~

Using beer at room temperature the Renovate control glass had a bigger beer head than test glasses which had been washed once and 12 times.

However, with chilled bear a creamy head was produced in the test glass which had been washed twelve times and which disappeared at a much slower rate than that in the Renovate control glass. There was a good lacing.

Nucleation was seen in the treated glasses but not in the control.

Conclusion - 15 - Use of the formulations in accordance with the invention gave enhanced nucleation with lemonade and beer as well as giving a long lasting beer head.

Examples 2A and 2B

Detergent Formulation 2A 2B

Emulsogen EPN 207 20% 20%

Synperonic LFRA 280 10% 10%

Synperonic LFRA 290 10% 10%

Dow Corning 193 2% 2%

Citric Acid 5% 5%

IPA 15% 15%

Anti-foam 0.02% 0.02%

EDTA 5% NTA 5%

Water

32.98% 32.98%

Rinse Aid Formulation

Emulsogen EPN 207 2%

Synperonic LFRA 280 2%

Synperonic LFRA 290 2%

Dow Corning 193 5%

Citric Acid 10%

IPA 15%

Water 64% - 16 - Results

Formulation 2A and Rinse Aid

Complete lipstick removal was observed at 20ml and 5ml dosage levels of the above detergent.

Formulation 2B and Rinse Aid

99% lipstick removal was obtained using the above detergent. The addition of 5% EDTA or 5% NTA was found not to have any noticeable effect on results, but the tests were carried out in a relatively soft water area.

Rinse Aid alone

99% lipstick removal was obtained without the addition of detergent to the wash water.

Conclusion

Use of formulation 2A produced complete lipstick removal from glasses even at low dosage levels. However, it was also found that complete lipstick removal was obtained in a control wash where no detergent was used, rinse aid only being dosed through the automatic feed lines during the rinse cycle.

On the basis of the foregoing tests, it was realised that the - 17 - levels of the various constituents could be reduced substantially without significantly changing the excellent results obtained. Thus, in the detergent, the amount of Emulsogen EPN 207, in particular, could be reduced to 10% or less. In the rinse aid, the amounts of Dow Corning 193 and of citric acid could be reduced to 2.5% or less and 5% or less respectively. Also, it was advantageous to include a small percentage e.g. 1-2% Dow Corning 193 in the detergent as a wetting agent.

Following on from the above testing, the next two examples are of typical, preferred formulations:

Example 3

Detergent formulation

Emulsogen EPN 207 15%

Synperonic LFRA 280 8%

Synperonic LFRA 290 8%

Dow Corning 193 or Basildon 403 1% Citric Acid 10%

EDTA 2%

IPA 15%

Anti Foam 0.02%

Water 40.98% - 18 - Rinse Aid formulation

Emulsogen EPN 207 1%

Synperonic LFRA 280 2%

Synperonic LFRA 290 2%

Dow Corning 193 or Basildon 403 2.5%

Citric Acid 5%

IPA 15%

Water 72.5%

Example 4

Detergent formulation

Emulsogen EPN 207 20%

Genapol 2822 10%

Dow Corning 193 2%

IPA 15%

Anti-foam 0.5%

Water 52.5%

- 19 -

Rinse Aid formulation (specifically for dishwashers)

Emulsogen EPN 207 2%

Synperonic LFRA 280 3%

Synperonic LFRA 290 3%

Dow Corning 193 or Basildon 403 5%

Citric Acid 8%

IPA 15%

Water 64%

Example 5

Windscreen washing formulation

Emulsogen EPN 207 1%

Dow Corning 3225C 2%

Dow Corning 193 or Basildon 403 1%

Citric Acid 5% Industrial methylated spirits or propyl alcohol 90% - 20 - Example 6

Windscreen washing formulation

Emulsogen EPN 207 2 9-

Silwet or Dow Corning 2-8707 1%

Citric Acid 6% Industrial methylated spirits or propyl alcohol 91%

Example 7

Windscreen washing formulation

Emulsogen EPN 207 2%

Silwet or Dow Corning 2-8707 1%

Dow Corning 8075 3%

Citric Acid 4% Industrial methylated spirits or propyl alcohol 90%

- 21 - Example 8

Windscreen washing formulation

Emulsogen EPN 207 1%

Dow Corning 3225C or 193 2%

Citric acid 5% Industrial methylated spirits or propyl alcohol 92%

Example 9

Windscreen washing formulation

Emulsogen EPN 207 0.5%

Dow Corning 3225C 2.0%

Dow Corning 193 1.0%

Industrial methylated spirits 20.0%

Dye 0.02%

Perfume 0.01%

Water 76.47%

Claims

- 22 -CLAIMS

1. A cleaning and coating composition for glassware, ceramics and metal comprising an emulsifying agent, or a mixture thereof, selected from the group comprising poly glycol ethers, and a silicone surfactant and/or emulsion.

2. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the silicone surfactant and/or emulsion is selected from the group comprising organosilicone co-polymers, such as silicone glycol co-polymers, silicone-silicone co-polymers, polyorganosiloxanes and polyorganosilanols, or comprises any mixture thereof. ^~

3. A composition according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the emulsifying agent and the silicone surfactant and/or emulsion are dispersed in an excess of alcohol.

4. A composition according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the emulsifying agent and the silicone surfactant and/or emulsion are dispersed in an excess of water in amounts sufficient to achieve complete removal of lipstick residue from the glassware, ceramics or metal.

5. A composition according to any preceding claim which additionally comprises a non-ionic surfactant selected from the group comprising alkoxylates, ethylene oxide/propylene - 23 - oxide block co-polymers, and short-chain alkyl esters of mono- or di- carboxylic acids, or any mixture thereof.

6. A composition according to claim 5 wherein the non-ionic surfactant consists of or includes at least one alkoxylate of a primary or secondary fatty alcohol.

7. A composition according to claim 5 or 6 wherein the non- ionic surfactant or mixture thereof is present in the range from 2.5% to 25% by weight.

8. A composition according to any preceding claim wherein the emulsifying agent or mixture thereof is present in the range from 0.5% to 25% by weight.

9. A composition according to any preceding claim wherein the silicone surfactant and/or emulsion is present in the range from 0.5% to 10% by weight.

10. A composition according to claim 4 which additionally comprises a co-solvent selected from short-chain alcohols, most preferably isopropyl alcohol, glycols and sodium cumene sulphonate.

11. A composition according to claim 4 which is additionally provided with a viscosity regulating agent selected from the group comprising isopropyl alcohol, ethanol and urea. - 24 -

12. A composition according to claim 11 in which the viscosity regulating agent is present in the amount of

5%-25% by weight.

13. A composition according to any preceding claim which is provided with a builder to soften the water.

14. A composition according to claim 3 in which the builder is citric acid or a salt thereof.