Cleaning composition and wipe

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to cleaning compositions, and wipes comprising these compositions, for cleaning hard surfaces, more particularly for cleaning shiny and transparent or translucent surfaces such enamel, ceramic, glossy paint and glass surfaces. The wipes are impregnated with the hard surface cleaning composition.

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART

[0002] Ready-to-use wipes, impregnated with a liquid cleaning composition are very popular for cleaning hard surfaces. For shiny surfaces it is very important that such wipes (generally referred to as "wet wipes") do not leave visible traces of the cleaning composition, generally known as streaks or spots, because these give the surface an unsightly appearance. Whereas on surfaces such as paint, ceramic and enamel such streaks are usually only visible when the surface is looked at under certain angles, on transparent surfaces, such as glass, streaks are nearly always clearly visible and therefore particularly annoying.

[0003] Thus, particular attention has been paid in the prior art to the preparation of wipes and cleaning compositions for glass which on drying leave as little streaks and spots as possible. Compositions for cleaning glass or for impregnating glass-cleaning wipes often contain a relatively low amount of a detergent surfactant, typically less than 1% of a nonionic or anionic surfactant. Furthermore they often contain one or more organic solvents with a boiling point low enough to quickly dry on the surface. Some of these compositions contain a polymeric substance. Such compositions are disclosed in WO 99/09135, in which the surfactant is alkyl sulphate, which contain propylene glycol butylether and ethanol as solvents and which preferably contain polyacrylate or a polyvinylpyrrolidone /acrylic acid copolymer. A similar composition is disclosed in WO 00/71661 comprising a linear alkyl sulphate anionic surfactant, an alkyl polyglucoside nonionic surfactant and a solvent system comprising an alkylene glycol ether and a C1-C6 alcohol.

[0004] WO 01/23510 discloses cleaning compositions comprising an alkyl sulphate anionic surfactant and/or an alkyl polyglycoside nonionic surfactant and a hydrophillic polymer such as polyvinyl pyridine n-oxide. The compositions may further comprise an organic solvent and a polyacrylate thickening agent. Pre-moistened wipes comprising these compositions are also disclosed.

[0005] WO 01/30128 discloses articles for wiping surfaces impregnated with a cationic surfactant or a cationic polymer.

[0006] EP 067016 discloses wet wipes comprising an aqueous composition with up to 1% of a nonionic surfactant and an at least partially esterified resin in a surfactant to resin ration of from 15:1 to 1:2. It may optionally contain a water-miscible organic solvent.

[0007] WO 01/38480 discloses a cleaning wipe moistened with an aqueous cleaning composition comprising a low-residue surfactant (preferably 0.1% alkyl polyglycoside), a hydrophilic polymer such as polyacrylic acid and preferably a glycol ether and/or lower alcohol solvent. Similar wet wipes are disclosed in US 4,448,704. Similar wet wipes without polymer are described in US 5,342,534, WO 01/77280 and WO 01/77281. In EP 604996 the presence of a polymer is optional.

[0008] In US 3,696,043 it is disclosed that the reaction product of diethanolamine with a styrene/maleic anhydride copolymer reduces streaking of surfactant solutions on shiny surfaces such as glass

[0009] In spite of the large amount of proposed solutions for alleviating spotting and streaking problems on shiny surfaces there remains a need for further reducing this problem.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Thus the invention provides aqueous liquid cleaning compositions for shiny hard surfaces, as well as wet wipes comprising these compositions, wherein the composition comprises a low residue surfactant, a relatively hydrophobic alcoholic organic solvent and a copolymer of styrene and an unsaturated carboxylic acid or carboxylic acid precursor. Shiny surfaces treated with the compositions according to the invention and left to dry show minimal streaking and spotting or none at all.

[0011] Accordingly, the invention provides an aqueous liquid cleaning composition for shiny hard surfaces comprising a surfactant, an alcoholic organic solvent and a polymer characterized in that:

• the surfactant is chosen from ethoxylated C8-C18 aliphatic alcohols, amine oxides comprising one C8-C18 alkyl group and two C1-C3 alkyl groups and C6-C18
• alkyl polyglycosides with- a (poly) glycoside group of 1-4 saccharide units, or mixtures thereof, in an amount of 0.01-1%w;
• the alcoholic solvent is a solvent with a solubility in water of between 1 and 20% (at 20°C) chosen from C4-C6 aliphatic alcohols and glycol mono-ethers, in an amount of 0.1 - 25%w; and
• the polymer is a copolymer of styrene and an unsaturated carboxylic acid or carboxylic acid precursor, modified by esterification with C1-C6 alcohols and having a molecular weight of 50,000 or more, in an amount of 0.0005-0.1%w.

[0012] The invention further provides a wet wipe comprising a flexible substrate made of one or more layers of woven or non-woven fibrous material impregnated with a composition according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.

[0013] All percentages given below are by weight unless indicated otherwise.

The liquid composition

[0014] The liquid cleaning compositions according to the invention comprise one or more anionic and/or nonionic and/or amphoteric low residue detergent surfactants in an amount of 0.01-1%, preferably 0.02-0.5%, more preferably 0.05-0.25%. Preferably the surfactants are nonionic and particularly comprise the well known ethoxylated C8-C18 aliphatic alcohols, amine oxides comprising one C8-C18 alkyl group and 2 C1-C3 alkyl groups and C6-C18 alkyl polyglycosides with a (poly)glycoside group of 1-4 saccharide units. The alkyl polyglycosides are particularly preferred, especially those with C8-C12 alkyl groups.

[0015] The liquid compositions according to the invention also comprise one or more hydrophobic alcoholic solvents i.e. alcoholic solvents with a limited solubility in water of between 1% and 20% (at 20°C). The alcoholic solvents may be C4-C6 aliphatic alcohols or they may be glycol mono-ether type solvents such as mono- or di-ethylene or mono- or di-propylene glycol alkyl mono-ethers wherein the alkyl group has up to 8 carbon atoms. Preferably the solvents have a solubility in water of 2-10%. The most suitable examples are n-butanol and propylene glycol butylethers, particularly n-butylether. The solvents should easily evaporate from the surface and therefore preferably have a boiling point not exceeding 250°C, more preferably at most 200°C. The amount of solvent in the composition is 0.1-25%, preferably 0.5-10%, more preferably at most 5%, but does not exceed the limit of its solubility in water. Most preferably it is at least 1%

[0016] Furthermore the liquid compositions according to the invention comprise 0.0005-0.1% of a copolymer of styrene and an unsaturated carboxylic acid or carboxylic acid precursor. Such polymers may e.g. be copolymers of styrene with acrylic and/or methacrylic acid, copolymers of styrene with maleic anhydride or copolymers of styrene with (meth)acrylic acid and maleic anhydride. These polymers generally have a (weight average) molecular weight of 10,000 or more, preferably 50,000 or more even more preferably at least 100,000 or even 150,000, but generally below 1,000,000, preferably below 500,000 or even 300,000. The polymers may be modified preferably by esterification, particularly with a lower (≤ C6) alcohol. Copolymers of styrene with maleic anhydride are preferred, particularly those which are partly esterified and are soluble in aqueous alkali. Preferably the styrene/maleic anhydride ratio in the polymer is above 1, more preferably between 1.05 and 1.5, most preferably between 1.1 and 1.3. Particularly suitable polymers are those marketed by Hercules under the tradename Scripset such as Scripset 540, 740, 745 and similar polymers of other manufacturers.

[0017] The amount of polymer in the composition is preferably 0.001-0.05%, more preferably 0.002-0.02%. The weight ratio of surfactant to polymer is preferably between 10:1 and 50:1, more preferably above 15:1, even more preferably between 18:1 and 30:1

[0018] The compositions of the invention may optionally but preferably contain one or more hydrophilic solvents, particularly ethanol and/or isopropanol, in an amount of up to 20%, more preferably between 2 and 15%,

[0019] The compositions of the invention are preferably alkaline, i.e. have pH of 7.5 or higher, more preferably between 8 and 12, even more preferably between 8.5 and 11, most preferably ≤10.

[0020] Furthermore the compositions may contain optional components well known in the art such as preservatives, perfumes, colouring agents, pH regulating compounds and the like.

[0021] Typical compositions according to the invention comprise:

C8-C12 alkyl polyglycoside	0.05-0.2%
Butanol and/or propylene glycol butylether
(together)	1-5%
Esterified alkali-soluble styrene/maleic
anhydride copolymer	0.002-0.01%
Optionally: ethanol and/or isopropanol	5-15%
Water	to 100%
Weight ratio of surfactant to polymer	18:1 - 30:1.

[0022] The compositions according to the invention can be used as such to clean all kind of shiny and/or transparent hard surfaces and may be applied by spraying followed by wiping with a cloth, towel, sponge or similar implement. They are particularly suitable for application with a wipe that is pre-wetted with the composition, as more particularly set out below.

The wipes

[0023] The wet wipes according to the invention comprise a flexible substrate made of one or more layers of woven or non-woven fibrous material impregnated with a composition according to the invention.

[0024] Suitable substrates for wet wipes are well known in the art and include nonwoven material with sufficient wet strength and liquid absorption capacity to contain a suitable amount of the liquid composition according to the invention and deliver it to the surface to be cleaned. The fibres may be from natural sources e.g. viscose or cellulose such as wood pulp or cotton or synthetic origin such as polypropylene, polyester and nylon. Mixed fibres from different sources may be used in one layer of substrate.

[0025] Optionally, one or more polymeric binders can be added.
These binders can typically include one or more monomers selected from styrene/2-ethylhexyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl acrylate, methyl acrylate, acrylonitrile and vinyl acetate. Any binder material present should not be soluble in the liquid composition to such an extent that it causes the wipe to cause streaking on the cleaned surface.

[0026] The materials can be formed into webs using technologies generally known in the art such as carding, drylaid, wetlaid, airlaid and extrusion.

[0027] Webs can be bonded using technologies known in the art such as needlepunch, stitchbond, hydro-entangling, chemical bonding, thermal bonding, spunbinding, spunlacing and meltblowing. A preferred method is spunlacing.

[0028] The wipe may be a single layer structure or a multilayer structure formed from layers of materials of the above general type, which may be the same or different.

[0029] It is important that the substrate be free from impurities that can be leached out by the liquid composition and can cause streaking on the wiped surface. If necessary, the substrate may be pre-washed prior to impregnation with the composition of the invention in order to remove such impurities.

[0030] Prior to impregnation with the composition of the invention, the wipe typically has an average thickness ranging from 0.1 to 3.0mm, preferably from 0.2 to 1.0mm, more preferably from 0.3 to 0.6mm.

[0031] Prior to impregnation with the composition of the invention, the wipe typically has a maximum absorbency of from 1 to 20g/g (grams water per gram of wipe), preferably from 2 to 12g/g, more preferably from 4 to 10g/g.

[0032] Prior to impregnation with the composition of the invention, the wipe typically has a baseweight of from 20 to 100 g/m², preferably from 30 to 90 g/m², more preferably from 40 to 80 g/m².

[0033] The wipes are impregnated with at least 0.5g liquid composition per g substrate dry weight, preferably 1.0-4.0g liquid per g substrate, more preferably 1.0-2.0g liquid per g substrate.

[0034] The wipes according to the invention may also comprise an additional non-fibrous layer of absorbent or liquid-carrying material such as a spongy layer or a layer of super absorbent material that is capable of releasing the liquid again under the application of pressure.

[0035] Preferred wipes are made of a combination of hydrophobic and hydrophilic fibres. More preferably the wipes are made of a mixture of hydrophobic polyester, nylon or polypropylene fibres and hydrophilic cellulose (preferably cotton) or viscose fibres in the same layer. The wipes may comprise one or more of such layers. Most preferred are wipes comprising a mixture of polyester fibres and viscose or cotton fibres. Preferably, the amount of hydrophobic fibres is 10-70% of the wipe, more preferably at most 60%. An amount of between 20 and 60% hydrophobic fibres is particularly suitable.

EXAMPLE

[0036] An aqueous cleaning liquid of the following composition was prepared:

Scripset 740	0.005%
Propylene glycol n-butyl ether	2.5%
Glucopon 215CS UP*	0.10%
Ethanol	12.0%
3-Iodo-2-propynyl butyl carbamate	0.005%
Perfume	0.05%
Demineralised water	to 100%

[0037] A wipe substrate consisting of 50% polyester and 50% viscose fibres and having a baseweight of 50g/m² is wetted with the above composition to a liquid loading of 1.5g liquid per g of substrate.

[0038] When used to clean window glass the above wipes gave excellent and completely streak-free cleaning.

Claims

1. An aqueous liquid cleaning composition for shiny hard surfaces comprising a surfactant, an alcoholic organic solvent and a polymer characterized in that:

- the surfactant is chosen from ethoxylated C8-C18 aliphatic alcohols, amine oxides comprising one C8-C18 alkyl group and two C1-C3 alkyl groups and C6-C18 alkyl polyglycosides with a (poly)glycaside group of 1-4 saccharide units, or mixtures thereof, in an amount of 0.01-1%w;

- the alcoholic solvent is a solvent with a solubility in water of between 1 and 20% (at 20°C) chosen from C4-C6 aliphatic alcohols and glycol mono-ethers, in an amount of 0.1-25%w;

- the polymer is a copolymer of styrene and an unsaturated carboxylic acid or carboxylic acid precursor, modified by esterification with C1-C6 alcohols and having a molecular weightof 50,000 or more, in an amount of 0.0005-0.1%w.

2. A cleaning composition according to claim 1 characterized in that the surfactant is a C6-C18 alkyl polyglycoside with 1-4 saccharide units, used in an amount of 0.02-0.5%w.

3. A cleaning composition according to claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the solvent has a boiling point not exceeding 250°C and is present in an amount of 0.5-10%w.

4. A cleaning composition according to claims 1-3 characterized in that the polymer is an alkali-soluble esterified styrene/maleic anhydride copolymer and is present in an amount of 0.001-0.05%w.

5. A cleaning composition according to claims 1-4 characterized in that the weight ratio of surfactant to polymer is between 10:1 and 50:1.

6. A cleaning composition according to claims 1-5 characterized in that it additionally contains up to 20%w of ethanol and/or isopropanol.

7. A cleaning composition according to claims 1-6 comprising:

C8-C12 alkyl polyglycoside	0.05-0.2%w
Butanol and/or propylene glycol butylether
(together)	1-5%w
Esterified alkali-soluble styrene/maleic
anhydride copolymer	0.002-0.01%w
Ethanol and/or isopropanol	5-15%w
Water	to 100%w;

wherein the surfactant to polymer ratio is between 18:1 and 30:1.

8. A wet wipe comprising a flexible substrate made of one or more layers of woven or non-woven fibrous material impregnated with a composition according to any one of claims 1-7.

9. A wet wipe according to claim 8 characterized in that the substrate consists of a mixture of hydrophobic and hydrophilic fibres in the same layer wherein the amount of hydrophobic fibres is between 10 and 70%w of the substrate.

Ansprüche

1. Wässrige flüssige Reinigungszusammensetzung für glänzende harte Oberflächen, umfassend ein Tensid, ein organisches alkoholisches Lösungsmittel und ein Polymer, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass:

- das Tensid aus ethoxylierten aliphatischen C₈-C₁₈-Alkoholen, Aminoxiden, umfassend eine C₈-C₁₈-Alkylgruppe und zwei C₁-C₃-Alkylgruppen und C₆-C₁₈-Alkylpolyglykosiden mit einer (Poly)glykosidgruppe von ein bis vier Saccharideinheiten oder Gemischen davon, in einer Menge von 0,01 bis 1 Gew.-% ausgewählt ist;

- das alkoholische Lösungsmittel ein Lösungsmittel mit einer Löslichkeit in Wasser zwischen 1 und 20 % (bei 20°C), ausgewählt aus aliphatischen C₄-C₆-Alkoholen und Glykolmonoethern, in einer Menge von 0,1 bis 25 Gew.-%, darstellt;

- das Polymer ein Copolymer von Styrol und einer ungesättigten Carbonsäure oder Carbonsäurenvorstufe, modifiziert durch Veresterung mit C₁-C₆-Alkoholen und mit einem Molekulargewicht von 50000 oder mehr, in einer Menge von 0,0005 bis 0,1 Gew.-% darstellt.

2. Reinigungszusammensetzung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Tensid ein C₆-C₁₈-Alkylpolyglykosid mit 1 bis 4 Saccharideinheiten darstellt, das in einer Menge von 0,02 bis 0,5 Gew.-% verwendet wird.

3. Reinigungszusammensetzung nach Ansprüchen 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Lösungsmittel einen Siedepunkt aufweist, der 250°C nicht übersteigt und in einer Menge von 0,5 bis 10 Gew.-% vorliegt.

4. Reinigungszusammensetzung nach Ansprüchen 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Polymer ein in Alkali lösliches verestertes Styrol/Maleinsäureanhydridcopolymer darstellt und in einer Menge von 0,001 bis 0,05 Gew.-% vorliegt.

5. Reinigungszusammensetzung nach Ansprüchen 1 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Gewichtsverhältnis von Tensid zu Polymer zwischen 10:1 und 50:1 liegt.

6. Reinigungszusammensetzung nach Ansprüchen 1 bis 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sie zusätzlich bis zu 20 Gew.-% Ethanol und/oder Isopropanol enthält.

7. Reinigungszusammensetzung nach Ansprüchen 1 bis 6, umfassend:

C8-C12-Alkylpolyglykosid	0,05 bis 0,2 Gew.-%
Butanol und/oder Propylenglykolbu-	1 bis 5 Gew.-%
tylether (zusammen)
verestertes in Alkali lösliches	0,002 bis
Styrol/Maleinsäureanhydridcopolymer	0,01 Gew.-%
Ethanol und/oder Isopropanol	5 bis 15 Gew.-%
Wasser	auf 100 Gew.-%

worin das Tensid:Polymer-Verhältnis zwischen 18:1 und 30:1 liegt.

8. Feuchtwischtuch, umfassend ein biegsames Substrat, das aus einer oder mehreren Schichten von Gewebe- oder Vliesfasermaterial, imprägniert mit einer Zusammensetzung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, hergestellt ist.

9. Feuchtwischtuch nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Substrat aus einem Gemisch von hydrophoben und hydrophilen Fasern in der gleichen Schicht besteht, wobei die Menge an hydrophoben Fasern zwischen 10 und 70 Gew.-% des Substrats liegt.

Revendications

1. Composition de nettoyage liquide aqueuse pour surfaces dures et brillantes comprenant un tensioactif, un solvant organique alcoolique et un polymère caractérisé en ce que :

- le tensioactif est sélectionné parmi les alcools aliphatiques éthoxylés en C8-C18, les oxydes d'amine comprenant un groupe alkyle en C8-C18 et deux groupes alkyle en C1-C3 et les polyglycosides alkylés en C6-C18 avec un groupe (poly)glycoside de une à quatre unités saccharidiques, ou des mélanges de ceux-ci, en une quantité de 0,01 à 1 % en poids ;

- le solvant alcoolique est un solvant ayant une solubilité dans l'eau comprise entre 1 et 20 % (à 20°C) sélectionné parmi les alcools aliphatiques en C4-C6 et les mono-éthers de glycol, en une quantité de 0,1 à 25 % en poids ;

- le polymère est un copolymère de styrène et d'un acide carboxylique insaturé ou d'un précurseur d'acide carboxylique, modifié par estérification avec des alcools en C1-C6 de carbone et ayant une masse moléculaire de 50 000 ou plus, en une quantité de 0,0005 à 0,1 % en poids.

2. Composition de nettoyage selon la revendication 1 caractérisée en ce que le tensioactif est un polyglycoside d'alkyle en C6-C18 avec une à quatre unités saccharidiques, utilisé en une quantité de 0,02 à 0,5 % en poids.

3. Composition de nettoyage selon la revendication 1 ou 2 caractérisée en ce que le solvant a un point d'ébullition ne dépassant pas 250°C et est présent en une quantité de 0,5 à 10 % en poids.

4. Composition de nettoyage selon les revendications 1 à 3 caractérisée en ce que le polymère est un copolymère de styrène estérifié alcalino-soluble/anhydride maléique et est présent en une quantité de 0,001 à 0,05 % en poids.

5. Composition de nettoyage selon les revendications 1 à 4 caractérisée en ce que le rapport massique du tensioactif au polymère est compris entre 10:1 et 50:1.

6. Composition de nettoyage selon les revendications 1 à 5 caractérisée en ce qu'elle contient en plus jusqu'à 20 % en poids d'éthanol et/ou d'isopropanol.

7. Composition de nettoyage selon les revendications 1 à 6 comprenant :

Polyglycoside d'alkyle en C8-C12	0,05 à 0,2 % en poids
Butanol et/ou éther butylique de propylène glycol (ensemble)	1 à 5 % en poids
Copolymère de styrène estérifié alcalino-soluble/anhydride maléique	0,002 à 0,01 % en poids
Éthanol et/ou isopropanol	5 à 15 % en poids
Eau	jusqu'à 100 % en poids;

dans laquelle le rapport du tensioactif au polymère est compris entre 18:1 et 30:1.

8. Lingette humide comprenant un substrat flexible constitué d'une ou plusieurs couches d'un matériau fibreux tissé ou non-tissé imprégné de la composition selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7.

9. Lingette humide selon la revendication 8 caractérisée en ce que le substrat est constitué d'un mélange de fibres hydrophobes et hydrophiles dans la même couche dans laquelle la quantité de fibres hydrophobes est comprise entre 10 et 70 % du substrat.