United States Patent [191 Fetty

[11] 3,717,590 [451 Feb. 20, 1973

[54] LIQUID WATER-SOLUBLE DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS

[76] Inventor: Robert L. Fetty, 753 31st Avenue, Columbus, Nebr. 68601

[22] Filed: Dec. 17, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 99,317

[52] US. Cl. ................ ..252/540, 252/122, 252/126, 252/127, 252/139, 252/166, 252/170,

252/539 [51] Int. Cl. ........................................... ..Clld 3/065 [58] Field of Search .... ..252/539, 540, 558, 559, 139,

252/122, 126, 127, 166,170 [56] References Cited

UNITED STATES PATENTS

3,248,335 4/1966 Teot et al. .......................... .1252/161

2,952,637 9/1960 Bray et al. .... ..252/127 X 2,901,433 8/1959 Spring ....... .. ..252/126 X 3,538,006 11/1970 Benson et a1. .... ..252/139 X 3,285,858 11/1966 Hirsch et a1. . . . . . . . . . . . . ..252/126 X

2,990,375 6/1961 Steinhauer et a1... .... ._252/558 X 3,002,883 10/1961 Butt et a1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..252/106 X

3,245,914 4/1966 Steinhauer et a1 .................. ..252/106

Primary Examiner-Leon D. Rosdol Assistant ExaminerI-Iarris A. Pitlick AttorneyCushman, Darby & Cushman

[57] ABSTRACT Liquid water-soluble detergent compositions having improved adhesion to vertical surfaces without the tendency to evaporate yet are easily removed with water pressure are disclosed. The compositions are useful in removing grease and oil from the surfaces of automobile engines and compartments.

8 Claims, N0 Drawings

3,717,590 1

LIQUID WATER-SOLUBLE DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS

This invention relates to water-soluble detergent compositions and more particularly to liquid detergent compositions suitable for use as cleaning agents for cleaning automobile engines and similar applications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Detergents per se and cleaning agents in general are well known in the art. See, for instance, the following U. S. Pats. disclosing various combinations of deter gents and diluents: Nos. 3,328,309; 3,240,713; 3,210,287 and 3,037,936. Heretofore a water-soluble detergent composition having the properties of adher ing to vertical surfaces coated with grease and freedom from rapid evaporation from the surface to which the detergent composition has been applied has not been known.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a detergent composition for the removal of grease, road ?lm and other resinous deposits from a metal surface that is water-soluble, non-?ammable yet is easily removed from the surfaces to which it has been applied, the removal by the use of water pressure. Another object is to provide a detergent composition

that adheres to vertical surfaces to be cleaned, thereby providing a more thorough cleaning of the object to which it is applied and avoiding additional subsequent applications of the detergent. Another object is to provide a detergent composition

that does not dry out or evaporate after application to the surface of the object or objects to be cleaned.

Still further objects and the entire scope applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter; it should be un derstood, however, that the detailed description and speci?c example, while indicating preferred embodi ments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modi?cations within the spirit and scope of the invention will become ap parent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Liquid, water-soluble detergents comprise, as the major components thereof, anionic and non-ionic sur factants together with water and organic solvents. The resulting liquid is clear and somewhat viscous. The compositions comprise alkali metal salts of dodecylated oxydibenzene disulfonate an octylphenol or nonylphenol having from 6 to 15 moles of ethylene oxide as an adduct, alkali metal silicate, alkali metal pyrophosphate, tall oil fatty acid having 18 carbon atoms, naptha and water, all in selected proportions.

Water-soluble liquid detergents are disclosed that, when applied to a vertical surface, adhere to the verti cal surface to which it is applied, even when the surface is heavily covered with grease and road dirt. The com positions of the present invention are most suitable for cleaning the surfaces of automobile engines, automo bile engine compartments, transmissions, power lawn mowers and the like, the preceding instances being merely descriptive and by no means exhaustive of the application of the compositions of the present inven tion. Indeed, one skilled in the art will immediately ap

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2 preciate the several and varied applications to which the compositions of the present invention may be ap plied. For facility of discussion, however, the present invention will be described in the context of cleaning an automobile engine, it being understood that the compositions have several other applications. The compositions of the present invention are non

?ammable. This is always an important consideration when dealing with an engine that burns gasoline or other highly combustible ?uid. Care must be taken that the potential for explosion is not increased. This valua ble property also provides for the application of the composition to the surface to be treated in a discreet spray, as for example from a container pressurized by an air compressor or in self-contained aerosol cans pressurized by a compressed halogenated hydrocarbon such as Freon l2 and the like. A spray application rapidly places the composition in contact with the vari ous irregular surfaces to be cleaned thereby reducing cleaning time. Of course, the compositions of the present invention can be applied directly as with a brush or cloth.

Painted and other ?nishes such as chrome, stainless steel and rubber are not adversely affected by the appli cation of the compositions of the present invention. Thus the compositions may be applied to the area to be cleaned without fear of damaging adjacent materials, as with the auto fenders, ?rewall and chrome trim. In this regard it should be noted that the liquid detergents of the present invention are also useful as a dressing for rubber surfaces, protecting the same from deteriora tion and attack by the elements. Moreover, due to their solubility in water, the compositions are easily removed fromthe surface to which they are applied by the use of water pressure. A suitable source of water pressure is a garden hose or the like. In addition to its convenience. the resulting pressure helps to dislodge grease and dis- ~ solved solids and remove them from the area to be cleaned. The amount of time the liquid detergent must be in

contact with the area to be cleaned depends, of course, on several factors, such as the size of the area to be cleaned, the amount and nature of the grease and dirt deposits thereon and the concentration of the liquid de tergent applied. Times as short as 30minutes and as long as 24 hours may be used; however, it is preferred that the amount of contact time be at least about 60 minutes.

Another attractive property of liquid detergents of the present invention is their capacity not to dry out or evaporate after application. Thus it is not necessary to remove the detergent immediately after application but it can be allowed to remain on the surface to be cleaned for a period of time until it is convenient to apply water pressure and remove the detergent and grease. As a surfactant for the composition of the present in

vention there is selected an anionic surface active agent of the sulfonate type, namely alkali metal salts of dodecylated oxydibenzene disulfonate. The sodium salt is preferred and is available from Dow Chemical Co. as Dowfax 2A1 having a speci?c gravity at 20 C. of 1.164 and the following general formula:

CHHVQW'Q SOaNa S0;Na

3,717,590 3

As ,a non-ionic surfactant octylphenol and no nylphenols are used having from about 6 to about 15 moles of ethylene oxide adduct. The preferred phenyl is nonylphenol 9-moles ethylene oxide adduct, com mercially sold as 9N9 by the Thompson-Hayward Chemical Co.

Alkali metal silicates and alkali metal pyrophosphates, particularly the sodium and potassium salts, are readily available in commerce. Preferred are sodium ortho silicate and tetra potassium pyrophosphate. '

In the non-aqueous portion of the composition there is used a tall oil fatty acid having 18 carbon atoms, mono- and diunsaturated. These are mainly oleic and linoleic acids, available as Pamak 4A from Hercules (Ihemical Co. having the following properties:

fatty acid, % 95.2 rosin acids, % 3.0 unsaponi?ables, % 1.8 acid number 193 iodine number 132

Naptha is employed as an organic solvent; heavy aro matic naptha is preferred. Water is used to bring the solution to final volume while distilled and deionized water are suitable, for the sake of convenience and economy tap water is preferred.

Unless otherwise indicated, all parts and percentages are by weight. The preferred formulation according to the present

invention is as follows:

Parts dodecylated oxydibenzene disolfonate, sodium salt 70 nonylphenol-9 moles ethylene oxide adduct 14 sodium orthosilicate l4 tetra potassium pyrophosphate 91 tall oil, l8 carbon fatty acids 107 heavy aromatic naptha I60 water 666 Total parts 1 l22

EXAMPLE

Sodium ortho silicate, (14 lbs) is dissolved in water (666 lbs, 80 gallons) at 220 F. with agitation until the resulting solution is clear. To the clear aqueous solu tion tetra potassium pyrophosphate (91 lbs.) was added. Then Dowfax 2A1 (sodium salt of dodecylated oxydibenzene disulfonate, 70 lbs) and 9N9 (no nylphenol - 9 moles of ethylene adduct, 14 lbs) were added. The resulting aqueous solution, solution 1, is retained. Pamak 4A (tall oil fatty acids, primarily oleic and

linoleic acids, 107 lbs) is dissolved in heavy aromatic naptha (160 lbs) with agitation. The resulting liquid is solution 2. The composition prepared according to the Example

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4 was sprayed on an automobile engine heavily coated with grease and road ?lm. it was noted that the deter gent composition adhered to the vertical surfaces of the engine and motor compartment. The water-soluble de tergent was removed from the engine surfaces and motor compartment area by water pressure using a ' common garden hose. Grease and road film were removed from the coated surfaces leaving the engine substantially clean. It was found that the water-soluble detergent composition of the present invention is non ?ammable, not harmful to painted surfaces or rubber and did not dry out or evaporate after application to the engine. It was easily removed by water pressure. What is claimed is: l. A liquid, water-soluble detergent composition for

removing grease and oil deposits from the outside sur face of an object coated therewith, said composition consisting essentially of, in parts by weight:

a. alkali metal salts of dodecylated oxydibenzene disulfonate, about 70 parts,

b. a nonylphenol having as an adduct from 6 to 15 moles of ethylene oxide, about 14 parts,

c. alkali metal silicate, about 14 parts, d. alkali metal pyrophosphate, about 91 parts, e. water, about 666 parts, f. tall oil fatty acid, about 107 parts, and g. naptha, about 160 parts. 2. A detergent composition as claimed in claim 1

wherein said oxydibenzene is the sodium salt of dodecylated oxydibenzene disulfonate.

3. A detergent composition as claimed in claim I wherein said nonylphenol has 9 moles of ethylene oxide as an adduct.

4. A detergent composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein said silicate is an orthosilicate.

5. A detergent composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pyrophosphate is tetra potassium pyrophosphate.

6. A detergent composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tall oil is a straight chain fatty acid having 18 carbon atoms. '

7. A detergent composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein said naptha is heavy aromatic naptha.

8. A liquid, watensoluble detergent composition for removing grease and oil deposits from the outside sur face of an object coated therewith, said composition consisting essentially of, in part by weight:

a. alkali metal salts of dodecylated oxydibenzene disulfonate, about 70 parts,

b. an octylphenol having as an adduct from 6 to 15 moles of ethylene oxide, about 14 parts,

c. alkali metal silicate,'about 14 parts, d. alkali metal pyrophosphate, about 91 parts, e. water, about 666 parts, f. tall oil fatty acid, about 107 parts, and g. naptha, about 160 parts.