A radiation curable coating comprising:

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to radiation curable coatings, especially UV curable coatings, comprising:
(i) at least one radiation polymerizable reactant, preferably one or more monomers;
(ii) at least one initiator; and
(iii) at least one wax, preferably polytetrafluoroethylene wax.
These coatings are characterized in that they can produce a 60xc2x0 gloss of less than 40 when the coating is cured by exposure to radiation in the presence of oxygen to provide a dry film thickness of 1.0xc2x10.1 mil.
One useful application of the radiation curable coatings is obtained by applying the coating to a substrate followed by exposure to radiation in the presence of oxygen until cured. One preferred application involves the use of a flexible sheet as the substrate and an especially preferred application involves a flexible sheet having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, wherein the second side, either before or after the application and/or cure of the radiation polymerization coating, is coated with an adhesive material, and wherein the radiation curable coating is cured by exposing the applied coating to radiation in the presence of oxygen. Once the radiation polymerizable coating has been cured, the adhesive side can then be adhesively applied to any rigid or flexible substrate.
The cured coatings of this invention are especially useful in applications where an abrasion resistant, smooth, cured surface is desirable such as in the preparation of xe2x80x9cwhite boardsxe2x80x9d which can erasibly accept markings from a dry mark or dry erase writing implement.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Some methods of producing low gloss radiation curable coatings have been known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,918,393 and 4,048,036 teach radiation polymerizable coatings having relatively low gloss. Additionally, preparation of flexible sheets which are coated on one side with a polymerizable coating and on the other side with an adhesive have also been taught as set forth, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,304.
This invention relates to radiation curable liquid coating compositions comprising:
(i) at least one radiation polymerizable reactant;
(ii) at least one initiator; and
(iii) at least one wax.
The coatings can be applied to any substrate and then cured by exposure to radiation thereby providing smooth, abrasion-resistant cured coatings which can erasibly accept markings from a dry erase writing implement.
The coatings can be cured by any suitable radiation such as electron beam or visible light or, especially preferred, ultraviolet radiation. Although it is not our intent to be bound by theory, it is believed that when the coatings of this invention are cured by exposure to radiation in the presence of oxygen, the oxygen inhibits, but does not totally prevent the cure of the coating at its surface. As a result, the rate of cure is fastest at the xe2x80x9cbottomxe2x80x9d of the liquid coating and slowest at the surface. It is believed that as a result of this bottom-up curing mechanism that the wax is forced toward the surface of the curing film as the cure takes place. By selecting a sufficient amount of an appropriate wax, the cured coating can provide a hard, abrasion resistant, smooth finish with a high concentration of wax at or near the surface. The wax, apparently as a result of this curing mechanism, appears to provide the dual benefit of a reduction of gloss in the coating, and a top surface of the cured film having a smooth finish which erasibly accepts the markings of dry erase writing implements. Sufficient cure inhibition at the surface can be provided at levels of oxygen in excess of 1,000 parts oxygen per 1,000,000 parts atmosphere. Higher levels of oxygen are also practical, and it is especially convenient to utilize regular atmospheric air.
In one preferred application, the coatings of this invention are applied to a planar flexible sheet having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, wherein the second side is coated with an adhesive material, and wherein said first side is coated with a cured film of the coating of this invention which is exposed to polymerizing radiation in the presence of oxygen until cured.
Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide improved radiation curable liquid coating compositions. Another object is to provide radiation curable compositions having low gloss and a smooth, abrasion-resistant surface which can erasibly accept markings from a dry erase writing implement. A further object of this invention is to provide flexible substrates wherein at least one side of the flexible substrate is coated with the coating of this invention and, optionally, the second side is coated with an adhesive material. These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following discussions.
The radiation polymerizable reactants suitable for use in this invention can be any compound having polymerizable ethylenic unsaturation such as unsaturated polymers, oligomers, monomers or combinations thereof. Representative polymeric or oligomeric polyunsaturated compounds are well known in the art and can include, for example, unsaturated polyesters obtained by the reaction of polyols and maleic or fumaric acid, reaction products of polyacids or polyisocyanates with unsaturated alcohols, reaction products of polyepoxides and unsaturated acids such as acrylic or methacrylic acids, reaction products of polyols and unsaturated acids or esters, and other methods well known in the art.
For many applications, it is especially preferred to utilize unsaturated monomers and/or oligomers in order to minimize the viscosity and provide the highest application solids of the curable coatings. Especially useful monomers include vinyl and allyl compounds such as styrene, vinyl acetate, vinylidene chloride, and (meth)acrylates of monohydric alcohols, acrylamides and similar (meth)acrylate acid derivatives, such as methylmethacrylate, hydroxyethyl acrylate, acrylonitrile, and acrylamide. Especially preferred in the practice of this invention are the alkyl di-, tri-, and poly-acrylates such as, for example, ethylene glycol diacrylate, 1,3-propylene glycol diacrylate, 1,4-butanediol diacrylate,1,4-cyclohexane diacrylate, 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate, neopentyl glycol diacrylate, 1,5-pentanediol diacrylate, 1,8-octanediol diacrylate, trimethylol propane triacrylate, pentaerythritol triacrylate, pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, and dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate. For some applications it is also preferred to include unsaturated fluoronated materials such as fluoroalkyl(meth)acrylates as part of the curable composition.
It is especially preferred in the practice of this invention to utilize monomers which exhibit a significant amount of shrinkage, or change in density, as a result of their polymerization from monomers to homopolymers. Although it is not our intent to be bound by theory, it is believed that this rapid change in density upon cure, in combination with the oxygen inhibition of cure at the exposed surface of the coating, combine to force the wax to the surface of the cured polymer in order to provide the low gloss and smooth abrasion-resistant surface of the cured polymer. It is especially preferred in the practice of this invention to select monomers which will provide a film shrinkage of the radiation polymerizable reactants of at least 10% upon cure. Percent shrinkage is defined as follows:                               (                      d2            -            d1                    )                d1            xc3x97      100        =          Percent                    xe2x80x83                  Shrinkage        ,
wherein d1 is the density of the liquid coating composition and d2 is the density of the cured coating composition.
Monomers which provide a shrinkage of at least 10% or more upon curing from monomer to homopolymer are especially preferred in the practice of this invention. Especially preferred monomers in the practice of this invention include hexanediol diacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate and tripopyleneglycol diacrylate.
The waxes which can be utilized in the practice of this invention can be any natural or synthetic wax such as bees wax, carnauba, paraffin, chlorinated naphthalenes, polyolefins, and especially the fluoronated and/or chlorinated polyolefins such as polytetrafluoroethylene. (PTFE). The PTFE waxes are especially preferred in the practice of this invention due to their ability to rapidly reduce gloss, and to provide a smooth surface upon cure of the coating in the presence of oxygen. PTFE wax is readily commercially available and can be obtained predispersed in unsaturated monomers.
The amount of wax incorporated into the radiation polymerizable compositions of this invention should be present in amount sufficient to reduce the 60xc2x0 gloss of the cured coating to a gloss level less than 40, preferably less than 30, and most preferred less than 25, when the coating is cured by exposure to radiation in the presence of oxygen to provide a dry film thickness of 1.0xc2x10.1 mil. It should be understood that the dry film thickness of 1.0xc2x10.1 mil is utilized merely to characterize the effect of the wax and that film thicknesses of the radiation curable coating greater than or less than 1.0 mil are also practical. Typically, dry film thicknesses of the cured coating composition will range from about 0.1 to about 10 mils.
In order to provide the low glosses desired in this invention, typically the weight ratio of radiation polymerizable reactant to wax will be between 90/10 and 65/35, and preferably between 85/15 and 70/30.
The polymerization of the curable compositions can be effected with, for example, UV light or electron beam or visible light and will typically include a suitable initiator for this cure. Polymerization is especially preferred by exposure to UV light. Suitable initiators include: acylphosphine oxides such as 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl diphenyl phosphine oxide, benzoyldiethoxyphosphine oxide and 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl dinaphthyl phosphine oxide; Michler""s ketone; benzil; 2-chlorothioxanthone; 2,4-diethylthioxanthone; 2,4-diisopropylthioxanthone; 2-benzyl-2-(dimethylamino)-1-(4-(4-morpholinyl)phenyl)-1-butanone commercially available as IRGACURE(copyright) 369; camphoroquinone and mixtures thereof. Additional initiators include: acyloin and derivatives thereof, such as benzoin, benzoin methyl ether, benzoin ethyl ether, benzoin isopropyl ether commercially available as VICURE-30 from Stauffer Chemicals, benzoin isobutyl ether commercially available as TRIGONAL-14 from Noury, and methylbenzoin; diketones such as diacetyl; aromatic diketones such as anthraquinone; phenones such as acetophenone, 2,2,2-tribromo-1-phenylethanone, 2,2-diethoxyacetophenone, 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone commercially available as IRGACURE(copyright) 651 from Ciba Geigy, 2,2,2-tribromo-1-(2-nitrophenyl)ethanone, benzophenone, and 4,4-bis(dimethylamino)benzophenone, 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl-propan-1-one commercially available as DAROCUR(copyright) 1173 from Ciba Geigy, hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone commercially available as IRGACURE(copyright) 184 from Ciba Geigy, 2-methyl-1-(4-(methylthio)phenyl)-2-morpholino-propanone-1 commercially available as IRGACURE(copyright) 907 from Ciba Geigy, 2,2-dichloro-1-(4 phenoxyphenyl)ethanone commercially available as SANDORAY-1000 from Sandoz, chlorinated benzophenone aryl ketone commercially available as FI-4 from Eastman Kodak, and xcex1-isobutyl-xcex1-phenyl acetophenone commercially available as VICURE-10 from Stauffer Chemicals.
The total amount of photoinitiator present in the curable coating composition is generally in the range of about 0.05-10% by weight of the total composition, preferably between about 0.2% and about 7%.
It is especially preferred in the practice of this invention to utilize a benzophenone, or substituted benzophenone, as at least part of the initiator package, usually in combination with additional initiators. The benzophenone is frequently used in combination with an amine synergist such as a tertiary amine. A particularly preferred initiator composition comprises both an alpha cleavage initiator and a hydrogen abstraction initiator.
The curable compositions of this invention can also include additives which do not adversely effect curing of the coating. Suitable amounts of pigments, solvents, thixotropes, flow control additives, diluents, light stabilizers and other materials can be utilized. It is especially preferred in the practice of this invention to incorporate alumina or silica pigments and, in particular, the addition of colloidal silica or alumina which has been treated with an unsaturated silane or other unsaturated material to provide curable unsaturated sites on its surface is especially preferred to provide thixotropy control and improved cure. Most preferably, colloidal silica treated according to the process of U.S. Pat. No. 4,644,077 is included in the coating composition of the present invention. The treated silica will typically be present at a level of about 5 to about 40% by weight based upon the weight solids of the curable composition.
The curable compositions of this invention may typically be applied to any substrate such as metal, plastic, wood, glass, synthetic fibers, etc. by brushing, dipping, roll coating, flow coating, spraying or other method conventionally employed in the art. An especially preferred substrate for the practice of this invention includes flexible planar sheets such as polycarbonate, polyester, polyacrylate, polyvinylchloride or polyolefin sheet materials. If desired, the flexible planar sheets can be metallized for reflectivity as is known in the art. The curable composition will be applied to the substrate typically to provide a film thickness of at least about 0.1 mil and will typically be applied between 0.1 and 10 mils dry film thickness.
The sheet may be pigmented or transparent and may contain various additives including plasticizers, fillers, etc. If desired, the sheet can be provided with a surface treatment to improve adhesion. For example, the sheet can be treated with an oxidizing agent, by flame treatment, or by corona discharge, or optionally could be coated with a primer prior to application of the curable coating. The coating can be applied to one side of the flexible sheet and exposed to suitable radiation for cure in the presence of oxygen. In a preferred embodiment, the second side of the sheet can be coated with an adhesive either before or after the application of the curable coating. Any suitable adhesive can be used. For example, the adhesive could be a hot melt adhesive which is applied to the sheet from solution or from the melt and subsequently allowed to dry or cool on the sheet surface. Alternatively, the adhesive could be a contact adhesive which is soft and adhesive at room temperature and would include an anti-adhesive protective backing applied to the surface of the adhesive and subsequently stripped off before the sheet is adhesively applied to a substrate.
Once the coating has been applied and cured, the flexible sheet can be either immediately applied to a substrate or formed into rolls or other convenient packaging and transferred to another location for final application to a substrate.
The curing of the coating in the presence of oxygen is completed by sufficient exposure to radiation to obtain the desired degree of cure. In the practice of this invention, it is generally not necessary to provide any additional thermal cure or subsequent exposure to radiation in the absence of oxygen in order to effectuate sufficient cure, although these steps could be taken if desired for special applications. The curing is accomplished by exposing the coating to suitable radiation sources such as mercury lamps, xenon lamps, argon lamps, metal halide lamps, electron beams, or other device to produce the radiation.
The following examples have been selected to illustrate specific embodiments and practices of advantage to a more complete understanding of the invention. Unless otherwise stated, xe2x80x9cpartsxe2x80x9d means parts-by-weight and xe2x80x9cpercentxe2x80x9d is percent-by-weight.
A representative example of a coating which can be applied and cured as taught herein can be prepared by admixing the following materials:

Radiation curable coating having low gloss and coated articles made therefrom

Abstract: A radiation curable coating comprising:

Abstract: (ii) at least one initiator for initiating cure;

Abstract: (iii) at least one wax;

Abstract: wherein the wax is present in an amount sufficient to reduce the 60xc2x0 gloss of the cured coating to a gloss level less than 40 when the coating is cured by exposure to radiation in the presence of oxygen to provide a dry film thickness of 1.0xc2x10.1 mil.


A penis extension device for enlarging the male member by long-term extension treatment of the corpora cavernosa comprises an extension element which runs between a fastening means (4), for securing the glans penis (5), and a support (2) which receives the penis root (3) and serves as an abutment. The extension element is designed as a flexible strap (1) which can be passed around the user""s body.

The present invention relates to a penis extension device for enlarging the male member by long-term extension treatment of the corpora cavernosa, comprising an extension element which runs between a releasable fastening means, for securing the glans penis, and a support which receives the penis root and serves as an abutment.
Men with too small a penis have two possible options at present. First, the penis can be surgically enlarged. Such an operation is extremely costly, however, and is not without its risk. Long-term extension treatment of the corpora cavernosa is also possible using devices of the type set out in the introduction. Such devices are disclosed in, for example, international patent applications WO96/26691 and WO97/28764 and German Utility Model 29602101. In the known penis extension devices, the extension element is always formed by two rods which run approximately parallel to the penis that is to be extended. These rods are supported on a ring or base plate which surrounds the penis in the area of the penis root. The length of the rods between, on the one hand, the ring serving as abutment and, on the other hand, the fastening means for securing the glans penis is adjustable (WO96/26691 and WO97/28764), in addition to which compression springs can be provided to generate prestressing (WO97/28764), or the fastening means for securing the glans penis can be moved on the rods and fixed at an individually selected position (DE 29602101 U1).
The known penis extension devices of the generic type have a number of serious disadvantages. The main one to be stressed here is that a discreet extension treatment of the corpora cavernosa is not possible. Instead, during treatment, the member to be extended is held out at up to 90xc2x0 relative to the body by means of the known stretching mechanism. In addition, the stretching mechanism is by necessary longer than the member to be extended. As a consequence of this, it is in practice impossible to wear normal clothing during treatment. This in turn has the consequence that the known penis extension devices can in practice only be used at home or in private circles. This in turn leads to a relatively short period of daily use, which means an unsatisfactory result for the men in question.
Given the abovementioned disadvantages of known penis extension devices of the generic type, the object of the present invention is to make available a penis extension device which is of the type set out in the introduction and which can be worn discreetly.
According to the present invention, this object is achieved by the fact that the extension element is designed as a flexible strap which can be passed around the user""s body. The configuration of the extension element according to the invention has the result that, during the extension treatment, the penis to be extended lies approximately sideward and close to the body of the person using the device according to the invention. This permits extension treatment under normal clothing, for which reason the treatment need not be restricted to times when the user finds himself in private; instead, it can be used discreetly for hours during the user""s daily work schedule. A consequence of this is that regular use of the device according to the invention results in lasting extension of the penis after only a few months. The physical and emotional effect which such enlargement has on the man in question is enormous.
In addition to the advantages set out above, the penis extension device according to the invention involves a particularly small constructional outlay compared to generic devices of the prior art, which results in correspondingly low manufacturing costs.
In a first preferred development of the invention, the strap is elastically extensible. The strap can in this respect be designed in particular as a rubber strap. The elastic extensibility of the strap leads to a particularly effective and constant traction which continuously extends the member to be stretched and thus promotes its gradual enlargement.
In a further preferred development of the invention, the strap can be adjusted in length. By shortening or lengthening the strap, the penis extension device according to the invention can be adapted to the girth of the user""s body. In addition, the force with which the member is stretched can be adjusted in this way.
In a further preferred development of the invention, the support for the penis root is designed as an annular cuff. At the start of each extension treatment, this annular cuff, to which the strap can be secured at one end, is pushed along the penis as far as the root. The strap is then placed around the user""s body and the glans penis is secured on the fastening means. The annular cuff ensures that the counterforce to the traction force exerted on the glans penis is led to the penis root, so that there is a closed system of forces.
The fastening means for the glans penis can preferably comprise a saucer-shaped slide. In this case, a small loop-shaped band can in particular be provided with which the glans penis can be secured on the slide.
In a further development of the penis extension device according to the invention, a holder element is provided which runs between, on the one hand, the support for the penis root and/or that end of the strap assigned thereto and, on the other hand, the fastening means for the glans penis and/or that end of the strap assigned thereto. This holder element, which can be designed for example as a non-extensible string, is relaxed during use as intended of the penis extension, device. It comes into operation when the user releases the attachment of the glans penis on the fastening means, for example in order to pass water. In this case, the holder element prevents the fastening means from snapping against the user""s back under the traction of the elastically extensible strap. The holder element is so dimensioned that it holds the fastening means, released from the glans penis, on the side of the user""s hip, so that renewed securing of the glans penis can be done without any problem. In addition, the holder element prevents the penis extension device from slipping down when its user is wearing it as it were on xe2x80x9cstandbyxe2x80x9d, without in actual fact carrying out any extension treatment.


The invention provides an improved cleaning wipe which requires no scrubbing, buffing, polishing or rinsing, with the following components:

The present invention relates to an improved general purpose cleaning wipe which comprises a wipe combined with a liquid solution comprising surfactant and a hydrophilic polymer. The improved wipe surprisingly accomplishes the desired but difficult-to-achieve goals of enhanced cleaning, with little or no filming or streaking, without buffing the surface cleaned with the wipe.
Cleaning wipes have been formulated for specific purposes. For example, cleaning wipes containing inverse emulsions (i.e., water-in-lipid) are particularly useful in removing perianal soils from infants. These baby wipes are claimed to be more aesthetically pleasant to use on skin, since they essentially contain a waxy coating which, among other characteristics, prevents premature release of the aqueous liquid cleaning composition contained in the inverse emulsion. Examples of these inverse emulsion impregnated wipes are depicted in Cabell et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,707, Mackey et al., WO 97/40814, Mackey et al., WO 96/14835 and Moore, EP 750063. It is quite clear that these types of wipes do not consider improved cleaning of hard surfaces as paramount.
Clark et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,666,621, discloses pretreating a nonwoven substrate (essentially, a sheet laminated from wood pulp and polyester) with a low level of acrylic polymer emulsion, which is allowed to cure. Thereafter, the impregnated sheet is moistened with alcohol, surfactant and demineralized water. It is quite clear that the function of the acrylic polymer emulsion is to function as a binder for the sheet, since the patent admits that the use thereof is critical xe2x80x9c . . . to suppress linting (of the sheet) during a cleaning operation.xe2x80x9d (Clark et al., column 4, lines 3-4). However, the polymer does not function as a cleaning active in the cleaning wipe of Clark.
Other references disclose the use of glycoside surfactants in hard surface cleaners (e.g., Malik, U.S. Pat. No. 4,627,931 and Maekawa et al., JP Heisei 10 (1998)-8090), but do not mention that these types of surfactants can be loaded onto cleaning wipes, and, most importantly are not combined with hydrophilic polymers in a cleaning solution before being loaded onto cleaning wipes.
Salka et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,369, disclose foaming shampoo compositions comprising glycoside surfactant, betaine, amine oxide and a xe2x80x9cslip agent,xe2x80x9d which could be a polyacrylate, such as acrylamidomethylpropanesulfonic acid (Cosmedia HSP-1180, from Henkel Corp.). As shampoos, the concentrations of the ingredients are relatively high (at least 7% total surfactants) and plainly, the formulations are meant to be viscous, pearlescent liquids, which are unsuitable for cleaning hard surfaces and, especially, are not intended to be loaded onto wipes.
Thus, none of the related art teach, disclosure or suggest an improved cleaning wipe impregnated with a liquid cleaner comprising a glycoside nonionic surfactant and a hydrophilic polymer. Additionally, such related art does not teach, disclose or suggest the advantages and benefits of the inventive cleaning wipe.
The present invention is directed to an improved cleaning wipe impregnated with a liquid cleaning composition in which a hydrophilic polymer, a surfactant, optionally, at least one solvent and water are combined to provide enhanced cleaning of hard surfaces, without the need for rinsing with water, and in which not only is complete cleaning effected, but done so without the leaving of a significant residue, which is typically called streaking/filming. Surfaces treated with the wipes, especially glossy hard surfaces, such as glass, mirrors, chrome, tile, shiny metallic surfaces, painted surfaces, porcelain (or other hard, glossy surfaces, whether made of natural or composite materials), and the like, are rendered brighter and shinier in appearance.
In one aspect, the invention is directed to a cleaning wipe which requires no scrubbing, buffing, polishing or rinsing, comprising:
(a) a wipe which preferably comprises at least one layer of nonwoven material;
(b) a liquid cleaner which comprises:
(i) a surfactant;
(ii) a hydrophilic polymer; and
(iii) the remainder, water,
said wipe used to clean surfaces without rinsing, streaking or filming.
In another aspect, the invention is directed to a cleaning wipe as just described in which the liquid cleaner also contains at least one water-soluble or dispersible organic solvent having a vapor pressure of at least 0.001 mm Hg at 25xc2x0 C., said at least one organic solvent present in an amount effective to help solubilize or disperse the surfactant and/or hydrophilic polymer into the aqueous phase.
In yet another aspect, the invention is directed to a method for cleaning a hard surface, comprising the steps of:
applying to the surface a cleaning wipe combined with a discrete amount of liquid cleaner, said liquid cleaner comprising:
(i) a surfactant;
(ii) a hydrophilic polymer; and
(iii) the remainder, water,
whereby the surfaces are cleaned without the need for scrubbing, wiping, or immediate rinsing, and are free from streaking and filming.
It is therefore an object and an advantage of the present invention to provide a cleaning wipe impregnated with a liquid cleaner which contains a low residue surfactant, preferably such as a glycoside, to greatly improve the streaking and filming performance of such a wipe.
It is another object and another advantage of the present invention to provide a cleaning wipe impregnated with a liquid cleaner in which one of the ingredients thereof is a hydrophilic polymer, at least one of whose purposes is to promote improved streaking/filming on a surface cleaned with said wipe.
It is yet another object and yet another advantage of the present invention to provide a cleaning wipe which has low to no streaking and filming.
It is still a further object and still a further advantage of the present invention to provide a consumer convenient cleaning means which cleans surfaces without the need to rinse with water.
It is another object and a further advantage of the present invention to provide a cleaning wipe which cleans hard surfaces and, especially with respect to glossy surfaces, leaves the surface clean, bright and shiny.
The invention provides an improved cleaning wipe comprising an absorbent/adsorbent wipe, preferably made of at least one layer of nonwoven material, the wipe being impregnated with a liquid cleaner. The wipe provides excellent cleaning with no or little streaking/filming and imparts resistance to soiling to the surface cleaned therewith.
The cleaning wipe is preferably impregnated with a liquid cleaner which preferably is a single phase solution or dispersion, having a viscosity generally less than about 1,000 Centipoise (xe2x80x9ccpsxe2x80x9d). The liquid cleaner has the following ingredients:
(i) a surfactant;
(ii) a hydrophilic polymer; and
(iii) the remainder, water.
Preferably, at least one water-soluble or dispersible organic solvent having a vapor pressure of at least 0.001 mm Hg at 25xc2x0 C. and present in a solubilizing- or dispersion-effective amount may be incorporated into the liquid cleaner.
Additional adjuncts in small amounts such as cosurfactants, chelating agents, buffers, fragrances, dyes, and the like can be included to provide desirable attributes of such adjuncts.
In the application, effective amounts are generally those amounts listed as the ranges or levels of ingredients in the descriptions which follow hereto. Unless otherwise stated, amounts listed in percentage (xe2x80x9c%""sxe2x80x9d) are in weight percent (based on 100% active) of the cleaning composition.
1. The Substrate
The substrate for the wipe is generally an absorbent or adsorbent material. Preferably, it is a nonwoven sheet, which is at least one layer, made of wood pulp; or a blend of wood pulp and a synthetic fiber, without limitation, such as polyester, rayon, nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, other cellulose polymers; or a synthetic fiber or mixture of such fibers. The nonwovens may include nonwoven fibrous sheet materials which include meltblown, coform, air-laid, spun bond, wet laid, bonded-carded web materials, hydroentangled (also known as spunlaced) materials, and combinations thereof. These materials can comprise synthetic or natural fibers or combinations thereof. A binder may or may not be present. Manufacturers include Kimberly-Clark, E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Dexter, American Nonwovens, James River, BBA Nonwovens and PGI. Examples of such substrates are depicted in: Bouchette et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,781,974 and 4,615,937, Clark et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,666,621, Amundson et al., WO 98/03713, and Cabell et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,707, Mackey et al., WO 97/40814, Mackey et al., WO 96/14835 and Moore, EP 750063, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Woven materials, such as cotton fibers, cotton/nylon blends, or other textiles may also be used herein. Regenerated cellulose, polyurethane foams, and the like, which are used in making sponges, may also be suitable for use herein.
The substrate""s liquid loading capacity should be at least about 50%-1000% of the dry weight thereof, most preferably at least about 200%-800%. This is expressed as loading xc2xd to 10 times the weight (or, more accurately, the mass) of the substrate.
The substrate varies without limitation from about 0.01 to about 1,000 grams per square meter, most preferably 25 to 120 grams/m2 (referred to as xe2x80x9cbasis weightxe2x80x9d) and typically is produced as a sheet or web which is cut, die-cut, or otherwise sized into the appropriate shape and size.
The substrates, which are now referred to simply as wipes, can be individually sealed with a heat-sealable or glueable thermoplastic overwrap (such as polyethylene, Mylar, and the like). More preferably the wipes can be packaged as numerous, individual sheets which are then impregnated or contacted with the liquid cleaning ingredients of the invention for more economical dispensing. Even more preferably, the wipes can be formed as a continuous web during the manufacturing process and loaded into a dispenser, such as a canister with a closure, or a tub with closure. The closure is to seal the moist wipes from the external environment and to prevent premature volatilization of the liquid ingredients. Without limitation, the dispenser may be formed of plastic, such as high density polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyethylene pterethalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or other rigid plastics. The continuous web of wipes could preferably be threaded through a thin opening in the top of the dispenser, most preferably, through the closure. A means of sizing the desired length or size of the wipe from the web would then be needed. A knife blade, serrated edge, or other means of cutting the web to desired size can be provided on the top of the dispenser, for non-limiting example, with the thin opening actually doubling in duty as a cutting edge. Alternatively, the continuous web of wipes could be scored, folded, segmented, or partially cut into uniform or non-uniform sizes or lengths, which would then obviate the need for a sharp cutting edge. Further, as in hand tissues, the wipes could be interleaved, so that the removal of one wipe advances the next, and so forth.
The wipes will preferably have a certain wet tensile strength which is without limitation about 25 to about 250 Newtons/m, more preferably about 75-170 Newtons/m.
2. The Liquid Cleaner
The liquid cleaner is impregnated, dosed, loaded, metered, or otherwise dispensed onto the wipe. This can be executed in numerous ways. For example, each individual wipe could be treated with a discrete amount of liquid cleaner. More preferably, a mass treatment of a continuous web of wipes with the liquid cleaner will ensue. In some cases, an entire web of wipes could be soaked in the cleaner. In other cases, while the web is being spooled, or even during the creation of the nonwoven material, the liquid cleaner could be sprayed or otherwise metered onto the web. A mass, such as a stack of individually cut and sized wipes could also be impregnated in its container by the manufacturer, or, even by the user. What follows is a description of the individual constituents of the liquid cleaner.
3. Surfactants
An essential part of the invention lies in the use of a low residue surfactant, of which especially preferred is a glycoside, as the major surfactant portion of the liquid cleaner used to impregnate the wipe. Particularly preferred are the alkyl polyglycosides. The preferred glycosides include those of the formula:
RO(CnH2nO)y(Z)x
wherein R is a hydrophobic group (e.g., alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl etc., including branched or unbranched, saturated and unsaturated, and hydroxylated or alkoxylated members of the foregoing, among other possibilities) containing from about 6 to about 30 carbon atoms, preferably from about 8 to about 16 carbon atoms, and more preferably from about 8 to about 12 carbon atoms; n is a number from 2 to about 4, preferably 2 (thereby giving corresponding units such as ethylene, propylene and butylene oxide); y is a number having an average value of from 0 to about 12, preferably 0; Z is a moiety derived from a reducing saccharide containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms (e.g., a glucose, fructose, mannose, galactose, talose, gulose, allose, altrose, idose, arabinose, xylose, lyxose, or ribose unit, etc., but most preferably a glucose unit); and x is a number having an average value of from 1 to about 10, preferably from 1 to about 5, and more preferably from 1 to about 3. In actual practice, R may be a mixture of carbon chains, for instance, from 8 to 16 carbon atoms and Z may be a mixture of saccharide units from 0 to 6.
It would be apparent that a number of variations with respect to the makeup of the glycosides are possible. For example, mixtures of saccharide moieties (Z) may be incorporated into polyglycosides. Also, the hydrophobic group (R) can be attached at the 2-, 3-, or 4-positions of a saccharide moiety rather than at the 1-position (thus giving, for example, a glucosyl as opposed to a glucoside). In addition, normally free hydroxyl groups of the saccharide moiety may be alkoxylated or polyalkoxylated. Further, the (CnH2nO)y group may include ethylene oxide and propylene oxide in random or block combinations, among a number of other possible variations.
Non-limiting examples of glycoside surfactants include Glucopon 225 (a mixture of C8 and C10 chains equivalent to an average of C9.1, with x of the general formula above of 1.7, and an HLB of 13.6; Glucopon 220 (a mixture of C8 and C10 chains equivalent to an average of C9.1, with x of the general formula above of 1.5, and an HLB of 13.5; Glucopon 325 (a mixture of C8, C10, C12, C14, and C16 chains equivalent to an average of C10.2, with x of the general formula above of 1.6, and an HLB of 13.1; Glucopon 625 (a mixture of C12, C14, and C16 chains equivalent to an average of C12.8, with x of the general formula above of 1.60, and an HLB of 12.1; and Glucopon 600 (a mixture of C12, C14, and C16 chains equivalent to an average of C12.8, with x of the general formula above of 1.40, and an HLB of 11.5, all manufactured by the Henkel Corporation. Of these, Glucopon 225 and Glucopon 220 are preferred and Glucopon 425 is especially preferred. Glucosides from other manufacturers, such as Triton CG-110, having an HLB of 13.6 and manufactured by Union Carbide also may serve as examples of suitable surfactants.
Glucoside surfactants are frequently supplied as mixtures with other surfactants. For example, mixtures with the anionic surfactants, lauryl sulfate or laurylether sulfate, or the amphoteric surfactants, cocamidopropylbetaine or cocamidopropyl amineoxide, are available from the Henkel Corporation.
The amounts of surfactants present are to be somewhat minimized, for purposes of cost-savings and to generally restrict the dissolved actives which could contribute to leaving behind residues when the composition is applied to a surface. However, the amounts added are generally about 0.001-6%, more preferably 0.002-4.00% surfactant. These are generally considered to be cleaning-effective amounts.
4. Cosurfactants
Although the disclosed glycosides of the invention provide excellent cleaning performance, as shown in the examples which follow, it may sometimes be desired to add small amounts of cosurfactants to the formulations to obtain additional cleaning benefits. The glycoside surfactant may be used in conjunction with any of the other nonionic, anionic, cationic or amphoteric surfactants, or mixtures thereof, such as are known in the art. Such surfactants are described, for example, in McCutcheon""s Emulsifiers and Detergents (1997), the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Illustrative nonionic surfactants are the ethylene oxide and mixed ethylene oxide/propylene oxide adducts of alkylphenols, the ethylene oxide and mixed ethylene oxide/propylene oxide adducts of long chain alcohols or of fatty acids, mixed ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymers, esters of fatty acids and hydrophilic alcohols, such as sorbitan monooleate, alkanolamides, and the like.
Illustrative anionic surfactants are the soaps, alkylbenzene sulfonates, olefin sulfonates, paraffin sulfonates, alcohol and alcohol ether sulfates, phosphate esters, and the like.
Illustrative cationic surfactants include amines, amine oxides, alkylamine ethoxylates, ethylenediamine alkoxylates such as the Tetronic(copyright) series from BASF, quaternary ammonium salts, and the like.
Illustrative amphoteric surfactants are those which have both acidic and basic groups in their structure, such as amino and carboxyl radicals or amino and sulfonic radicals, or amine oxides and the like. Suitable amphoteric surfactants include betaines, sulfobetaines, imidazolines, and the like.
The amounts of cosurfactants will generally be about less than the level of the primary low residue surfactant, such as preferably glycoside.
5. Polymers
The polymer is generally speaking a water soluble to dispersible polymer having a molecular weight of generally below 2,000,000 daltons. Preferably, the polymer will also not itself have an obvious or offensive odor, although that attribute can be mitigated by judicious selection of fragrance.
Examples of suitable classes of polymers include:
a. Polysaccharides
Suitable polymers may comprise polysaccharide polymers, which include substituted cellulose materials like carboxymethylcellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxymethylcellulose, succinoglycan and naturally occurring polysaccharide polymers like xanthan gum, guar gum, locust bean gum, tragacanth gum or derivatives thereof. Particularly useful polysaccharides are xanthan gum and derivatives thereof. Some of these are thickeners which may have too much tack, from a performance and aesthetic standpoint. Additional suitable polysaccharide polymers may include sodium caseinate and gelatin. Other suitable polysaccharide polymers may include cationic derivatives, such as the cationic cellulose ether, Polymer JR.
b. Polycarboxylates
Polycarboxylates can also be used which contain amounts of nonionizable monomers, such as ethylene and other simple olefins, styrene, alpha-methylstyrene, methyl, ethyl and C3 to C8 alkyl acrylates and methacrylates, isobornyl methacrylate, acrylamide, hydroxyethyl acrylate and methacrylate, hydroxypropyl acrylate and methacrylate, N-vinyl pyrrolidone, butadiene, isoprene, vinyl halides such as vinyl chloride and vinylidine chloride, alkyl maleates, alkyl fumarates. Other suitable polymers include other polycarboxylates, such as homopolymers and copolymers of monomeric units selected FROM the group consisting of unsaturated carboxylic acids such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, polycarboxylic acids, sulfonic acids, phosphonic acids and mixtures thereof. Copolymerization of the above monomeric units among them or with other co-monomers such as maleic anhydride, ethylene or propylene are also suitable.
c. Acrylate Polymers
Other suitable polymers are acrylic emulsion. These are generally copolymers of one or more acidic monomers, such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or maleic anhydride, with at least one other ethylenically unsaturated monomer selected from a group consisting of ethylene and other simple olefins, styrene, alpha-methylstyrene, methyl, ethyl and C3 to C8 alkyl acrylates and methacrylates, isobomyl methacrylate, acrylamide, hydroxyethyl acrylate and methacrylate, hydroxypropyl acrylate and methacrylate, N-vinyl pyrrolidone, butadiene, isoprene, vinyl halides such as vinyl chloride and vinylidine chloride, alkyl maleates, alkyl fumarates, fumaric acid, maleic acid, itaconic acid, and the like. It is also frequently desirable to include minor amounts of other functional monomers, such as acetoacetoxy methacrylate or other acetoacetate monomers and divinyl or polyvinyl monomers, such as glycol polyacrylates, allyl methacrylate, divinyl benzene and the like. The preferred polymers have a number average molecular weight of about 500 to about 2,000,000. These polymers may also be crosslinked with metal ions or modified for crosslinking with silane functionally as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,428,107. Examples of such acrylic emulsion polymers include those available under the Rhoplex tradename from Rohm and Haas, such as Rhoplex AC-33, Rhoplex B-924, and Rhoplex MC-76. There are also polymers from Alco, such as Balance CR, Balance 47 and Balance 055. Additionally, there are acrylates from Rohm and Haas, namely, Acusol, such as Acusol 445, and the like. See also Keyes et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,842, incorporated herein by reference. Other suitable polymers are copolymers of acrylic and/or methacrylic acid with acrylate and methacrylate esters. For example, a copolymer of 51% methyl methacrylate, 31% butyl acrylate, and 18% acrylic acid is available from Rohm and Haas as Emulsion Polymer E-1250.
Other suitable polymers may include cationic acrylic water soluble polymers that are copolymers of cationic quaternized acrylates, methacrylates, acrylamides, and methacrylamides, for example trimethylammoniumpropylmethacrylate, and acrylamide or acrylonitrile.
f. Polyvinylpyrrolidones
Other suitable polymers include vinylpyrrolidone homopolymers and copolymaers. Suitable vinylpyrrolidone homopolymers have an average molecular weight of from 1,000 to 100,000,000, preferably from 2,000 to 10,000,000, more preferably from 5,000 to 1,000,000, and most preferably from 30,000 to 700,000. Suitable vinyl pyrrolidone homopolymers are commercially available from ISP Corporation, Wayne, N.J. under the product names PVP K-15 (average molecular weight of 8,000), PVP K30 (average molecular weight of 38,000), PVP K-60 (average molecular weight of 216,000), PVP K-90 (average molecular weight of 630,000), and PVP K-120 (average molecular weight of 2,900,000). Suitable copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone include copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone with one or more alkylenically unsaturated monomers. Suitable alkylenically unsaturated monomers include unsaturated dicarboxylic acids such as maleic acid, chloromaleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, phenylmaleic acid, aconitic acid, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, N-vinylimidazole, vinylcaprolactam, butene, hexadecene, and vinyl acetate. Any of the esters and amides of the unsaturated acids may be employed, for example, methyl acrylate, ethylacrylate, acrylamide, methacryamide, dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate, dimethylaminopropylmethacrylamide, trimethylammoniumethylmethacrylate, and trimethylammoniumpropylmethacrylamide. Other suitable alkylenically unsaturated monomers include aromatic monomers such as styrene, sulphonated styrene, alpha-methylstyrene, vinyltoluene, t-butylstyrene and others. Copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone with vinyl acetate are commercially available under the trade name PVP/VA from ISP Corporation. Copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone with alpha-olefins are available, for example, as P-904 from ISP Corporation. Copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone with dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate are available, for example, as Copolymer 958 from ISP Corporation. Copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone with trimethylammoniumethylmethacrylate are available, for example, as Gafquat 734 from ISP Corporation. Copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone with trimethylammoniumpropylmethacrylamide are available, for example, as Gafquat HS-100 from ISP Corporation. Copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone with styrene are available, for example, as Polectron 430 from ISP Corporation. Copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone with acrylic acid are available, for example, as Polymer ACP 1005 (25% vinylpyrrolidone/75% acrylic acid) from ISP Corporation.
e. Methylvinyl Ether
Other suitable polymers include methylvinylether homopolymers and copolymers. Preferred copolymers are those with maleic anhydride. These copolymers can be hydrolyzed to the diacid or derivatized as the monoalkyl ester. For example, the n-butyl ester is available as Gantrez ES-425 from ISP Corporation.
f. Polyvinyl alcohols
Other suitable polymers include polyvinyl alcohols. Preferably, polyvinyl alcohols which are at least 80.0%, preferably 88-99.9%, and most preferably 99.0-99.8% hydrolyzed are used. For example, the polyvinyl alcohol, Elvanol 71-30 is available from E. I. DuPont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del.
g. Polyethylene Glycols
Yet other feasible polymers are polyethylene glycols, such as disclosed in Baker et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,779, incorporated herein by reference.
Mixtures of any of the foregoing polymers may be possible or desirable. The hydrophilic polymer or polymers are present at a level of about 0.001-5%, more preferably, about 0.001-1% of the liquid cleaner.
6. Chelating Agent
The chelating agent is also an important part of the invention. Chelants useful herein include the various alkali metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium polyacetates, carboxylates, polycarboxylates and polyhydroxysulfonates. Non-limiting examples of polyacetate and polycarboxylate builders include the sodium, potassium, lithium, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, ethylenediamine triacetic acid, ethylenediamine tetrapropionic acid, diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, oxydisuccinic acid, iminodisuccinic acid, mellitic acid, polyacrylic acid or polymethacrylic acid and copolymers, benzene polycarboxylic acids, gluconic acid, sulfamic acid, oxalic acid, phosphoric acid, phosphonic acid, organic phosphonic acids, acetic acid, and citric acid. These chelating agents may also exist either partially or totally in the hydrogen ion form, for example, citric acid or disodium dihydrogen ethylenediamine tetraacetate. The substituted ammonium salts include those from methylamine, dimethylamine, butylamine, butylenediamine, propylamine, triethylamine, trimethylamine, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, isopropanolamine, and propanolamine.
Other chelating agents, and dependent on the desired pH of the formulation (see below), are the mono-, di-, tri-, and tetrapotassium and ammonium salts of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid. See, for example, Robbins et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,876, Chang et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,948,742, Ochomogo et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,948,741, and Mills et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,814,591
The amount of chelant added should be in the range of 0.001-2%, more preferably 0.001-2%, by weight of the cleaner.
7. Water
Since the cleaner is an aqueous cleaner with relatively low levels of actives, the principal ingredient is water, which should be present at a level of at least about 70%, more preferably at least about 80%, and most preferably, at least about 90%.
Distilled, deionized, or industrial soft water is preferred so as not to contribute to formation of a residue and to avoid the introduction of undesirable metal ions.
8. Solvents
A solvent may optionally be used which is generally a water soluble or dispersible organic solvent having a vapor pressure of at least 0.001 mm Hg at 25xc2x0 C. A key attribute is that it should volatilize rapidly, such that it volatilizes no more than 5 minutes after contact with a surface, without leaving a residue. It is preferably selected from C1-6 alkanols, C1-6 diols, C1-6 alkyl ethers of alkylene glycols and polyalkylene glycols, and mixtures thereof. The alkanol can be selected from methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, the various positional isomers of butanol, pentanol, and hexanol, and mixtures of the foregoing. It may also be possible to utilize in addition to, or in place of, said alkanols, the diols such as methylene, ethylene, propylene and butylene glycols, and mixtures thereof, and including polyalkylene glycols.
It is preferred to use a straight or branched chain alkanol as the coupling agent of the invention. These are methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, and the various positional isomers of butanol, pentanol, and hexanol. Especially preferred is isopropyl alcohol (xe2x80x9cIPAxe2x80x9d), also known as 2-propanol and, in the vernacular, xe2x80x9cisopropanol.xe2x80x9d It is also preferred to use a mixture of an alkanol with a glycol ether, in which the ratio of the two components is about 100:1 to 1:10.
One can also use an alkylene glycol ether solvent in this invention. The alkylene glycol ether solvents can be used alone or in addition to the polar alkanol solvent. These can include, for example, monoalkylene glycol ethers such as ethylene glycol monopropyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether, propylene glycol monopropyl ether, and propylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether, and polyalkylene glycol ethers such as diethylene glycol monoethyl or monopropyl or monobutyl ether, di- or tri-polypropylene glycol monomethyl or monoethyl or monopropyl or monobutyl ether, etc., and mixtures thereof. Additionally, acetate and propionate esters of glycol ethers can be used. Preferred glycol ethers are diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, also known as 2-(2-butoxyethoxy) ethanol, sold as Butyl Carbitol by Union Carbide, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, also known as butoxyethanol, sold as Butyl Cellosolve also by Union Carbide, and also sold by Dow Chemical Co., propylene glycol monopropyl ether, available from a variety of sources, and propylene glycol methyl ether, sold by Dow as Dowanol PM. Another preferred alkylene glycol ether is propylene glycol t-butyl ether, which is commercially sold as Arcosolve PTB, by Arco Chemical Co. Dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether (xe2x80x9cDPNBxe2x80x9d) is also preferred.
Short chain carboxylic acids, such as acetic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid and propionic acid are also potential solvents, although their strong odor may require mitigation with a fragrance. Short chain esters, such as glycol acetate, or cyclic or linear volatile methylsiloxanes (such as from Dow Corning), may also be suitable for use.
Additional water insoluble solvents may be included in minor amounts (0-1%). These include isoparafinic hydrocarbons, mineral spirits, alkylaromatics, and terpenes such as d-limonene. Additional water soluble solvents may be included in minor amounts (0-2%). These include pyrrolidones, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-octyl-2-pyrrolidone and N-dodecyl-2-pyrrolidone.
It is preferred to limit the total amount of solvents to preferably no more than about 20%, and more preferably, no more than about 10%, of the cleaner. A particularly preferred range is about 1-5%. These amounts of solvents are generally referred to as dispersion-effective or solubilizing-effective amounts. The solvents, especially the glycol ethers, are also important as cleaning materials on their own, helping to loosen and solubilize greasy or oily soils from surfaces cleaned. But the volatile solvents, such as IPA, are necessary to prevent the leaving of residues on the surface cleaned.
9. Miscellaneous Adjuncts
Buffering and pH adjusting agents may be desirable components. These would include minute amounts of inorganic agents such as alkali metal and alkaline earth salts of silicate, metasilicate, borate, carbonate, carbamate, phosphate, ammonia, and hydroxide. Organic buffering agents such as monoethanolamine, monopropanolamine, diethanolamine, dipropanolamine, triethanolamine, and 2-amino-2-methylpropanol are also desirable.
Small amounts of adjuncts can be added for improving aesthetic qualities of the invention. Aesthetic adjuncts include fragrances or perfumes, such as those available from Givaudan-Rohre, International Flavors and Fragrances, Quest, Sozio, Firmenich, Dragoco, Norda, Bush Boake and Allen and others, and dyes or colorants which can be solubilized or suspended in the formulation. Further solubilizing materials, such as hydrotropes (e.g., water soluble salts of low molecular weight organic acids such as the sodium or potassium salts of xylene sulfonic acid), may also be desirable. Adjuncts for cleaning include additional surfactants, such as those described in Kirk-Othmer, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 3rd Ed., Volume 22, pp. 332-432 (Marcel-Dekker, 1983), and McCutcheon""s Soaps and Detergents (N. Amer. 1984), which are incorporated herein by reference. Dyes or colorants which can be solubilized or suspended in the formulation, such as diaminoanthraquinones, may be added, although it is cautioned that since leaving little or no residue is an objective of the invention, that only minute amounts should be used. Thickeners, such as polyacrylic acid, xanthan gum, alginates, guar gum, methyl, ethyl and propylhydroxycelluloses, and the like, may be desired additives, although the use of such polymers is to be distinguished from the previously mentioned hydrophilic polymers in 5 above. Defoamers, such as, without limitation, silicones, aminosilicones, silicone blends, silicone/hydrocarbon blends, and the like, available from Dow Corning, Wacker, Witco, Ross and Hercules.
The amounts of these aesthetic adjuncts should be in the range of 0-2%, more preferably 0-1%.
Other various adjuncts which are known in the art for detergent compositions can be added so long as they are not used at levels that cause unacceptable spotting/filming.
Additionally, because the surfactants in liquid systems are sometimes subject to attack from microorganisms, it is advantageous to add a mildewstat or bacteriostat. Exemplary mildewstats (including non-isothiazolone compounds) include Kathon GC, a 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, Kathon ICP, a 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, and a blend thereof, and Kathon 886, a 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, all available from Rohm and Haas Company; Bronopol, a 2-bromo-2-nitropropane 1,3-diol, from Boots Company Ltd.; Proxel CRL, a propyl-p-hydroxybenzoate, from ICI PLC; Nipasol M, an o-phenyl-phenol, Na30 salt, from Nipa Laboratories Ltd.; Dowicide A, a 1,2-benzoisothiazolin-3-one, from Dow Chemical Co.; and Irgasan DP 200, a 2,4,4xe2x80x2-trichloro-2-hydroxydiphenylether, from Ciba-Geigy A.G. See also, Lewis et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,252,694 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,105,431, incorporated herein by reference. Other suitable preservatives include methyl, ethyl and propyl parabens, short chain organic acids (such as acetic, lactic and glycolic acids), bisguanidine compounds (e.g., Dantagard or Glydant) and the short chain alcohols mentioned in 8above can be bifunctional and also act as preservatives, such as ethanol and IPA.
In the following experiments, a base inventive liquid cleaner to be impregnated on wipes was established. The formulation of the liquid cleaner was:
Table II depicts a thickened formula for the liquid cleaner:
In the above Tables I and II, the polyacrylic acid is a hydrophilic polymer which can be substituted by various other materials, such as, without limitationpolyethylene glycol, and copolymers of acrylic acid and another comonomer. See also above, 5. Polymers.
The liquid cleaner of Tables I and II is then loaded onto a wipe, which is then referred to as a wet wipe. Wipes are typically made from fibrous sheet materials as described in 1. Substrate above. Examples of the substrates from which the wipes are made include:

Abstract: (a) a wipe which comprises at least one layer of absorbent/adsorbent material;

Abstract: (b) a liquid cleaner which comprises

Abstract: (i) a low residue surfactant;

Abstract: (ii) a hydrophilic polymer; and

Abstract: (iii) the remainder, water.