Cleaning agents for surfaces and the use of such cleaning agents

Abstract

Cleaning agent (1) for metallic and non-metallic surfaces, consisting of ultrapure water (4), camellia oil (3) and a cellulose ether (2).

Description

[0001] According to claim 1, the invention relates to a cleaning agent for metallic and non-metallic surfaces. According to claim 7, the invention further relates to the use of such a cleaning agent for protecting metallic surfaces from corrosion.

[0002] To remove oily deposits, grease, or other contaminants, cleaning agents are often used, particularly on larger surfaces such as those found in industry. Their effectiveness is achieved through chemical additives. Especially on metallic surfaces, which are common in industrial facilities, it is also essential to prevent the formation of flash rust. Conventional cleaning agents with corrosion inhibitors often contain synthetic surfactants, solvents, or mineral oil-based components that can be environmentally harmful, detrimental to health, or even toxic.

[0003] The invention is based on the objective of creating an ecologically sustainable cleaning agent for surfaces which counteracts corrosion preventively by cleaning the surface.

[0004] This problem is solved according to the invention by a cleaning agent having the features of claim 1. The invention is further achieved according to claim 7 by using the cleaning agent for removing flash rust from metallic surfaces and for protecting against corrosion.

[0005] The cleaning agent according to the invention consists of ultrapure water, camellia oil, and a cellulose ether as an emulsifier and is therefore completely biodegradable and based on renewable raw materials. Cellulose ethers are derivatives of cellulose, the main component of plant cell walls and thus the most abundant organic compound. Cellulose can be obtained from renewable raw materials such as cotton or wood, for example, by mechanical processing. Etherification of cellulose produces a cellulose ether, which, depending on the type and number of ether groups introduced, is soluble in water and also soluble in organic solvents.

[0006] The invention recognizes that this property of the cellulose ether improves the emulsion of water and camellia oil, which can be used as a cleaning agent for removing oily deposits, grease, or other soiling. The cleaning agent leaves a protective film containing camellia oil on the cleaned surfaces, which counteracts the formation of flash rust. Therefore, according to the specific application aspect of the invention, the cleaning agent is used for removing flash rust from metallic surfaces and for protecting metallic surfaces from corrosion.

[0007] Camellia oil is a high-viscosity vegetable oil obtained from the seeds of camellia plants, which belong to the tea family. When used in the cleaning agent according to the invention, camellia oil acts as a grease-dissolving agent and forms a protective layer against oxidation (flash rust) on metallic surfaces. In the production of the cleaning agent, camellia oil is mixed with cellulose ether, which is available as a powder or granules, so that the cellulose ether powder is saturated with camellia oil. Preferably, the mixture of cellulose ether and camellia oil is centrifuged to ensure uniform and complete absorption of the camellia oil. The mixture of cellulose ether and camellia oil is then dissolved in ultrapure water. Ultrapure water is understood to be particularly purified water, which, unlike conventional water as it occurs in nature and contains minerals, contains virtually no impurities.Ultrapure water is characterized by low electrical conductivity, even compared to distilled or demineralized water. In the preferred embodiment of the cleaning agent, ultrapure water with fewer than 0.01 ppm of solid particles is used. The unit "ppM" (parts per million) is used as an auxiliary unit to express the concentration of solid particles in the ultrapure water as one millionth, similar to the familiar auxiliary units "percent" as one hundredth or "per mille" as one thousandth.

[0008] Structured ultrapure water offers particularly good wetting and cleaning properties. Structured water, also known as hexagonal water, is water whose molecules form an ordered, hexagonal structure. This structuring of the ultrapure water can be achieved, for example, by applying an electrical voltage.

[0009] The cellulose ether is preferably dissolved in ultrapure water at a low concentration of less than 1%, whereby the viscosity of the cleaning agent can be determined via the concentration of the cellulose ether.

[0010] The cleaning agent advantageously contains a concentration of camellia oil of 0.1% to 1%, whereby, with regard to the concentration of the cellulose ether, complete absorption of the camellia oil in the mixture with the powdered cellulose ether is ensured, thereby utilizing the grease-dissolving properties of the camellia oil in cleaning the surface and simultaneously leaving a thin protective film on the surface.

[0011] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the cellulose ether is hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), which forms a slightly viscous, gel-like matrix in the ultrapure water, finely dispersing the camellia oil and causing it to adhere to surfaces.

[0012] An example embodiment is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing.

[0013] The single diagram illustrates a cleaning agent 1 and its composition, detailing the process steps involved in its production. The cleaning agent consists of structured ultrapure water 4, camellia oil 3, and a cellulose ether 2, namely hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC). The concentration of hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) in the cleaning agent 1 is less than 1%, for example, 0.7%. The viscosity of the cleaning agent 1 can be controlled by adjusting the concentration of hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC). The cleaning agent contains camellia oil at a concentration of 0.1% to 1%, for example, 0.5%.

[0014] In a first process step, powdered hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) is mixed with camellia oil (3) and thereby impregnated with camellia oil (3), so that a mixture (5) impregnated with hydroxyethylcellulose is provided. To accelerate the production and improve the absorption of the camellia oil (3) into the hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) powder, the mixture (5) is centrifuged in a further process step (7).

[0015] The mixture of 5 impregnated hydroxyethylcellulose with the water-soluble property of a cellulose ether 2 is dissolved in structured ultrapure water 4 8 in a further process step, whereby the hydroxyethylcellulose HEC forms a viscous, gel-like matrix in the ultrapure water 4, which finely disperses the camellia oil 3.

[0016] The ultrapure water 4, in which the hydroxyethylcellulose HEC soaked with camellia oil 3 is dissolved, has less than 0.01 ppm of solid particles. Reference numeral list (part of the description) 1 cleaning agent 2 Cellulose ethers 3 Camellia oil 4 Pure water 5 Mixture 6 Mix 7 Centrifuge 8 Solve HEC Hydroxyethylcellulose

Claims

[1] Cleaning agent (1) for metallic and non-metallic surfaces, consisting of ultrapure water (4), camellia oil (3) and a cellulose ether (2). [2] Cleaning agent according to claim 1, characterized by , that the ultrapure water (4) has fewer solid particles than 0.01 ppm. [3] Cleaning agent according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by a concentration of the cellulose ether (2) of less than 1%. [4] Cleaning agent according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by a concentration of camellia oil (3) of 0.1% to 1%. [5] Cleaning agent according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the cellulose ether (2) is hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC). [6] Cleaning agent according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a mixture (5) of cellulose ether (2) and camellia oil (3) is dissolved in ultrapure water (4). [7] Use of a cleaning agent (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 for removing flash rust from metallic surfaces and for protecting metallic surfaces from corrosion.