Composition for industrial cleaning, and cleaning method

Abstract

Provided are: a composition for industrial cleaning that contains 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol, a surfactant, and water; and a cleaning method using the composition for industrial cleaning.

Description

Industrial cleaning composition and cleaning method

[0001] The present invention relates to an industrial cleaning composition and a cleaning method.

[0002] Cleaning of various products, members, etc. is indispensable in the industrial field and daily life, and various cleaning compositions corresponding to the material of the object to be cleaned, the type of adherent to be removed, etc. are used (for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] The types of cleaning compositions are diverse according to the use. Cleaning compositions are classified, for example, into aqueous cleaning compositions, solvent-based cleaning compositions, and semi-aqueous cleaning compositions according to the type of solvent.

[0004] An aqueous cleaning composition is a cleaning composition containing a surfactant and, if necessary, additives, etc., with water as the main solvent, and is widely used because of its excellent safety, economy, etc. A solvent-based cleaning composition is a cleaning composition using an organic solvent as the main solvent, and is known to have excellent detergency for oily components. And a semi-aqueous cleaning composition is generally a cleaning composition that uses a water-soluble solvent and water in combination, and is known to have intermediate properties between an aqueous cleaning composition and a solvent-based cleaning composition.

[0005] As solvents used in cleaning compositions, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether and diethylene glycol monobutyl ether are known. However, in recent years, the use of those specific compounds has tended to be restricted from the viewpoint of safety.

[0006] JP 2012-201741 A

[0007] Under such circumstances, particularly in the field of industrial cleaning, from the viewpoint of reducing the environmental load, it is desired to enhance the detergency of the cleaning composition in order to reduce the amount of surfactant and thus the amount of cleaning composition used.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an industrial cleaning composition having good detergency and a cleaning method using the industrial cleaning composition.

[0009] The present inventors have conducted extensive research to achieve the above objectives and have found that the present invention can solve the problem as described below. That is, the present invention provides the following [1] to

[24] . [1] An industrial cleaning composition comprising 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol, a surfactant, and water. [2] The industrial cleaning composition according to [1], wherein the content of 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol is 0.05 to 35.0% by mass in the composition. [3] The industrial cleaning composition according to [1] or [2], wherein the content of water is 60.0 to 99.9% by mass in the composition. [4] The industrial cleaning composition according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the content of water is 85.0 to 99.9% by mass in the composition. [5] The industrial cleaning composition according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the content of the surfactant is 0.005% by mass or more and less than 10.0% by mass in the composition. [6] The industrial cleaning composition according to any one of [1] to [5] above, wherein the surfactant comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants and anionic surfactants. [7] The industrial cleaning composition according to any one of [1] to [6] above, wherein the surfactant comprises a nonionic surfactant. [8] The industrial cleaning composition according to [6] or [7] above, wherein the nonionic surfactant comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxypropylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene castor oil, polyoxyethylene castor oil fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil, polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene glycerin fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester, and polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester. [9] An industrial cleaning composition according to any one of [1] to [8] above, used for cleaning at least one component selected from the group consisting of resin components, metal components, glass components, ceramic components, stone materials, wood, natural fibers, and leather.

[10] An industrial cleaning composition according to any one of [1] to [9] above, used for cleaning components for electronic equipment, optical equipment, transportation equipment, manufacturing equipment, or building materials.

[11] An industrial cleaning composition according to any one of [1] to

[10] above, used to remove flux or oil adhering to an object to be cleaned.

[12] A composition for cleaning at least one component selected from the group consisting of resin components, metal components, glass components, ceramic components, stone, wood, natural fibers, and leather, wherein the composition comprises 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol, a surfactant, and water.

[13] A cleaning method using the industrial cleaning composition according to any one of [1] to

[11] above or the composition according to

[12] above.

[14] Use of a composition comprising 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol, a surfactant, and water for industrial cleaning.

[15] The use according to

[14] above, wherein the content of 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol in the composition is 0.05 to 35.0% by mass.

[16] The use according to

[14] or

[15] , wherein the water content in the composition is 60.0 to 99.9% by mass.

[17] The use according to any one of

[14] to

[16] , wherein the water content in the composition is 85.0 to 99.9% by mass.

[18] The use according to any one of

[14] to

[17] , wherein the surfactant content in the composition is 0.005% by mass or more and less than 10.0% by mass.

[19] The use according to any one of

[14] to

[18] , wherein the surfactant includes at least one selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants and anionic surfactants.

[20] The use according to any one of

[14] to

[19] , wherein the surfactant includes a nonionic surfactant.

[21] The use according to

[19] or

[20] above, wherein the nonionic surfactant comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxypropylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene castor oil, polyoxyethylene castor oil fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil, polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene glycerin fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester, and polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester.

[22] Use according to any one of

[14] to

[21] above for cleaning at least one component selected from the group consisting of resin components, metal components, glass components, ceramic components, stone, wood, natural fibers, and leather.

[23] Use according to any one of

[14] to

[22] above for cleaning components for electronic equipment, optical equipment, transportation equipment, manufacturing equipment, or building materials.

[24] Use according to any one of

[14] to

[23] above for removing flux or oil adhering to an object to be cleaned.

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an industrial cleaning composition having good cleaning power and a cleaning method using the industrial cleaning composition.

[0011] The following description is based on an example of an embodiment of the present invention (which may be referred to as "this embodiment"). However, the embodiments shown below are illustrative examples for realizing the technical concept of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the following description.

[0012] In this specification, preferred forms of embodiments are shown, but combinations of two or more individual preferred forms are also preferred forms. If there are several numerical ranges for a given item, a preferred form can be created by selectively combining the lower and upper limits of those ranges. In this specification, when a numerical range is described as "XX to YY," it means "XX or greater and YY or less."

[0013] [Industrial Cleaning Composition] The industrial cleaning composition of the present invention is an industrial cleaning composition comprising 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol, a surfactant, and water.

[0014] The industrial cleaning composition of the present invention exhibits excellent cleaning power due to the inclusion of 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol. Although the reason for this is unknown, it is presumed that the combination of 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol, surfactant, and water exhibits a unique action, which contributes to enhancing the cleaning power.

[0015] As described above, the industrial cleaning composition of the present invention, by containing 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol, a surfactant, and water, tends to exhibit excellent cleaning properties for both water-soluble and oil-soluble components. Therefore, the industrial cleaning composition of the present invention tends to have excellent versatility, as it can remove a wide variety of deposits. This reduces the need for other cleaning compositions, and thus can reduce management and cost burdens such as the manufacture, storage, and wastewater treatment of industrial cleaning compositions.

[0016] <3-Methyl-1,3-Butanediol> 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol may be commercially available or manufactured by known methods. A commercially available example of 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol is "Isoprene Glycol" manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd. (SP value: 25.1 (MPa)). １／２ ) are some examples.

[0017] (Content) The content of 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol in the industrial cleaning composition of the present invention is not particularly limited and can be appropriately adjusted depending on the application of the industrial cleaning composition.

[0018] In one embodiment of the industrial cleaning composition of the present invention, the content of 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol in the composition is preferably 0.05 to 35.0% by mass, more preferably 0.05 to 31.0% by mass, even more preferably 0.05 to 30.0% by mass, even more preferably 0.2 to 30.0% by mass, even more preferably 0.2 to 28.0% by mass, even more preferably 0.3 to 22.0% by mass, and even more preferably 0.5 to 18.0% by mass. From the viewpoint of further enhancing cleaning power, the content of 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol in the composition is preferably 1.0% by mass or more, more preferably 3.0% by mass or more, even more preferably 5.0% by mass or more, even more preferably 7.0% by mass or more, and even more preferably 9.0% by mass or more. Furthermore, the content of 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol in the composition is preferably 35.0% by mass or less, more preferably 31.0% by mass or less, even more preferably 30.0% by mass or less, and even more preferably 22.0% by mass or less. That is, in another embodiment of the industrial cleaning composition of the present invention, the content of 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol in the composition is preferably 1.0 to 35.0% by mass, more preferably 3.0 to 31.0% by mass, even more preferably 5.0 to 30.0% by mass, even more preferably 7.0 to 22.0% by mass, and even more preferably 9.0 to 22.0% by mass.

[0019] When the content of 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol is above the lower limit, the aforementioned specific effects tend to be more likely to occur. When the content of 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol is below the upper limit, the content of surfactant and water in the composition, preferably water, can be increased, thereby improving the solubility of water-soluble components and resulting in better cleaning power.

[0020] <Surfactants> The industrial cleaning composition of the present invention contains surfactants. One surfactant may be used alone, or two or more surfactants may be used in combination.

[0021] Examples of surfactants include nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, and cationic surfactants.

[0022] Examples of nonionic surfactants include polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers such as polyoxyethylene lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene cetyl ether, and polyoxyethylene stearyl ether; polyoxypropylene alkyl ethers such as polyoxypropylene butyl ether; polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene alkyl ethers such as polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene cetyl ether, and polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene stearyl ether; polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene castor oil, polyoxyethylene castor oil fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil, polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene glycerin fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyglycerin fatty acid esters, polyethylene glycol fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene glycol, alkyl glucosides, alkyl polyglucosides, (poly)alkylglyceryl ethers, fatty acid alkanolamides, and sucrose fatty acid esters.

[0023] Among these, nonionic surfactants are preferable from the viewpoint of easily obtaining better cleaning power, and preferably contain at least one selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxypropylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene castor oil, polyoxyethylene castor oil fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil, polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene glycerin fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester, and polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester. It is more preferable to contain at least one selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxypropylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene castor oil, and polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil. It is even more preferable to contain at least one selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether and polyoxypropylene alkyl ether, and even more preferable to contain polyoxyethylene alkyl ether.

[0024] Examples of anionic surfactants include carboxylic acid type, phosphate ester type, sulfonic acid type, sulfate ester type, and amino acid type. Examples of carboxylic acid type surfactants include alkyl carboxylates such as sodium myristate, sodium palmitate, sodium stearate, sodium laurate, and potassium laurate; alkyl ether carboxylates such as sodium polyoxyethylene tridecyl ether acetate; etc. Examples of phosphate ester type surfactants include phosphate esters or salts thereof of higher alcohols or oxyethylene adducts of higher alcohols such as lauryl phosphate and sodium lauryl phosphate. Examples of sulfonic acid type surfactants include alkyl sulfonates such as sodium octyl sulfonate; dialkyl sulfosuccinates such as sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate; linear alkylbenzene sulfonates such as sodium linear dodecylbenzenesulfonate; alkane sulfonates having alkyl groups; α-olefin sulfonates such as sodium tetradecene sulfonate; α-sulfo fatty acid esters such as sodium 1-methyl 2-sulfotetradecanoate; etc. Examples of sulfate ester types include alkyl sulfate esters such as sodium lauryl sulfate; alkyl ether sulfate esters such as sodium polyoxyethylene lauryl ether sulfate; and alkenyl ether sulfate esters such as sodium polyoxyethylene oleyl ether sulfate. Examples of amino acid types include acyl-N-methyl taurate salts such as sodium lauroyl methyl taurate. Among these, sulfonic acid types are preferred as anionic surfactants, and linear alkylbenzene sulfonates are more preferred.

[0025] Examples of cationic surfactants include amine salts, quaternary ammonium salts, and pyridinium salts. Examples of amine salts include alkylamine salts such as laurylamine hydrochloride. Examples of quaternary ammonium salts include long-chain alkyltrimethylammonium salts such as lauryltrimethylammonium chloride and stearyltrimethylammonium chloride; long-chain dialkyldimethylammonium salts such as dilauryldimethylammonium chloride and distearyldimethylammonium chloride; alkylbenzyldimethylammonium salts such as laurylbenzyldimethylammonium chloride and dodecylbenzyldimethylammonium chloride; ester-type alkylammonium salts such as N-{3-[octadecane (or hexadecane or tetradecane)amide]propyl}-N-methyl-2-[octadecanoyl (or hexadecanoyl or tetradecanoyl)oxy]ethylammonium chloride; and so on. Examples of pyridinium salts include alkylpyridinium salts such as laurylpyridinium chloride.

[0026] From the viewpoint of easily obtaining better cleaning power, the surfactant preferably includes at least one selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants and anionic surfactants, and more preferably includes a nonionic surfactant. In one preferred embodiment, the surfactant consists of a nonionic surfactant.

[0027] Among these, the surfactant preferably contains at least one selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxypropylene alkyl ether, and linear alkylbenzene sulfonate, and more preferably contains at least one selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether and linear alkylbenzene sulfonate, from the viewpoint of easily obtaining better cleaning power.

[0028] From the viewpoint of increasing hydrophilicity, the surfactant includes a nonionic surfactant, and the nonionic surfactant is preferably a compound having a polyoxyalkylene chain. From the viewpoint of further increasing hydrophilicity, the average number of moles of alkylene oxide added to the polyoxyalkylene chain is preferably 1 or more, more preferably 2 or more, even more preferably 4 or more, and even more preferably 5 or more. When the average number of moles added is above the lower limit, the aforementioned specific effects tend to be easily obtained, and the cleaning power can be further increased. The upper limit of the average number of moles added is not limited as long as it can function as a surfactant, but for example, it may be 20 or less, 10 or less, or 8 or less. That is, the average number of moles of alkylene oxide added to the polyoxyalkylene chain is preferably 1 to 20, more preferably 1 to 10, even more preferably 2 to 10, even more preferably 4 to 10, and even more preferably 5 to 8.

[0029] The surfactant includes a nonionic surfactant from the viewpoint of increasing hydrophobicity and improving the solubility of the oil, and the nonionic surfactant is preferably a compound or polymer containing a long-chain alkyl group. From the viewpoint of further increasing hydrophobicity, the number of carbon atoms in the long-chain alkyl group is preferably 6 or more, more preferably 8 or more, and even more preferably 10 or more. The upper limit of the number of carbon atoms in the long-chain alkyl group is not limited as long as it can function as a surfactant, but for example it may be 30 or less, 20 or less, or 18 or less. That is, the number of carbon atoms in the long-chain alkyl group is preferably 6 to 30, more preferably 7 to 30, even more preferably 7 to 20, even more preferably 8 to 20, and even more preferably 10 to 18.

[0030] From the viewpoint of balancing hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity, the surfactant includes a nonionic surfactant, and the nonionic surfactant is preferably a compound having a polyoxyalkylene chain and containing a long-chain alkyl group. The preferred range for the average number of added moles of alkylene oxide in the polyoxyalkylene chain is the same as described above. The preferred range for the number of carbon atoms in the long-chain alkyl group is the same as described above.

[0031] The HLB (Hydrophilic-Lypophilic Balance) value of a surfactant is preferably 8 to 18, more preferably 9 to 17, and even more preferably 10 to 16, from the viewpoint of easily obtaining better cleaning power. The above HLB value is a value that indicates the affinity of the surfactant for water and oil, and can be determined by the Griffin method from the following formula (1): HLB = 20 × [(Molecular weight of hydrophilic group contained in the surfactant) / (Molecular weight of the surfactant)] (1) When two or more surfactants are used, it is preferable to use two or more components whose HLB values ​​are within the above range.

[0032] (Surfactant content) In the industrial cleaning composition of the present invention, the surfactant content is preferably less than 10.0% by mass, more preferably 0.005% by mass or more and less than 10.0% by mass, even more preferably 0.01 to 8.0% by mass, even more preferably 0.01 to 6.0% by mass, even more preferably 0.01 to 4.0% by mass, even more preferably 0.01 to 1.5% by mass, and even more preferably 0.05 to 1.5% by mass.

[0033] When the surfactant content is above the lower limit, the effect of improving cleaning power due to the surfactant is more easily obtained. Also, when the surfactant content is below the upper limit, the stability of the industrial cleaning composition tends to be better. According to the present invention, the cleaning power of the industrial cleaning composition can be increased, so the amount of surfactant and, consequently the amount of industrial cleaning composition used can be reduced, thereby reducing the environmental burden.

[0034] <Water> The industrial cleaning composition of the present invention contains water. By containing water, the industrial cleaning composition of the present invention improves the solubility of water-soluble components and provides excellent safety and handling. The type of water is not particularly limited, and for example, tap water, pure water, ultrapure water, ion-exchanged water, distilled water, etc. can be used. One type of water may be used alone, or two or more types may be used in combination.

[0035] (Water content) The water content of the industrial cleaning composition of the present invention is preferably 60.0 to 99.9% by mass, more preferably 70.0 to 99.0% by mass, even more preferably 85.0 to 97.0% by mass, even more preferably 86.0 to 94.0% by mass, even more preferably 87.0 to 92.0% by mass, and even more preferably 88.0 to 92.0% by mass, from the viewpoint of obtaining sufficient solubility of water-soluble components by water.

[0036] <Other Components> The industrial cleaning composition of the present invention may contain other components besides those listed above. Examples of other components include solvents other than 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol and water, inorganic alkaline agents, organic alkaline agents, acids, alkalis, water-soluble polymers, chelating agents, pH adjusters, viscosity reducers, antioxidants, rust inhibitors, enzyme stabilizers, defoaming agents, colorants, discoloration inhibitors, bleaching agents, fragrances, etc. The content of other components is appropriately selected within a range that does not excessively impair the intended effects of the present invention. Each of the other components may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0037] Other solvents besides 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol and water include, for example, alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, and 1-butanol; glycols such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, and hexylene glycol (excluding 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol (isoprene glycol)); polyglycols such as diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and dipropylene glycol; glycol ethers or polyglycol ethers such as ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether, polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether, polypropylene glycol monomethyl ether, and polypropylene glycol dimethyl ether; methoxybutanols such as 3-methoxy-1-butanol and 3-methoxy-3-methyl-1-butanol; and the like. These solvents may be used individually or in combination of two or more.

[0038] If the industrial cleaning composition of the present invention contains one or more other components selected from ethylene glycol monobutyl ether and diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, from a safety viewpoint, the total content thereof is preferably 5% by mass or less, more preferably 1% by mass or less, even more preferably 0.5% by mass or less, and even more preferably 0.0% by mass (i.e., not included) in the composition.

[0039] (Amount ratio) In the industrial cleaning composition of the present invention, the mass ratio of water to 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol (water / 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol) is preferably 1.5 to 2,000, more preferably 2 to 1,500, even more preferably 3 to 1,000, even more preferably 3 to 500, even more preferably 5 to 300, even more preferably 5 to 50, and even more preferably 5 to 10. In a preferred embodiment, the industrial cleaning composition contains 0.05% by mass or more of a surfactant, and the mass ratio of water to 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol satisfies the above range.

[0040] In the industrial cleaning composition of the present invention, the mass ratio of 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol to the surfactant (3-methyl-1,3-butanediol / surfactant) is preferably 0.05 to 2,000, more preferably 0.05 to 1,200, and even more preferably 0.5 to 1,200, from the viewpoint of easily obtaining the aforementioned specific effects. In one embodiment of the industrial cleaning composition of the present invention, when the surfactant is a nonionic surfactant, the mass ratio of 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol to the surfactant is preferably 0.05 to 2,000, more preferably 0.05 to 1,200, even more preferably 0.05 to 1,200, even more preferably 0.1 to 1,100, even more preferably 0.1 to 1,000, even more preferably 0.1 to 100, and even more preferably 1 to 100, from the viewpoint of easily obtaining the aforementioned specific effects. In another embodiment of the industrial cleaning composition of the present invention, when the surfactant is an anionic surfactant, the mass ratio of 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol to the surfactant is preferably 0.05 to 2,000, more preferably 0.05 to 1,200, and even more preferably 0.5 to 1,200, from the viewpoint of easily obtaining the aforementioned specific effects.

[0041] In the industrial cleaning composition of the present invention, the mass ratio of water to surfactant (water / surfactant) is preferably 6 to 20,000, more preferably 7 to 15,000, still more preferably 9 to 12,000, and even more preferably 10 to 10,000 from the viewpoint of easily obtaining the above-described specific action. In one aspect of the industrial cleaning composition of the present invention, when the surfactant is a nonionic surfactant, the mass ratio of water to surfactant is preferably 6 to 20,000, more preferably 7 to 15,000, still more preferably 9 to 12,000, and even more preferably 10 to 10,000 from the viewpoint of easily obtaining the above-described specific action. In another aspect of the industrial cleaning composition of the present invention, when the surfactant is an anionic surfactant, the mass ratio of water to surfactant is preferably 6 to 20,000, more preferably 7 to 15,000, still more preferably 9 to 12,000, and even more preferably 10 to 10,000 from the viewpoint of easily obtaining the above-described specific action.

[0042] In the industrial cleaning composition of the present invention, when the content of the surfactant is 100 mol, the content of 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol is preferably 20 to 850,000 mol, more preferably 20 to 500,000 mol from the viewpoint of easily obtaining the above-described specific action. In one aspect of the industrial cleaning composition of the present invention, when the surfactant is a nonionic surfactant and the content of the surfactant is 100 mol, the content of 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol is preferably 20 to 850,000, more preferably 20 to 500,000 mol from the viewpoint of easily obtaining the above-described specific action. In another aspect, when the surfactant is an anionic surfactant and the content of the surfactant is 100 mol, the content of 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol is preferably 20 to 850,000 mol, more preferably 20 to 500,000 mol from the viewpoint of easily obtaining the above-described specific action.

[0043] In the industrial cleaning composition of the present invention, when the total amount of the composition is 100% by mass, the total content of 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol, surfactant, and water is preferably 80 to 100% by mass, more preferably 90 to 100% by mass. In a specific embodiment, the industrial cleaning composition consists of 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol, surfactant, and water (i.e., the total content: 100% by mass).

[0044] <Manufacturing method of industrial cleaning composition> The manufacturing method of the industrial cleaning composition of the present invention is not particularly limited. For example, the industrial cleaning composition of the present invention can be obtained by mixing 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol, surfactant, water, and other components as necessary. The mixing method of each component is not particularly limited. For example, a known mixing method using a stirrer or the like can be applied.

[0045] <Uses, etc. of industrial cleaning composition> The industrial cleaning composition of the present invention can be used for cleaning in the industrial field (industrial cleaning). Industrial cleaning means cleaning of industrial members. Industrial cleaning includes high-pressure cleaning and chemical cleaning. Chemical cleaning includes cleaning that removes dirt and contamination using acids, alkalis, solvents, surfactants, water, etc. Industrial cleaning does not include cleaning in daily life (general cleaning). Examples of general cleaning include cleaning, washing, and laundering performed in daily life. Examples of industrial cleaning include cleaning of the object to be cleaned in a batch or continuous manner and cleaning (maintenance) of large-scale industrial equipment regularly or at a desired timing.

[0046] The industrial member is preferably a member for electronic equipment, optical equipment, transportation equipment, manufacturing equipment, or construction.

[0047] Examples of components for electronic devices include those for home appliances such as smartphones, personal computers, printers, clocks, lighting fixtures, air conditioners, washing machines, refrigerators, microwave ovens, and televisions; analytical instruments; and various control devices. Examples of components for electronic devices include printed circuit boards, semiconductor wafers, semiconductor chips, semiconductor packages, conductive circuits, lead frames, capacitors, diodes, connectors, heat sinks, batteries, touch panels, displays, and housings.

[0048] Examples of optical instrument components include optical microscopes, electron microscopes, cameras, telescopes, binoculars and other observation equipment; projection equipment such as projectors; and various display equipment. Examples of optical instrument components include lenses, glass, mirrors, prisms, and housings. Examples of transportation equipment components include bicycles, motorcycles, automobiles, trains, diesel locomotives, aircraft, ships, lifts, ropeways, elevators, and escalators. Examples of transportation equipment components include engines, motors, gears, shafts, sprockets, chains, wheels, tires, brakes, piping, and housings.

[0049] Examples of components for manufacturing equipment include components for agitators, mixers, grinders, reaction devices, refining devices, cutting devices, washing devices, packaging devices, and transport devices, as well as various containers, cutting blades, stirring blades, grinding media, conveyors, hoses, piping, and housings.

[0050] Examples of building components include sashes, shutters, tanks, doors, balconies, panels, roofing materials, stairs, windows, concrete walls, exterior walls, interior finishes, antennas, guardrails, road components, towers, chimneys, and other building materials.

[0051] Furthermore, the concepts of electronic equipment components, optical equipment components, transportation equipment components, manufacturing equipment components, and building components can overlap, and a given component may fall under two or more of these categories.

[0052] The material of the object to be cleaned with the industrial cleaning composition of the present invention is not particularly limited, but it is preferable that the industrial cleaning composition of the present invention be used for cleaning at least one selected from the group consisting of resin members, metal members, glass members, ceramic members, stone materials, wood, natural fibers, and leather, and more preferably for cleaning at least one selected from the group consisting of resin members, metal members, glass members, and ceramic members. Since the present invention can provide a composition having good cleaning power, it is also possible to provide a composition for cleaning at least one member selected from the group consisting of resin members, metal members, glass members, ceramic members, stone materials, wood, natural fibers, and leather, which is not limited to industrial cleaning, and the composition comprises 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol, a surfactant, and water.

[0053] Examples of resin components include components containing resins such as thermoplastic resins and thermosetting resins. In this specification, materials obtained by mixing resins with components other than resins, such as resin compositions containing inorganic compounds, and materials formed by impregnating resins with components other than resins, such as glass epoxy, are classified as resin components.

[0054] Examples of metal components include those made from metals such as gold, silver, copper, iron, lead, tin, nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, chromium, bismuth, zinc, aluminum, and stainless steel.

[0055] Examples of glass components include those made from alkali-free glass, borosilicate glass, soda-lime glass, quartz glass, sapphire glass, etc. Examples of ceramic components include those made from alumina, zirconia, silicon nitride, aluminum nitride, boron nitride, silicon carbide, ferrite, various ceramics, etc.

[0056] Examples of stone materials include natural stone, concrete, mortar, brick, and sand. Examples of wood materials include solid wood, plywood, laminated wood, wood chips, and bark. Examples of natural fibers include plant fibers such as cotton, hemp, bamboo, kenaf, and rayon; and animal fibers such as wool and silk. Examples of leather materials include cowhide, pigskin, horsehide, sheepskin, and goatskin.

[0057] The types of deposits to be removed by the industrial cleaning composition of the present invention are not particularly limited, and it can be used to clean flux, oils, paints, inks, adhesives, sealants, mold release agents, sebum, food oils, cosmetics, dust, cutting powder, polishing powder, etc. Among these, the industrial cleaning composition of the present invention is suitable for cleaning flux, oils, or paints, more suitable for cleaning flux or oils, and at least more suitable for cleaning flux.

[0058] Examples of fluxes include resin-based fluxes, organic acid-based fluxes, and inorganic acid-based fluxes, and among these, resin-based fluxes are particularly suitable for cleaning.

[0059] Resin-based fluxes generally contain a resin, an activator, and a solvent. Examples of resins include rosin-based resins and acrylic resins. Examples of activators include amine halogen salts, organic acids, and amine organic acid salts. Examples of solvents include alcohol-based solvents, butyl cellosolve-based solvents, glycol ether-based solvents, and ester-based solvents. For example, a resin-based flux may contain 40-60% by mass of rosin or synthetic resin, 30-40% by mass of solvent, and 0-10% by mass of activator.

[0060] Examples of lubricants include metalworking oils such as cutting oils, rolling oils, pressing oils, drawing oils, heat treatment oils, and rust-preventive oils; mechanical lubricants such as refrigeration oils, turbine oils, lubricating oils for internal combustion engines, gear oils, bearing oils, and electrical insulating oils; and waxes, pitches, paraffins, oils and fats, and greases.

[0061] Metalworking fluids are classified into water-soluble and water-insoluble types. Water-soluble fluids use mineral oil or vegetable oil as a base oil and contain emulsifiers and surfactants. The presence of emulsifiers and surfactants gives water-soluble fluids a moderate degree of hydrophilicity. This allows water-soluble fluids to be miscible with water during metal cutting, grinding, and shaping processes, providing cooling and lubrication, which contributes to extending tool life and improving machining accuracy.

[0062] Examples of metalworking oils include those containing 20 to 87% by mass of mineral oil or synthetic oil, 0 to 60% by mass of water, 5 to 20% by mass of surfactant, 5 to 10% by mass of extreme pressure agent, 2 to 5% by mass of rust inhibitor, and 1 to 5% by mass of additives such as antioxidants, defoamers, and disinfectants.

[0063] Examples of water-soluble processing oils include those containing 40-60% by mass of mineral oil or synthetic oil, 10-20% by mass of surfactant, 5-10% by mass of extreme pressure agent, 2-5% by mass of rust inhibitor, and 1-3% by mass of defoaming agent, disinfectant, etc.

[0064] Machine lubricants primarily use mineral oil as their base oil and generally contain little to no emulsifiers or surfactants. Compared to metalworking oils, especially water-soluble working oils, machine lubricants have lower miscibility with water and are hydrophobic. Machine lubricants contribute to preventing wear and facilitating smooth operation by forming an oil film on the moving parts of machinery.

[0065] Examples of machine lubricants include those containing 90-95% by mass of mineral oil, 1-3% by mass of antioxidants, 1-2% by mass of anti-wear agents, and 1-2% by mass of additives such as rust inhibitors and defoamers.

[0066] Examples of paints include acrylic urethane paints, acrylic resin paints, urethane resin paints, vinyl resin paints, polyester resin paints, alkyd resin paints, epoxy resin paints, and silicone resin paints.

[0067] [Cleaning Method] The cleaning method of the present invention is a cleaning method that uses the industrial cleaning composition of the present invention. The cleaning means in the cleaning method of the present invention are not particularly limited, and known cleaning methods such as immersion cleaning, shower cleaning, spray cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning, oscillating cleaning, jet cleaning, water jet cleaning, and hand wiping cleaning can be applied. After cleaning, the object to be cleaned may be rinsed with a rinsing solution as needed. After cleaning, the object to be cleaned can be dried using known drying methods such as hot air drying, vacuum drying, infrared irradiation, and wiping.

[0068] [Use] The present invention provides the use of a composition comprising 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol, a surfactant, and water for industrial cleaning. Such a composition may be the industrial cleaning composition of the present invention described above. Therefore, the description of preferred embodiments such as the components contained in such a composition and their content, the object to be cleaned by the composition, and the cleaning method is all as described above and will be omitted here. The present invention also provides the use of 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol for cleaning, preferably for industrial cleaning. Furthermore, the present invention also provides the use of a composition comprising 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol, a surfactant, and water for cleaning at least one material selected from the group consisting of resin materials, metal materials, glass materials, ceramic materials, stone materials, wood, natural fibers, and leather.

[0069] The present invention will be described in more detail below using examples and comparative examples, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

[0070] [Manufacturing and Cleaning Performance Test of Industrial Cleaning Compositions] The materials used in the manufacturing of the industrial cleaning compositions in the examples and comparative examples are as follows:

[0071] (Water-soluble solvent) ・3-methyl-1,3-butanediol: "Isoprene glycol" manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd. (SP value: 25.1 (MPa)) １／２The SP values ​​used were those from the database included in the calculation software "Hansen Solubility Parameters in Practice (HSPiP) Version 5.3.05" (Steven Abbott, Charles M. Hansen, Hiroshi Yamamoto). The method for estimating HSP values ​​in such software is based on "Hansen Solubility Parameters: A Users Handbook (by Charles M. Hansen, CRC Press, 2007)," etc. • Propylene glycol: Manufactured by Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd. (SP value: 29.8 (MPa)) １／２ ) Propylene glycol monomethyl ether: Manufactured by Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Corporation (SP value: 21.9 (MPa) １／２ ) ・1-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone: Manufactured by Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Corporation (SP value: 21.8 (MPa)) １／２ )

[0072] (Surfactants) ・Nonionic surfactant (S1): Polyoxyethylene lauryl ether, manufactured by Kao Corporation as "Emulgen (registered trademark) 108" (average number of moles added to EO: 6, HLB value: 12.1) ・Anionic surfactant (S2): Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate sodium, manufactured by Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries Ltd. as "(product name) Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate sodium"

[0073] (Water) ・Pure water

[0074] Industrial cleaning compositions were prepared using the above-mentioned components by the following method. Each industrial cleaning composition was prepared under conditions of 22°C. Visual inspection of the industrial cleaning compositions obtained in each example revealed no separation of components.

[0075] <Examples 1-10> (Preparation of industrial cleaning compositions (X-1) to (X-10)) The types and amounts of water-soluble solvents shown in Table 1 or Table 2 were placed in a beaker, and then the types and amounts of surfactants shown in Table 1 or Table 2 were added and stirred for 1 minute using a magnetic stirrer to obtain a mixture. Next, the amount of pure water shown in Table 1 or Table 2 was added to the obtained mixture and stirred for 1 minute using a magnetic stirrer to obtain industrial cleaning compositions (X-1) to (X-10). (Evaluation of cleaning performance) The obtained industrial cleaning compositions (X-1) to (X-10) were used to perform cleaning performance evaluation 1 and cleaning performance evaluation 2 described below.

[0076] <Comparative Examples 1-4> (Production of Industrial Cleaning Compositions (Y-1) to (Y-4)) Industrial cleaning compositions (Y-1) to (Y-4) were obtained in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the formulation was changed as shown in Table 2. (Evaluation of Cleaning Performance) The obtained industrial cleaning compositions (Y-1) to (Y-4) were used to perform cleaning performance evaluation 1 and cleaning performance evaluation 2 described below.

[0077] <Comparative Example 5> (Preparation of Industrial Cleaning Composition (Y-5)) The types and amounts of water-soluble solvents shown in Table 2 were placed in a beaker, and then the amount of pure water shown in Table 2 was added and stirred for 1 minute using a magnetic stirrer to obtain the industrial cleaning composition (Y-5). (Evaluation of Cleaning Performance) The obtained industrial cleaning composition (Y-5) was used to perform cleaning performance evaluation 1 and cleaning performance evaluation 2 described below.

[0078] Details of the cleaning performance evaluations 1 and 2 conducted for each example and comparative example are as follows.

[0079] [Cleaning Performance Evaluation 1: Cleaning Test against Flux Residue] (Preparation of the object to be cleaned) On one surface of a universal circuit board manufactured by Enomoto Electronics Design Office (product name "Mesh Plane Universal Circuit Board BetaUni® ECO", model number "MPU-A8E", size: 52.5 mm x 74.25 mm x thickness 1.6 mm, material: resist-coated copper-clad glass cloth substrate epoxy resin laminate, mounting through-holes: φ1 mm dot pattern), 12 mg of solder paste manufactured by YMS LLC (YMS-PARTS® series, product name "Paste Solder", model number "YMS-SPA50", main component: solder powder (Sn63 / Pb37 alloy), flux composition: rosin, activator and solvent, thixotropic agent contained) was applied to each of the four through-holes. Then, the other surface of the universal circuit board was heated on a 200°C hot plate for 1 minute and 30 seconds. As a result, a universal circuit board with solder fused to the through-holes was obtained as the object to be cleaned.

[0080] Furthermore, on one surface of the universal substrate, a film-like flux residue formed during solder fusion was observed at the interface between the solder and the substrate and on its outer periphery. The flux residue was glossy at this time. The flux residue could also be observed visually due to light refraction, etc. It was presumed that the flux residue was the residue after solder paste sintering and mainly contained resin flux. For record-keeping purposes, one surface of the universal substrate before the cleaning test was photographed at 45x magnification using a stereomicroscope (OLYMPUS SZ61).

[0081] (Cleaning Test) Next, the universal substrate obtained as described above was immersed in 100 mL of the industrial cleaning composition prepared in the Examples and Comparative Examples in a 200 mL beaker at 22°C. The beaker was placed in the cleaning tank of an ultrasonic cleaning device (Branson Ultrasonics "Bransonic 5210") and ultrasonically cleaned at a frequency of 47 kHz for 5 minutes. After cleaning, the universal substrate was removed from the industrial cleaning composition. Subsequently, the universal substrate was immersed in 100 mL of pure water in a bathtub and agitated, then removed from the pure water and dried for 1 hour at 80°C using a forced-air constant temperature incubator (Yamato Scientific Co., Ltd. "DKM600") with the other surface of the universal substrate as the mounting surface. This obtained the universal substrate after the cleaning test. For record-keeping purposes, one surface of the universal substrate after the cleaning test was photographed at 45x magnification using a stereomicroscope (OLYMPUS "SZ61").

[0082] (Evaluation of Cleanability) Photographs of one surface of the universal substrate before and after the cleaning test were visually inspected. The amount of flux residue remaining on one surface of the universal substrate after the cleaning test was compared with the amount of flux residue on one surface of the universal substrate before the cleaning test. The comparison result was evaluated on a 5-point scale from 0 to 4. A higher score indicates better cleanability. Flux residue on the interface between the solder and the substrate is less easily removed than flux residue on the outer periphery of the interface. Also, even slight cleaning causes the flux residue to lose its surface gloss. To ensure reproducibility, the scores of four through-holes were averaged. The results are shown in Tables 1 and 2. 4: No flux residue is observed on or around the interface between the solder and the substrate. 3: No flux residue is observed around the outer periphery of the interface between the solder and the substrate, some flux residue is observed on the interface between the solder and the substrate, and the flux residue lacks gloss. 2: Some flux residue is visible on the outer edge of the interface between the solder and the substrate, and flux residue is visible on the interface between the solder and the substrate, and the flux residue is dull. 1: Flux residue is visible on and around the interface between the solder and the substrate, and the flux residue is dull. 0: Flux residue is visible on and around the interface between the solder and the substrate, and the flux residue is glossy.

[0083] [Cleaning Performance Evaluation 2: Cleaning Test against Lubricants] (Preparation of Objects to be Cleaned) The following metalworking oil and machine lubricant were used as lubricants for the objects to be cleaned. Metalworking oil: Water-soluble cutting oil "UC-198P" manufactured by Nippon Kosaku-yu Co., Ltd. Machine lubricant: Compressor oil "OMEGA 613" manufactured by MAGNA INDUSTRIAL (contains mineral oil as the main component)

[0084] The objects to be cleaned using the above-mentioned metalworking oil and the objects to be cleaned using the above-mentioned machine lubricating oil were prepared according to the following procedure. 0.15 g of the above-mentioned metalworking oil or 0.15 g of the above-mentioned machine lubricating oil was applied as an oil to one surface of a SUS304 stainless steel plate (manufactured by Engineering Test Service Co., Ltd.) measuring 1.0 mm thick x 30 mm long x 50 mm wide, using a bar coater ("Non-Wire Bar Coater," manufactured by OSG System Products Co., Ltd., Φ10 x 60 mm wide, grit: #55, maximum film thickness 150 μm / wet) to a film thickness of 150 μm. As a result, two types of objects to be cleaned were obtained: a stainless steel plate with a film of metalworking oil adhering to the entire surface of one of its surfaces (the oil-coated surface), and a stainless steel plate with a film of machine lubricating oil adhering to the entire surface of one of its surfaces (the oil-coated surface). For record-keeping purposes, the oil-coated surface before the cleaning test was photographed at 1x magnification using a stereomicroscope (OLYMPUS SZ61).

[0085] (Cleaning Test) Next, each SUS plate obtained as described above was immersed in 100 mL of the industrial cleaning composition prepared in the examples and comparative examples in a 200 mL beaker at 22°C. The beaker was then placed in the cleaning tank of an ultrasonic cleaning device (Branson Ultrasonics "Bransonic 5210") and ultrasonically cleaned at a frequency of 47 kHz for 5 minutes. After cleaning, the SUS plates were removed from the industrial cleaning composition and dried for 1 hour at 80°C using a forced-air constant-temperature incubator (Yamato Scientific Co., Ltd. "DKM600") with the other surface of the SUS plate as the mounting surface. This obtained the SUS plates after the cleaning test. For record-keeping purposes, the oil-coated surface of the SUS plates after the cleaning test was photographed at 1x magnification using a stereomicroscope (OLYMPUS "SZ61").

[0086] (Cleaning Performance) After the cleaning test, photographs of the oil-coated surface of the SUS plate were taken to confirm the amount of oil remaining on the oil-coated surface of the SUS plate before the cleaning test. The degree of cleaning for each oil was evaluated in the following three stages. The results are shown in Table 3. A: No oil is visible on one surface of the SUS plate, and the surface of the SUS plate is visible. B: Some oil remains on one surface of the SUS plate, and part of the surface of the SUS plate is visible. C: Some oil remains on one surface of the SUS plate, and the surface of the SUS plate is not visible.

[0087]

[0088] A "-" in the table indicates that no evaluation result was found.

[0089] Tables 1 and 2 show that the industrial cleaning composition of the present invention has good cleaning power. Furthermore, Tables 1 and 2 show that the industrial cleaning composition of the present invention tends to be an industrial cleaning composition with excellent versatility that can be applied to the removal of flux residue, oils, etc. In particular, as shown in Comparative Example 5, 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol does not show good cleaning power on its own, but as can be seen from the comparison between Example 1 and Comparative Example 1, for example, when used in combination with a surfactant, it shows better cleaning power than when a water-soluble solvent with an equivalent SP value is used in combination with a surfactant.

Claims

1. An industrial cleaning composition comprising 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol, a surfactant, and water.

2. The industrial cleaning composition according to claim 1, wherein the content of 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol is 0.05 to 35.0% by mass in the composition.

3. The industrial cleaning composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the water content is 60.0 to 99.9% by mass in the composition.

4. The industrial cleaning composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the water content in the composition is 85.0 to 99.9% by mass.

5. The industrial cleaning composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the amount of the surfactant in the composition is 0.005% by mass or more and less than 10.0% by mass.

6. The industrial cleaning composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the surfactant comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants and anionic surfactants.

7. The industrial cleaning composition according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the surfactant comprises a nonionic surfactant.

8. The industrial cleaning composition according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the nonionic surfactant comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxypropylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene castor oil, polyoxyethylene castor oil fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil, polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene glycerin fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester, and polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester.

9. An industrial cleaning composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8, used for cleaning at least one component selected from the group consisting of resin components, metal components, glass components, ceramic components, stone materials, wood, natural fibers, and leather.

10. An industrial cleaning composition according to any one of claims 1 to 9, used for cleaning electronic equipment components, optical equipment components, transportation equipment components, manufacturing equipment components, or building components.

11. An industrial cleaning composition according to any one of claims 1 to 10, used to remove flux or oil adhering to an object to be cleaned.

12. A composition for cleaning at least one component selected from the group consisting of resin components, metal components, glass components, ceramic components, stone materials, wood, natural fibers, and leather, wherein the composition comprises 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol, a surfactant, and water.

13. A cleaning method using the industrial cleaning composition described in any one of claims 1 to 11 or the composition described in claim 12.

14. Use of a composition comprising 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol, a surfactant, and water for industrial cleaning.

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