Cleaning Liquid for Adhesive and Silicone Residue Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cleaning methods, such as CIP, fail to effectively remove silicone and adhesive residues from autoclaves and equipment in pharmaceutical, biotechnological, and food industries, and existing solvents are unsustainable and environmentally harmful.

Innovation Solution

An aqueous cleaning solution composed of 1-(butoxymethoxy)butane, ethyl 2-hydroxypropanoate, butyl 2-hydroxypropanoate, 1,3-dioxolane, and a nonionic surfactant, which effectively loosens and removes adhesive and silicone residues from various surfaces, including metals, glass, and plastics, while also addressing rust film on metal surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional CIP method is used, then the cleaning process is simple and inexpensive, but it cannot remove silicone and adhesive residues from surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidcleaning process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by formulating a specific cleaning solution containing 1-(butoxymethoxy)butane (15-25 wt%), ethyl lactate (30-50 wt%), butyl lactate (10-20 wt%), and 1,3-dioxolane (10-20 wt%). This chemical parameter change enables the solution to effectively dissolve silicone and adhesive residues that conventional cleaning methods cannot remove, while maintaining ease of use through simple application methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If mineral solvents are used for cleaning, then cleaning power is high, but the product is unsustainable and environmentally harmful

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning powerVSAvoidenvironmental harm
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mineral solvents with a biodegradable chemical composition consisting of 1-(butoxymethoxy)butane, ethyl lactate, butyl lactate, and 1,3-dioxolane. This parameter change in chemical composition maintains high cleaning power through effective dissolution of adhesives and silicones while eliminating environmental harm, as these components are biodegradable and non-toxic alternatives to petroleum-based mineral solvents.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of strong solvents into benefit by selecting chemicals that are both effective at removing residues and environmentally benign. The specific combination of esters and cyclic ethers provides high cleaning power while being biodegradable, thus converting the usual trade-off between effectiveness and environmental safety into a dual benefit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a cleaning product removes all types of adhesives and silicones, then versatility is high, but the formulation becomes complex and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with different materialsVSAvoidformulation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves universality by formulating a cleaning solution that can remove multiple types of adhesives (alkyl, epoxy, acrylic, nitro resins) and silicones with a single composition. The synergistic combination of 1-(butoxymethoxy)butane, ethyl lactate, butyl lactate, and 1,3-dioxolane provides broad-spectrum effectiveness across different adhesive chemistries and material surfaces without requiring multiple specialized products.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite chemical formulation combining four different chemical components, each contributing specific properties: 1-(butoxymethoxy)butane for adhesive dissolution, ethyl and butyl lactates for silicone removal and biodegradability, and 1,3-dioxolane for enhancing penetration and dissolution. This composite approach achieves high versatility while maintaining a manageable formulation complexity through synergistic interactions among components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides a high cleaning power for a wide range of surfaces, is environmentally friendly, and has a rust-preventing effect, making it suitable for outdoor metal cleaning without leaving residues, with exposure times as short as 3 hours for certain plastics.

Implementation Method 1

the above-defined composition produces a highly effective cleaning fluid for dissolving and removing adhesive and silicone residues from the surfaces

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Implementation Method 2

5 to 15 parts by weight of a non-ionic surfactant component, wherein the nonionic surfactant component is selected from ethoxylated isotridecanol and α-(2-propylheptyl)-omega-hydroxy-poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurfactant: Surfactant

Data Source

PatentEP3851511B1Cleaning liquid for removing adhesive and silicone remnants as well as rust film and use thereof
Publication Date: 2024.07.10 BERATHERM
  • EP3851511B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3851511B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3851511B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The cleaning fluid according to the invention consists essentially of: - 10 to 22 parts by weight of 1-(butoxymethoxy)butane, - 20 to 40 parts by weight of ethyl 2-hydroxypropanoate, - 5 to 9 parts by weight of butyl 2-hydroxypropanoate, - 5 to 15 parts by weight of 1,3-dioxolane, - 5 to 12 parts by weight of a non-ionic surfactant component, and - optionally up to 25 parts by weight of tetraoxaundecane. The cleaning fluid is suitable for removing adhesive and silicone residues from metal or plastic surfaces as well as for removing surface rust from ferrous metal surfaces.