Nanophase Cleaning Agent for Paint Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current graffiti removers and paint strippers are ineffective on diverse surfaces, often requiring long exposure times, causing smearing, and contain harmful solvents, while nail polish removers damage skin and nails due to strong solvents, necessitating a safer and more efficient cleaning agent.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning agent comprising a thermodynamically stable nanophase system, including amphiphilic substances like NP-MCAs, which expand the single-phase range of microemulsions, preventing smearing and effectively removing paints and coatings from various surfaces without toxic residues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional solvents are used for paint removal, then removal effectiveness is improved, but harmful effects on substrate and environment worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the cleaning agent by using nanophase systems with controlled particle size distribution (1-100 nm) and specific surface area (10-1000 m²/g). This enables effective paint removal through physical fragmentation and detachment mechanisms rather than harsh chemical dissolution, thereby maintaining removal effectiveness while reducing substrate damage and environmental harm.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite nanophase systems comprising multiple components including inorganic particles (metal oxides, metal carbides, metal nitrides), organic compounds, and surfactants. This composite structure provides synergistic effects where the nanophase particles enable effective paint removal while the composition can be tailored to be environmentally friendly and non-toxic, resolving the contradiction between effectiveness and harm reduction.
2Productivity
If strong solvents are used for quick paint removal, then productivity is improved, but smearing and harmful effects worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical mechanism of strong solvents with a physical mechanism involving nanophase particles. The nanoparticles mechanically fragment the paint layer through abrasion and detachment forces, achieving quick removal without the smearing effect characteristic of solvent dissolution. This substitution eliminates toxic residues while maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies nanophase particles with specific local properties (size, shape, surface area) that concentrate their action on the paint layer. The high surface area to volume ratio of nanoparticles enables localized effective action on paint bonds without affecting the surrounding substrate, thus achieving fast removal without smearing or harmful residues.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional cleaning agents are used on diverse surfaces, then broad applicability is improved, but effectiveness on specific surfaces worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal nanophase cleaning system that functions effectively on diverse surfaces including smooth surfaces (glass, metal, plastic) and porous surfaces (concrete, plaster, brick). The nanophase particles' small size and high surface area enable them to adapt to different surface topographies and paint compositions, providing reliable removal effectiveness across multiple surface types without requiring surface-specific formulations.
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 nanophase system enables quick and thorough removal of paints and coatings without smudging, is environmentally friendly, and suitable for diverse substrates, including skin and nails, outperforming conventional solvents in efficacy and safety.
Implementation Method 1
The cleaning effect of the agents according to the invention consists in fragmenting the dirt or paint layers and detaching them from the surface, largely preventing smearing
Implementation Method 2
A cleaning agent comprising a thermodynamically stable nanophase system, including amphiphilic substances like NP-MCAs, which expand the single-phase range of microemulsions
Data Source
AI summary
Cleaning agent comprises a microemulsion or a fluid nanophase system and the components of (a) at least one water-insoluble substance having a solubility in water of less than 4 g per liter; (b) at least one amphiphile substance of n-propyl chloroacetate (nP-MCA); (c) at least one anionic-, cationic-, amphoteric- and/or non-ionic-surfactants; and (d) water and/or a water-soluble solvent having hydroxyl functionality and optionally additives. Cleaning agent comprises a microemulsion or a fluid nanophase system and the components of (a) at least one water-insoluble substance having a solubility in water of less than 4 g per liter; (b) at least one amphiphile substance of n-propyl chloroacetate (nP-MCA), which has no tenside structure and does not form structures on its own, and has a solubility in water or oil of 4-1000 g per liter and preferably does not accumulate at the oil-water boundary, with the proviso that nP-MCA is not selected from 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol, 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol, 2-(n-butyl)-2-ethyl-1,3-propanediol and/or 1,2-diols; (c) at least one anionic-, cationic-, amphoteric- and/or non-ionic-surfactants; and (d) water and/or a water-soluble solvent having hydroxyl functionality and optionally additives. Independent claims are included for: (1) preparation of the cleaning agent, comprising providing water or a solvent with hydroxyl-functionality and dissolving an anionic, cationic, amphoteric and/or non-ionic surfactants at 10-90[deg] C under agitating, adding water-insoluble substance parallelly or after surfactant-addition and then transferring the developed emulsion through the addition of a further amphiphile substance and nP-MCA in an optically transparent microemulsion or a nanophase system and optionally adding auxiliary materials at the end of the mixture procedure; (2) removing unwanted dyes and lacquers from surfaces, comprising applying the cleaning agent on the unwanted dye or the lacquer, impacting and subsequently removing the dye or the lacquer with water, where the impact time at: the graffiti-remover is 10 seconds to 30 minutes; the paint remover is 20 minutes to 3 hours; and the nail polish remover is 3-30 seconds; and (3) removing dirt (soot, fat, oils, silicone, fine particulate and/or resin) from surfaces, of cosmetics or for the hair discoloration, comprising applying the cleaning agent on the dirt to remove the cosmetic or to discolorize the hairs, impacting and subsequently removing the dirt, agent or dye with water, where the impact time at: the dirt remover is 10 seconds to 3 hours; the cosmetic remover is 10 seconds to 30 minutes; and the hair discolorizer is 2 minutes to 24 hours.