Water-Immiscible Solvent Cleaning Agent for Metallic Substrates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cleaning methods for removing inks and markers from metallic surfaces are hazardous due to the use of highly flammable solvents, leading to environmental pollution and substrate damage, and existing cleaning agents often cause significant removal of the metallic substrate.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning agent concentrate or bath solution containing a water-immiscible solvent, anionic and/or nonionic surfactant, complexing agent, buffer, and water-miscible solvent, specifically with ester or ether compounds, which stabilizes the aqueous process and prevents substrate damage, allowing for gentle removal with a removal rate of less than 0.1 μm/h.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If rapidly evaporating solvents are used for manual pre-cleaning, then inks and markers can be removed effectively, but the risk of fire and injury increases and environmental pollution occurs through VOC release
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the key parameter of solvent volatility by replacing rapidly evaporating solvents with water-immiscible solvents having high boiling points (above 100°C, preferably above 150°C). This parameter change eliminates fire hazards and VOC emissions while maintaining effective ink and marker removal through the combined action of the high-boiling solvent and surfactants in the aqueous cleaning composition.
2Productivity
If conventional cleaning agents are used to remove inks and markers, then cleaning effectiveness is achieved, but significant abrasion of the metallic substrate occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces water-immiscible solvents as intermediary substances that act as mediators between the aqueous cleaning composition and the ink/marker contaminants. These solvents penetrate and solvate the ink components, allowing their removal through gentle chemical action rather than mechanical abrasion, thereby preserving the metallic substrate while achieving effective cleaning.
3Device complexity
If a single cleaning agent is used to remove inks and markers, then the cleaning process is simple, but the agent causes substrate damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite cleaning composition by combining water-immiscible solvents with aqueous cleaning agents containing surfactants. This composite formulation achieves gentle, non-abrasive cleaning of inks and markers from metallic substrates, maintaining process simplicity while eliminating substrate damage through the synergistic interaction of its components.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If water-immiscible solvents with high boiling points are used, then fire risk and VOC emissions are eliminated, but the solvent may not effectively dissolve ink components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the advantages of water-immiscible solvents (high boiling point, fire safety) with the cleaning effectiveness of surfactant-containing aqueous compositions. The combination creates a synergistic system where the water-immiscible solvent provides safe solvent properties while the surfactants enable effective ink component dissolution and removal, achieving both safety and cleaning performance.
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 effectively removes inks and markers from metallic surfaces without substrate damage, reduces environmental impact, and maintains cleaning performance against complex ink and marker mixtures, achieving up to 40% removal efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The solvent component used has a high boiling point, so no evaporation occurs at application temperatures. When used with the cleaning agent, a removal rate on metallic substrates of less than 0.1 μm/h was found.
Implementation Method 2
at least one anionic and/or non-ionic surfactant in an amount of 8 - 300 g/L
Implementation Method 3
at least one complexing agent in an amount of 1 - 100 g/L
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a detergent for gentle removal of inks as used for marking in a roll mill, and to markers as used in production for temporary marking. According to the invention, the problem is solved by a detergent which permits the gentle removal of inks or markers from metallic surfaces in the form of a concentrate or a cleaning bath solution containing at least one water-immiscible solvent in an amount of 4 to 200 g/l, at least one anionic and/or nonionic surfactant in an amount of 8-300 g/l, at least one complexing agent in an amount of 1-100 g/l, at least one buffer substance in an amount of 1-100 g/l and at least one water-miscible solvent in an amount of 4-200 g/l in water.