Cleaning composition comprising an inorganic acid mixture and a cationic surfactant

• US 6,982,241 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2002
• Issued: 01/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Inventors: Hoyt, Jerry D., Hei, Robert D P., Smith, Kim R, Besse, Michael E
• Primary Examiner(s): BOYER, CHARLES I
• Application Number:
  US10/306,061
• Publication Number:
  US 20030119691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 510/254, 510/245, 510/253, 510/269, 510/367, 510/372, 510/375, 510/379, 510/380, 510/384, 510/391, 510/504
• US Class Current: 510/254
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 2111/16 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/042 Acids
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3942 Inorganic per-compounds C11D3/3902 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/16 Phosphates including polyphosphates
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/20 Water-insoluble oxides
• CPC Class Codes: C23F 3/03 with acidic solutions
• CPC Class Codes: C23G 1/125 aluminium

Abstract

A cleaning composition is provided according to the invention. The cleaning composition includes a product of mixing an acid component, a source of phosphoric acid component, and an oxidant component. The molar ratio of oxidant component to phosphoric acid component is preferably between about 2:1 and about 1:2, and the molar ratio of oxidant component to acid component is preferably between about 1:3 and about 1:5. A method of cleaning an aluminum surface is provided. The method includes a step of applying the cleaning composition to an aluminum surface, and rinsing the cleaning composition from the aluminum surface.

Claims

1. A cleaning composition comprising:

(a) a product of mixing;

(i) acid component comprising at least one of sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, hydroiodic acid, imidophosphoric acid, thiocyanic acid, and mixtures thereof, wherein said acid component does not include nitric acid and wherein the acid component has a first pK_a of about 2.5 or less;

(ii) source of phosphoric acid component to provide phosphoric acid; and

(iii) penetrant comprising an alkyl ethoxylated quaternary ammonium salt, a propoxylated quaternary ammonium salt, an alkyl ethoxylated propoxylated quaternary ammonium salt, an alkyl imidazoline quaternary ammonium salt, or mixtures thereof, wherein the cleaning composition is substantially free of hydrofluoric acid and provides cleaning and brightening of an aluminum surface.

2. The cleaning composition according to claim 1, wherein the penetrant further comprises a protonated anionic surfactant, a protonated amphoteric surfactant, or a protonated non-ionic surfactant.

3. The cleaning composition according to claim 1, wherein the penetrant further comprises a protonated amine oxide surfactant, a protonated betaine surfactant, or a protonated amine surfactant.

4. The cleaning composition according to claim 1, wherein the penetrant comprises an alkyl ethoxylated quaternary ammonium salt surfactant, an alkyl propoxylated quaternary ammonium salt surfactant, or a mixed alkyl ethoxylated-propoxylated quaternary ammonium salt surfactant.

5. A cleaning composition according to claim 1, wherein the penetrant comprises an alkyl imidazoline quaternary ammonium salt, wherein the alkyl group contains between about 6 and about 24 carbon atoms and can be saturated and/or unsaturated.

6. A cleaning composition according to claim 1, wherein the penetrant comprises an alkyl ethoxylated and/or propoxylated quaternary ammonium salt, wherein the alkyl group contains between about 6 and about 24 carbon atoms, and the degree of ethoxylation is between 0 and about 30, and the degree of propoxylation is between 0 and about 30, with the proviso that at least one of the degree of ethoxylation and the degree of propoxylation is at least one.

7. A cleaning composition comprising:

(a) a product of mixing;

(i) acid component comprising at least one of sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, hydroiodic acid, imidophosphoric acid, thiocyanic acid, and mixtures thereof, wherein the acid component has a first pk_a of about 2.5 or less;

(ii) source of phosphoric acid component to provide phosphoric acid; and

(iii) penetrant comprising an alkyl imidazoline quaternary ammonium salt, wherein the composition is substantially free of hydrofluoric acid, and wherein the cleaning composition provides cleaning and brightening of an aluminum surface.

8. The cleaning composition according to claim 7, further comprising a penetrant of at least one of a protonated anionic surfactant, a protonated amphoteric surfactant, a protonated non-ionic surfactant, an alkyl ethoxylated quaternary ammonium salt, a propoxylated quaternary ammonium salt, or mixtures thereof.