United States Patent [191

Fetty
[54]

LIQUID WATER-SOLUBLE

DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS
[76] Inventor: Robert L. Fetty, 753 31st Avenue,
[22]

Filed:

Columbus, Nebr. 68601

Dec. 17, 1970

[11]

3,717,590

[451 Feb. 20, 1973

2,952,637

9/1960

Bray et al.

2,901,433

8/1959

Spring ....... ..

.... ..252/127 X
..252/126 X

3,538,006

11/1970

Benson et a1.

.... ..252/139 X

3,285,858

11/1966

Hirsch et a1. . . . . . . . .

. . . . ..252/126 X

2,990,375

6/1961

Steinhauer et a1...

.... ._252/558 X

3,002,883

10/1961

Butt et a1. . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . ..252/106 X

3,245,914

4/1966

Steinhauer et a1 .................. ..252/106

[21] Appl. No.: 99,317

[52]

US. Cl. ................ ..252/540, 252/122, 252/126,

252/127, 252/139, 252/166, 252/170,

252/539
[51]

Int. Cl. ........................................... ..Clld 3/065

[58]

Field of Search .... ..252/539, 540, 558, 559, 139,

252/122, 126, 127, 166,170

[56]

References Cited
UNITED STATES PATENTS

3,248,335

4/1966

Teot et al. .......................... .1252/161

Primary Examiner-Leon D. Rosdol

Assistant ExaminerI-Iarris A. Pitlick
AttorneyCushman, Darby & Cushman

[57]

ABSTRACT

Liquid water-soluble detergent compositions having

improved adhesion to vertical surfaces without the

tendency to evaporate yet are easily removed with

water pressure are disclosed. The compositions are

useful in removing grease and oil from the surfaces of

automobile engines and compartments.

8 Claims, N0 Drawings

3,717,590

LIQUID WATER-SOLUBLE DETERGENT

COMPOSITIONS

preciate the several and varied applications to which

the compositions of the present invention may be ap

plied. For facility of discussion, however, the present

This invention relates to water-soluble detergent

compositions and more particularly to liquid detergent

compositions suitable for use as cleaning agents for

cleaning automobile engines and similar applications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Detergents per se and cleaning agents in general are

well known in the art. See, for instance, the following
U. S. Pats. disclosing various combinations of deter
gents and diluents: Nos. 3,328,309; 3,240,713;
3,210,287 and 3,037,936. Heretofore a water-soluble

invention will be described in the context of cleaning

an automobile engine, it being understood that the

compositions have several other applications.

The compositions of the present invention are non
?ammable. This is always an important consideration
when dealing with an engine that burns gasoline or
other highly combustible ?uid. Care must be taken that
the potential for explosion is not increased. This valua

ble property also provides for the application of the

composition to the surface to be treated in a discreet

spray, as for example from a container pressurized by

detergent composition having the properties of adher

an air compressor or in self-contained aerosol cans

ing to vertical surfaces coated with grease and freedom

from rapid evaporation from the surface to which the

pressurized by a compressed halogenated hydrocarbon

detergent composition has been applied has not been

rapidly places the composition in contact with the vari

such as Freon l2 and the like. A spray application

known.
ous irregular surfaces to be cleaned thereby reducing
20
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to
cleaning time. Of course, the compositions of the
provide a detergent composition for the removal of
present invention can be applied directly as with a
brush or cloth.
grease, road ?lm and other resinous deposits from a
Painted and other ?nishes such as chrome, stainless
metal surface that is water-soluble, non-?ammable yet
is easily removed from the surfaces to which it has been 25 steel and rubber are not adversely affected by the appli
applied, the removal by the use of water pressure.
cation of the compositions of the present invention.
Another object is to provide a detergent composition
Thus the compositions may be applied to the area to be
that adheres to vertical surfaces to be cleaned, thereby
cleaned without fear of damaging adjacent materials, as

providing a more thorough cleaning of the object to

with the auto fenders, ?rewall and chrome trim. In this
which it is applied and avoiding additional subsequent 30 regard it should be noted that the liquid detergents of

applications of the detergent.

Another object is to provide a detergent composition

the present invention are also useful as a dressing for

speci?c example, while indicating preferred embodi

solved solids and remove them from the area to be

rubber surfaces, protecting the same from deteriora

that does not dry out or evaporate after application to
tion and attack by the elements. Moreover, due to their
the surface of the object or objects to be cleaned.
solubility in water, the compositions are easily removed
Still further objects and the entire scope applicability 35 fromthe surface to which they are applied by the use of
of the present invention will become apparent from the
water pressure. A suitable source of water pressure is a
detailed description given hereinafter; it should be un
garden hose or the like. In addition to its convenience.
derstood, however, that the detailed description and
the resulting pressure helps to dislodge grease and dis- ~
ments of the invention, are given by way of illustration 40 cleaned.
only, since various changes and modi?cations within
The amount of time the liquid detergent must be in
the spirit and scope of the invention will become ap
contact with the area to be cleaned depends, of course,
parent to those skilled in the art from this detailed
on several factors, such as the size of the area to be
description.
cleaned, the amount and nature of the grease and dirt
45 deposits thereon and the concentration of the liquid de
DETAILED DESCRIPTION

tergent applied. Times as short as 30minutes and as

Liquid, water-soluble detergents comprise, as the

long as 24 hours may be used; however, it is preferred

major components thereof, anionic and non-ionic sur

factants together with water and organic solvents. The
resulting liquid is clear and somewhat viscous. The
compositions comprise alkali metal salts of

that the amount of contact time be at least about 60

minutes.

Another attractive property of liquid detergents of

dodecylated oxydibenzene disulfonate an octylphenol

the present invention is their capacity not to dry out or

evaporate after application. Thus it is not necessary to

or nonylphenol having from 6 to 15 moles of ethylene

remove the detergent immediately after application but

oxide as an adduct, alkali metal silicate, alkali metal

it can be allowed to remain on the surface to be cleaned

pyrophosphate, tall oil fatty acid having 18 carbon

for a period of time until it is convenient to apply water

pressure and remove the detergent and grease.
As a surfactant for the composition of the present in

atoms, naptha and water, all in selected proportions.

Water-soluble liquid detergents are disclosed that,
when applied to a vertical surface, adhere to the verti
cal surface to which it is applied, even when the surface
is heavily covered with grease and road dirt. The com

positions of the present invention are most suitable for

cleaning the surfaces of automobile engines, automo
bile engine compartments, transmissions, power lawn
mowers and the like, the preceding instances being
merely descriptive and by no means exhaustive of the
application of the compositions of the present inven
tion. Indeed, one skilled in the art will immediately ap

vention there is selected an anionic surface active agent

of the sulfonate type, namely alkali metal salts of

dodecylated oxydibenzene disulfonate. The sodium salt
is preferred and is available from Dow Chemical Co. as
Dowfax 2A1 having a speci?c gravity at 20 C. of 1.164

and the following general formula:

CHHVQW'Q
SOaNa

S0;Na

3,717,590

As ,a non-ionic surfactant octylphenol and no

nylphenols are used having from about 6 to about 15

was sprayed on an automobile engine heavily coated

with grease and road ?lm. it was noted that the deter
gent composition adhered to the vertical surfaces of the
engine and motor compartment. The water-soluble de
tergent was removed from the engine surfaces and

moles of ethylene oxide adduct. The preferred phenyl

is nonylphenol 9-moles ethylene oxide adduct, com
mercially sold as 9N9 by the Thompson-Hayward
Chemical Co.
Alkali
metal

motor compartment area by water pressure using a '

silicates

and

alkali

metal

common garden hose. Grease and road film were

pyrophosphates, particularly the sodium and potassium

removed from the coated surfaces leaving the engine

salts, are readily available in commerce. Preferred are

sodium

ortho

silicate

pyrophosphate.

and

tetra

substantially clean. It was found that the water-soluble

detergent composition of the present invention is non

?ammable, not harmful to painted surfaces or rubber
and did not dry out or evaporate after application to

potassium

'

In the non-aqueous portion of the composition there

is used a tall oil fatty acid having 18 carbon atoms,

the engine. It was easily removed by water pressure.

What is claimed is:

mono- and diunsaturated. These are mainly oleic and

linoleic acids, available as Pamak 4A from Hercules

l. A liquid, water-soluble detergent composition for

(Ihemical Co. having the following properties:

removing grease and oil deposits from the outside sur

face of an object coated therewith, said composition

fatty acid, %

consisting essentially of, in parts by weight:

95.2

rosin acids, %

3.0

unsaponi?ables, %

1.8

acid number
iodine number

193
132

a. alkali metal salts of dodecylated oxydibenzene

20

disulfonate, about 70 parts,

b. a nonylphenol having as an adduct from 6 to 15

moles of ethylene oxide, about 14 parts,

Naptha is employed as an organic solvent; heavy aro
matic naptha is preferred. Water is used to bring the
solution to final volume while distilled and deionized 25

c. alkali metal silicate, about 14 parts,

d. alkali metal pyrophosphate, about 91 parts,

e. water, about 666 parts,

water are suitable, for the sake of convenience and

f. tall oil fatty acid, about 107 parts, and
economy tap water is preferred.
g. naptha, about 160 parts.
Unless otherwise indicated, all parts and percentages
2. A detergent composition as claimed in claim 1
are by weight.
wherein said oxydibenzene is the sodium salt of
The preferred formulation according to the present 30 dodecylated oxydibenzene disulfonate.
invention is as follows:
3. A detergent composition as claimed in claim I
wherein said nonylphenol has 9 moles of ethylene oxide

dodecylated oxydibenzene disolfonate,

sodium salt
nonylphenol-9 moles ethylene oxide adduct
sodium orthosilicate

as an adduct.

Parts

4. A detergent composition as claimed

70
14 35 wherein said silicate is an orthosilicate.
l4

tetra potassium pyrophosphate

tall oil, l8 carbon fatty acids

heavy aromatic naptha

I60
666

Total parts

5. A detergent composition as claimed in claim 1

wherein said pyrophosphate is tetra potassium

91
107

water

in claim 1

pyrophosphate.
6. A detergent composition as claimed in claim 1

1 l22

40

wherein said tall oil is a straight chain fatty acid having

18 carbon atoms.

'

7. A detergent composition as claimed in claim 1

EXAMPLE

wherein said naptha is heavy aromatic naptha.

8. A liquid, watensoluble detergent composition for

Sodium ortho silicate, (14 lbs) is dissolved in water
(666 lbs, 80 gallons) at 220 F. with agitation until the 45 removing grease and oil deposits from the outside sur
face of an object coated therewith, said composition
resulting solution is clear. To the clear aqueous solu
consisting essentially of, in part by weight:
tion tetra potassium pyrophosphate (91 lbs.) was
a. alkali metal salts of dodecylated oxydibenzene
added. Then Dowfax 2A1 (sodium salt of dodecylated
disulfonate, about 70 parts,
oxydibenzene disulfonate, 70 lbs) and 9N9 (no
nylphenol - 9 moles of ethylene adduct, 14 lbs) were 50

b. an octylphenol having as an adduct from 6 to 15

moles of ethylene oxide, about 14 parts,

added. The resulting aqueous solution, solution 1, is

c. alkali metal silicate,'about 14 parts,

retained.
Pamak 4A (tall oil fatty acids, primarily oleic and
linoleic acids, 107 lbs) is dissolved in heavy aromatic

d. alkali metal pyrophosphate, about 91 parts,

naptha (160 lbs) with agitation. The resulting liquid is

f. tall oil fatty acid, about 107 parts, and

g. naptha, about 160 parts.

e. water, about 666 parts,

solution 2.

The composition prepared according to the Example

60

65