Air and/or fabric treatment product comprising compressed gas aerosol composition in steel can

Abstract

An aqueous compressed gas aerosol formulation in combination with a lined steel can, which may also optionally be tin plated, to provide corrosion stability, fragrance stability and color stability. An aerosol formulation of particular advantage for use is an air and/or fabric treatment formulation. The combination provides a compatibility which allows for the ability to use a broader fragrance pallet for the air and/or fabric treatment formulation which is aqueous based in major proportion. The formulation includes, in addition to an aqueous carrier, a fragrance, nonionic surfactant(s) or a blend of nonionic surfactant(s) and cationic surfactant(s), a compressed gas propellant(s), pH adjuster(s), and corrosion inhibitor(s). The formulation has a pH of about 8 to less than 10. The corrosion inhibitor(s) is(are) mild in strength and used in a minor amount.

Claims

1. Air and/or fabric treatment product comprising, in combination, (1) an aqueous-based composition for treatment of air and/or fabric comprising (a) greater than about 90 wt. % to about 99 wt. % water, (b) about 0.5 to about 1 wt. % of at least one nonionic surfactant, including an alkylene oxide unit-containing nonionic surfactant, (c) about 0.5 to about 1 wt. % of at least one compressed gas propellant, (d) greater than 0 to about 6 wt. % of at least one non-water solvent, (e) about 0.1 to about 0.5 wt. % of at least one corrosion inhibitor, said corrosion inhibitor being selected from the group consisting of phosphates, nitrites, silicates, amino methyl propanol, and mixtures thereof, and (f) about 0.1 to about 2 wt. % of at least one fragrance, wherein said composition is alkaline in pH and is single phase; (2) a container comprising a sprayhead and a steel can wherein the steel can has an interior surface lined with at least a polymeric lining or an organic coating, said lining or said coating having a thickness of about 1 to about 12 microns; and wherein said fragrance in said composition is maintained in said steel can stable against change in scent character and stable against degradation which results in discoloration of the composition; wherein said composition excludes a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) propellant; and wherein anionic, amphoteric and zwitterionic surfactants are excluded from said composition.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein said solvent is a glycol or an alcohol.

3. The composition of claim 1 wherein said nonionic surfactant is an alkoxylated hydrogenated castor oil compound.

4. The composition of claim 1 wherein said composition has a volatile organic content (VOC), excluding VOC of said fragrance, of 0 to about 6.

5. The composition of claim 1 further comprising a buffer.

6. The composition of claim 1 wherein said at least one compressed gas propellant is an inert non-oxygen-containing propellant.

7. The composition of claim 1 wherein said pH is about 8 to less than 10.

8. The composition of claim 1 further comprising a pH adjuster.

9. The composition of claim 1 further comprising a cationic surfactant.

10. Method of providing an air and/or fabric treatment product comprising (1) providing a container including a sprayhead and a steel can, wherein the steel can has an interior surface with an organic coating or a polymeric lining thereon, said coating or said lining having a thickness of about 1 to about 12 microns; and (2) providing in said steel can an aqueous-based air and/or fabric treating composition, wherein said composition comprises (a) greater than about 90 wt. % to about 99 wt. % water, (b) about 0.5 to about 1 wt. % of at least one nonionic surfactant, including an alkylene oxide unit-containing nonionic surfactant, (c) about 0.5 to about 1 wt. % of at least one compressed gas propellant, (d) greater than 0 to about 6 wt. % of at least one non-water solvent, (e) about 0.1 to about 0.5 wt. % of at least one corrosion inhibitor, said corrosion inhibitor being selected from the group consisting of phosphates, nitrites, silicates, aminomethyl propanol, and mixtures thereof, and (f) about 0.1 to about 2 wt. % of at least one fragrance, wherein said composition is alkaline in pH and is a single phase; wherein said composition excludes a liquefied petroleum (LPG) gas propellant; and wherein anionic, amphoteric and zwitterionic surfactants are excluded from said composition; and wherein said fragrance is maintained in said steel can stable against change in scent character and stable against degradation which results in discoloration of the composition; and wherein said composition is dispensable from said steel can via said sprayhead into air or over fabric or onto fabric to treat said air and said fabric.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said solvent is a glycol or an alcohol.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said nonionic surfactant is an alkoxylated hydrogenated castor oil compound.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein said composition has a volatile organic content (VOC), excluding VOC of said fragrance, of 0 to about 6.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein said composition further comprises a buffer.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein said at least one compressed gas propellant is an inert non-oxygen-containing propellant.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein said pH of the composition is about 8 to less than 10.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein said composition further comprises a pH adjuster.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein said composition further comprises a cationic surfactant.

19. Method of treating air and/or fabric comprising dispensing an aqueous-based air and/or fabric treating composition from a container, wherein said container includes (1) a sprayhead and a steel can, the steel can having an interior surface with an organic coating or a polymeric lining thereon, said coating or said lining having a thickness of about 1 to about 12 microns; and (2) said aqueous-based air and/or fabric treating composition in the steel can, wherein said composition comprises (a) greater than about 90 wt. % to about 99 wt. % water, (b) about 0.5 to about 1 wt. % of at least one nonionic surfactant, including an alkylene oxide unit-containing nonionic surfactant, (c) about 0.5 to about 1 wt. % of at least one compressed gas propellant, (d) greater than 0 to about 6 wt. % of at least one non-water solvent, (e) about 0.1 to about 0.5 wt. % of at least one corrosion inhibitor, said corrosion inhibitor being selected from the group consisting of phosphates, nitrites, silicates, aminomethyl propanol, and mixtures thereof, and (f) about 0.1 to about 2 wt. % of at least one fragrance, wherein said composition is alkaline in pH and is a single phase; wherein said composition excludes a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) propellant; and wherein anionic, amphoteric and zwitterionic surfactants are excluded from said composition; wherein said fragrance is maintained in said steel can stable against change in scent character and stable against degradation which results in discoloration of the composition; and wherein said composition is dispensed from said steel can via said sprayhead so as to spray said composition into air or over fabric or onto fabric to treat said air and said fabric with the composition.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said solvent is a glycol or an alcohol.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein said nonionic surfactant is an alkoxylated hydrogenated castor oil compound.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein said composition has a volatile organic content (VOC), excluding VOC of said fragrance, of 0 to about 6.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein said composition further comprises a buffer.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein said at least one compressed gas propellant is an inert non-oxygen-containing propellant.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein said pH of the composition is about 8 to less than 10.

26. The method of claim 19 wherein said composition further comprises a pH adjuster.

27. The method of claim 19 wherein said composition further comprises a cationic surfactant.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(1) The invention provides a compatible combination of an aqueous compressed gas formulation and a steel can having a lining therein, and optionally tin plating, to provide an aerosol product. Particularly suitable for use in the combination as the aqueous compressed gas formulation is an air and/or fabric treatment formulation as set forth in the description herein. The air and/or fabric treatment formulation includes a fragrance which is stable as to its character (scent) and the formulation remains stable as to its coloration. Due to the pH range and the compatibility between the container and the formulation, greater flexibility in the fragrance ingredients is available thereby providing a broad fragrance pallet, i.e., number and type of scents, for incorporation into the formulation. Further, corrosion inhibitors included in the formulation can be milder in strength and used in a lesser amount as compared to that required in the absence of the inventive combination. More particularly, the alkalinity (pH) of the formulations of the invention, selection of ingredients and their concentrations, do not facilitate some of the nucleophilic type chemical reactions between fragrance molecules as with certain conventional systems, for example a formula including a multi-purpose corrosion inhibitor/pH adjusting agent/buffering agent sodium borate, having a pKa of 9.2, facilitates some aggressive reactions with fragrance compositions, as well as provides a higher pH. The combination or system of the invention provides for corrosion stability, formulation stability, color stability and fragrance stability in compressed gas aerosol aqueous-based air and/or fabric treatment compositions. The high aqueous content of the formulation traditionally results in corrosion of the steel can container. To combat this corrosion, typically high strength (based on nature and/or amount) corrosion inhibitor(s) are present in an air or fabric treatment formulation, which in turn results in a high pH for the formulation, e.g., greater than 9 or 10 in the case of a borate. This severely limits the number and nature of fragrances available for inclusion in the formulation based on the type/amount of corrosion inhibitor and the highly alkaline pH. The present invention overcomes these disadvantages.

(2) Steel cans with a liner, either free of tin plating (tin coating) or being tin plated, suitable for use in dispensing an aerosol composition of the combination of the invention are as commercially available, for example, from Crown Cork & Seal, Ball Corporation, Bway, DS Container, Sexton Can, Colep, Simsek, Impress & Sarten; Inesa, Comeca; Huata & Cofco, MMI, Metcan, Swan, Canpac and Aestar. The steel cans are structured for dispensing an aerosol composition and include a dispensing top, a body and a base wall. The interior surfaces of the steel cans include thereon a liner alone or also are coated with tin. The cans are preferably three piece steel cans, but can also be two piece steel cans.

(3) The interior surfaces of the steel cans are preferably lined with an organic coating or polymeric laminate, and when optionally also tin plated (coated), the lining is present over top of the tin plating. The polymeric lining can be composed of materials with different chemistry known for use as interior coatings on a metal surface, such as epoxy-urea, epoxy, epoxy-phenol, vinyl, amide-imides, acrylic, epoxy-vinyl, alkyd and the like. A preferred lining material is epoxy-urea, such as commercially available under the tradename VALSPAR 20S55 as manufactured by Valspar. The lining will have a thickness in a range of from about 1 micron to about 12 microns or greater.

(4) The formulation included in the steel can for dispersing as a aerosol is preferably a compressed gas propellant system. Compressed gas aerosols generally have a higher particle size, for example in a range of about 30 m to about 200 m (m=micrometers=microns) on average and, accordingly, can have a higher particle fall out as compared to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) aerosols. Thus, when a compressed gas formulation is not stable resulting in discoloration of the formulation, the particle fallout can be more visible to a user, especially on white or light colored surfaces, as well as on soft surfaces such as fabric. Stable compressed gas formulations are clear or light in color. Unstable compressed gas formulations discolor to a deep yellow to brown liquid and, thus, can discolor the surface on which the formulation particles land during fallout.

(5) In conjunction with the lined, and optionally tin plated, steel can, the air and/or fabric treatment formulation will have a predetermined pH; defined surfactants; and particular concentration of corrosion inhibitor, which is lesser in amount as compared to corrosion inhibitors as used in conventional compressed gas aerosols. The stability of the compressed gas formulation achieved allows for a wide scope in number and characteristics of fragrances which are useful in the formulation. Fragrance and color stability is achieved for an extended amount of time as compared to formulations having high alkaline pHs or strong corrosion inhibitors (either by nature or amount/number of corrosion inhibitors present).

(6) As to the air or fabric treatment formulation, such is generally preferred as set forth in Table 1 below.

(7) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Ingredients Wt. % Range Water about 80 to about 99 Surfactant (s) about 0.5 to about 2.0 Fragrance (s) about 0.1 to about 2 Compressed Gas about 0.5 to about 2 Propellant (s) pH Adjuster (s) Sufficient to achieve pH of about 8 to less than 10 Corrosion Inhibitor (s) about 0.01 to about 0.5 Non-Water Solvent (s) 0 to about 6.0 Buffer (s) 0 to about 0.5 Preservative (s) 0 to about 1.0

(8) Weight percent (wt. %) of the total composition in Table 1 and as used in the description and claims is based on 100 wt. %. The ingredient wt. % given is based on the wt. % of the whole ingredient and not simply on the active(s) of the ingredient.

(9) The water component is a carrier solvent and can be deionized water, reverse osmosis water, distilled water, tap water, and/or the like. Preferred are deionized water and reverse osmosis water. Generally, water is present in an amount greater than about 80 wt. % but less than 100 wt. %. The preferred amount of water present is as set forth in Table 1 above. More preferably, water is present in an amount of about 90 to about 99 wt. %, and most preferably in an amount of about 92 to about 97.5 wt. %.

(10) Surfactants suitable for inclusion in the formulation are limited to nonionic surfactants or a blend of nonionic and cationic surfactants. Cationic surfactant(s) alone are not sufficient in the formulations of the invention for achieving the advantages described herein. Anionic, amphoteric and zwitterionic surfactants are excluded from use in the compressed gas air treatment formulations of the invention. Such surfactants have a more corrosive effect. The surfactant component can be one or more surfactants and can include at least one nonionic surfactant, or a blend of at least one nonionic surfactant and at least one cationic surfactant.

(11) Suitable nonionic surfactants useful in the air treatment formulation include, but are not limited to, polyalkoxylated hydrogenated castor oil, preferably polyethoxylated hydrogenated caster oil such as TAGAT CH60 (60 ethylene oxide (EO) units), TAGAT CH40 (40 EO units); hydrogenated and ethoxylated castor oil blends, e.g. EUMULGIN HPS (40 EO units); secondary alcohol ethoxylates, e.g., TERGITOL brand surfactants such as TERGITOL 15-S-12 and TERGITOL 15-S-7; ethoxylated linear alcohols, e.g., LUTENSOL brand such as LUTENSOL A08 (8 EO units); sorbitan monooleate; polyethylene sorbitan monooleate; polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate; alkyl polyglycosides; polyethyleneoxide/polypropyleneoxide; alkyl phenol ethoxylated carboxylated alcohols; and mixtures thereof.

(12) The at least one nonionic surfactant is present in an amount range preferably as set forth in Table 1, i.e., in a range of about 0.5 to about 2.0 wt. %, and more preferably in a range of about 0.5 to about 1.0 wt. %, and most preferably about 0.5 to about 0.8 wt. %.

(13) Cationic surfactants suitable for inclusion in the compressed gas air treatment formulation include, but are not limited to, the following: quaternary ammonium salts, polyoxyethylene alkyl, alicyclic amines, and mixtures thereof.

(14) The at least one cationic surfactant is present in an amount range of preferably 0 to about 3.0 wt. %, and more preferably present in an amount of 0 to about 1.0 wt. %. As set forth above, the cationic surfactant is used in combination with a nonionic surfactant and not as the sole surfactant.

(15) Fragrance(s) suitable for inclusion in the compressed gas air and/or fabric treatment formulation can be a natural or synthetic fragrance, based on a single component or a blend of components. Fragrances are commercially available from various fragrance manufacturers, such as Takasago, International Flavors and Fragrances, Inc., Quest, Firmenich, Givaudan, Symrise, and the like.

(16) The fragrance(s) is(are) present in an amount range generally as set forth above in Table 1 and is(are) preferably present in a range of about 0.1 to about 2.0 wt. %, and more preferably present in a range of from about 0.3 to about 1.0 wt. %.

(17) The compressed gas propellant may be any suitable conventionally known compressed gas propellant, either oxygen or non-oxygen containing, including, but not limited to, nitrogen, argon, methane, ethane, air, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, or mixtures thereof. Preferred compressed gas propellants for use are inert and do not contain oxygen. The presence of oxygen, such as in air, increases the chance of corrosion and corrosion reactions. Further, oxidation reactions influence fragrance stability. So while there is no limitation on the compressed air propellant, it is preferred that the compressed gas propellant is an inert medium, and does not include oxygen therein.

(18) The compressed gas propellant is present in an amount generally as set forth above in Table 1, i.e., is preferably present in a range of about 0.5 to about 2.0 wt. %, and more preferably in a range of about 0.5 to about 1.0 wt. %. The compressed gas propellant is pressurized in a range of from about 120 to about 160 psig, preferably from about 130 to about 150 psig, and more preferably from about 132 to about 142 psig.

(19) Corrosion inhibitor(s) suitable for inclusion in the compressed gas air treatment formulation is(are), but not limited to, phosphates, such as potassium dihydrogen phosphate, potassium hydrogen phosphate, diammonium phosphate, potassium phosphate (monobasic or dibasic), sodium phosphate (monobasic or dibasic); nitrites, such as sodium nitrite, potassium nitrite, and ammonium nitrite; aminomethyl propanol; and/or silicates, such as sodium meta-silicate.

(20) The corrosion inhibitor(s) is(are) present in the general amount as set forth above in Table 1, and is(are) preferably present in a range of about 0.01 to about 0.5 wt. %, and more preferably in a range of about 0.1 to about 0.4 wt. %.

(21) Non-water solvents suitable for use include alcohols and glycols only. Examples of alcohol and glycol non-water solvents suitable for use include, but are not limited to, alkylene glycols, such as propylene glycol and triethylene glycol; and lower carbon chain (e.g., C2 to C5) alcohols, such as ethanol and propanol.

(22) The non-water solvent(s) is(are) present in an amount as set forth above in Table 1, i.e., preferably is present in a range of 0 to about 6.0 wt. %, and more preferably in a range of about 0.1 to about 5.0 wt. %. Most preferably, the non-water solvent is present in an amount of less than or equal to 0.1 wt. % so that the formulation has a low or no VOC.

(23) Compounds suitable for inclusion in the compressed gas air and/or fabric treatment formulation as pH adjusters or controllers include, but are not limited to, carbonates, such as sodium carbonate; silicates, such as sodium meta-silicate pentahydrate (which may provide a dual function as a pH adjuster and corrosion inhibitor); phosphates, such as disodium phosphate, and dipotassium phosphate; hydroxides, such as sodium hydroxide; ammonium hydroxide; THAM-Tris-(hydroxymethyl)aminoethane; 2-amino-2-methyl-propane diol; and the like.

(24) The pH adjuster is used in a sufficient amount suitable to obtain the desired pH in a range of about 8 to less than 10, preferably a pH range of about 8.5 to about 9.5, and more preferably a pH range of about 8.5 to about 9.0.

(25) Buffer compound(s) suitable for inclusion in the compressed gas air treatment formulation includes, but is not limited to, bicarbonates, such as sodium bicarbonate; phosphates; ammonium hydroxide; THAM-Tris (hydroxymethyl) aminoethane; 2-amino-2-methyl-propane diol; and the like. It is noted that some well known pH buffering agents, such as phosphates, carbonates, ammonium hydroxide, THAM-Tris (hydroxymethyl) aminoethane, and 2-amino-2-methyl-propane diol, will provide a multi-purpose function of corrosion inhibitor, pH adjustor, and buffering agent. In such instance, one or a combination of ingredients may be used to meet these functions and amounts thereof adjusted accordingly within the scope of the invention.

(26) The buffer(s) is(are) present in an amount as generally set forth in Table 1 above, and preferably in a range of about 0.01 to about 0.5 wt. %, and more preferably in a range of about 0.1 to about 0.4 wt. %.

(27) Preservative(s) suitable for inclusion in the compressed gas air treatment formulation include, but are not limited to isothiazolinones, such as 1,2,-benzisothiazole-3(2H)-one and 2-methylisothiazole-3(2H)-one, which is sold as a blend under the trade name ACTICIDE MB; 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, which is sold under the trade name NEOLONE M-10; and 2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one and 3-iodo-2-propynyl-butyl carbamate, which is sold as a blend under the trade name ACTICIDE IM.

(28) The preservative(s) is(are) present in an amount as generally set forth above in Table 1, preferably in an amount in the range of about 0.01 to about 1.0 wt. %, more preferably in a range of about 0.01 to about 0.5 wt. %, and most preferably in a range of about 0.05 to about 0.2 wt. %.

(29) The concentrations of the corrosion inhibitor component, pH adjuster component and, if present, the buffer component and preservative component in combination contribute to the benefits achieved in the present invention, in particular in that these components are able to serve their functions while being present in minor amounts. This serves to increase stability as to the fragrance and color of the formulation, since disadvantageous interaction or breakdown is less likely. Adjuvants as conventionally known in the art can be included as desired so long as they necessarily do not disrupt the fulfillment of the formulation/container advantages as described herein. The total elemental phosphate level in the formulation is 0.05% (per can of 227 gm fill weight).

(30) Set forth below are examples of the compressed gas air treatment formulation of the invention.

(31) TABLE-US-00002 Example Example Example Example 1 2 3 4 Ingredients Wt. % Wt. % Wt. % Wt. % Reverse Osmosis/Deionized 97.227 97.152 92.283 97.075 Water (Solvent) Sodium Bicarbonate 0.185 0.185 (Buffer) Sodium Carbonate 0.016 0.181 0.181 (pH Adjuster) Sodium Nitrite (Corrosion 0.1 0.05 Inhibitor) Hydrogenated Castor Oil 0.469 0.469 0.469 0.469 60 Ethoxylate (Nonionic Surfactant) (TAGAT CH 60) Alkyloxy- 0.281 0.281 0.281 0.281 polyethyleneoxyethanol (Nonionic Surfactant) (TERGITOL 15-S-7) Fragrance 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 Propylene Glycol, 0.469 0.469 0.469 0.469 Industrial Grade (Solvent) 1,2-Benzisothiazole-3(2H)- 0.075 0.075 0.075 0.050 one (<2.5%) and 2- Methylisothiazole-3(2H)- one (<2.5%) (Preservative) (ACTICIDE MB) Nitrogen Gas (Propellant) 0.678 0.678 0.678 0.678 Sodium Dihydrogen 0.195 0.195 Phosphate (Corrosion Inhibitor) Sodium Meta-Silicate 0.01 Pentahydrate (pH) Adjuster) Ethyl Alcohol (Solvent) 5.0 N,N-Dialkyl-N,N-Dimethyl 0.102 Ammonium Chloride 100% 100% 100% 100%

(32) The formulations in each of Examples 1-4 were contained in a 3-piece tin plated steel can lined with VALSPAR 20S55 which is of an epoxy-urea lining.

(33) The exemplary embodiments herein disclosed are not intended to be exhaustive or to unnecessarily limit the scope of the invention. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the present invention so that others skilled in the art may practice the invention. As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, various modifications can be made within the scope of the aforesaid description. Such modifications being within the ability of one skilled in the art form a part of the present invention and are embraced by the appended claims.