Jewellery cleaning wipe

Abstract

It is surprisingly found that when diamond particles are embedded into an alcohol wipe, the cleansing wipe that is formed is extremely useful at cleaning diamond jewellery in the home. It is also surprising that, given the abrasive nature of diamond, the diamond particles result in a satisfactory clean without causing any damage to the surface of the diamond being cleaned. The final result is that the cleaned diamond has recovered most of its original fire, life and brilliance.

Claims

1. A method of cleaning a diamond item comprising rubbing or wiping the item with a cleansing wipe consisting of an absorbent foldable cloth substrate that is soaked with an aqueous suspension consisting of water, an alcohol solution, and diamond particles, wherein the diamond particles have a median equivalent volumetric diameter (Dv50) of less than 40 m, wherein at least 80% of the diamond particles have an equivalent volumetric diameter of less than 40 m, and wherein the aqueous suspension consists of water, 0.0001 wt. % to 0.1 wt. % diamond particles, and wherein the concentration of alcohol in the alcohol solution is 40-90 wt. %, such that the diamond particles are suspended in a matrix of the substrate and do not scratch the gem during cleaning.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the diamond particles have a Dv50 of between 1 nm and 20 m.

3. The method, according to claim 1, wherein the alcohol is isopropyl alcohol.

4. The method, according to claim 1, wherein the matrix of the substrate is a non-woven fabric.

5. The method, according to claim 1, wherein said wipe has dimensions of approximately 6 cm by 3 cm.

6. The method, according to claim 5, wherein the wipe is contained in a package.

7. The method, according to claim 6, wherein the package is a plastic packet of less than 5 mm thickness.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the wipe is folded in the plastic packet to dimensions of 3 cm3 cm, and wherein the package fits snugly around the wipe.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(1) A cleansing wipe of the invention comprises a substrate. The term substrate is used because a solution/suspension is absorbed into the wipe, to allow it to clean effectively. Therefore, the substrate may be formed of any suitable material, which allows saturation with an alcohol solution. Cotton or synthetic cloths are two examples. It will be apparent that the substrate should be absorbent.

(2) In a preferred embodiment, the substrate is formed from a non-woven fabric, more preferably spun lace. Preferably, the non-woven fabric substrate comprises a cotton fibre or polypropylene fibres. Without wishing to be bound by theory, non-woven fabrics are preferred as they do not leave fibres on the surface of the diamond and they do not snag on the claws of jewellery.

(3) A suspension of the invention comprises an alcohol solution and diamond particles with a median equivalent volumetric diameter (Dv50) of less than 40 m. The alcohol is defined herein as a solution as the alcohol may be dissolved in water. The term suspension is used because the diamond particles obviously do not dissolve in the alcohol solution. However, the diamond particles are so fine that they are suspended in the alcohol solution like a fine smoke, and once the alcohol solution has been soaked/absorbed onto the substrate, the diamond particles become adsorbed onto the surface of the substrate. Without wishing to be bound by theory, they may be held within the matrix of the substrate by physical forces.

(4) An alcohol solution of the invention is preferably a solution of a neat alcohol in water, preferably deionised water. The alcohol is preferably in a concentration of at least 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 or 100%. Any alcohol is suitable for use in the invention, but it is preferred that the alcohol is ispropyl alcohol, since it cleans without leaving any streaks.

(5) Preferably, a cleaning wipe of the invention has dimensions of approximately 6 cm3 cm. When packaged, it is preferably folded to a 3 cm square and slotted into a packet, which may be made of a plastics material. Preferably, the plastic packed it fitted snugly to the wipe and has a thickness of less than 5 mm.

(6) As used herein, diameter means equivalent volumetric diameter. This is the diameter of a spherical particle having the same constitution and volume as the particle being measured. This is a standardised technique to take into account the fact that not all particles are perfect spheres.

(7) The equivalent volumetric diameter is preferably measured by laser diffraction. Light from a laser is shone into a cloud of particles, which are suspended in a transparent gas such as air. The particles scatter the light; smaller particles scattering the light at larger angles than bigger particles. The scattered light can be measured by a series of photodetectors placed at different angles. This is known as the diffraction pattern for the sample. The diffraction pattern can be used to measure the size of the particles using well documented light scattering theory. The particles are assumed to be spherical but few particles are actually spherical. The particle diameters are calculated from the measured volume of the particle, but assume a sphere of equivalent volume.

(8) In the present invention, a composition may be said to comprise particles having a median equivalent volumetric diameter (Dv50) of x m. This is a statistically derived figure that is understood in the art and this means that, in a particular sample, 50% of the particles will have an equivalent volumetric diameter of x m or greater and 50% of the particles will have an equivalent volumetric diameter of less than x m. The skilled person will know how to calculate the Dv50. One such method for measuring Dv50 is given in ISO 9276-2:2001: Representation of results of particle size analysisPart 2: Calculation of average particle sizes/diameters and moments from particle size distributions, which is incorporated herein by reference.

(9) The Dv50 (median equivalent volumetric diameter) can also be measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS).

(10) The diameter of the diamond particles is critical. If the diamond particles are too large, then they may damage the diamond by scratching it, or they may cause it to become loose in its setting. Furthermore, it is necessary for the diamond particles to have a large combined surface area, so that the maximum amount of grease can be polished from the surface of the diamond being cleaned. Therefore, the diamond particles should have a Dv50 of less than 40 m. Preferably, the diamond particles have a Dv50 of less than 35, 30, 25 or 20 m. More preferably, the diamond particles have a Dv50 of less than 10 m 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 m.

(11) In a preferred embodiment, the Dv50 of the diamond particles lies within a particular range. Preferred lower limits are 0, 1 nm, 10 nm, 50 nm, 100 nm, 500 nm, 1 nm, 2 nm 10 nm or 100 nm. Preferred upper limits are 2 m, 3 m, 4 m, 10 m, 15 m, 20 m, 25 m, 30 m or 35 m. Any of the aforementioned lower limits can be combined with the aforementioned upper limits.

(12) Preferably, if the Dv50 is expressed as x m, 75% of the particle diameters are x20%, preferably x10%, more preferably x5%. Preferably, 80, 85, 90, 95 or 98% of the particles are within the specified range.

(13) The diamond dust (particles) that is used in the invention may be natural or synthetic. Preferably, the diamond particles that are used in the present invention are from natural diamonds.

(14) Natural diamond dust (particles) is commercially available. Once source is the Industrial Diamond Corporation, Hatton Garden, London EC1. This dust is the by-product of the rounding process of larger natural rough diamonds within metal cylinders. The dust is recovered by cleaning the metal cylinders with an acid, which does not affect the diamonds, but does release the dust which has become impregnated into the metal during the rounding process.

(15) Examples of sizes (expressed in m) of natural diamond dust that are commercially available, and which are therefore suitable for use in the invention are: 0-1, 0-2, 1-3, 2-3, 2-4, 3-5, 4-8, 5-10, 6-12, 7-10, 8-15, 10-20, 15-25, 20-40, 30-40.

(16) A range of sizes of synthetic nano diamond dust is also available commercially.

(17) Preferably, a composition of the invention comprises a fragrance.

(18) In a preferred embodiment, a wipe according to the invention contains a suspension comprising between 40% to 90% alcohol and water

(19) In a preferred embodiment, a wipe according to the invention contains a suspension comprising 0.0001 wt. % to 0.1 wt. % diamond particles with a Dv50 of less than 40 m and 40-90 wt. % of an alcohol.

(20) Without wishing to be bound by theory, even the presence of a very small amount of diamond particles makes a large difference to the cleaning action. This is believed to be due to the very large surface area of the diamond particles, and the fact that they have such a high affinity for grease.

(21) A cleansing wipe of the invention may be prepared by soaking a suitable substrate, such as a spun lace, into a suspension of an alcohol solution and fine diamond particles. The wipe should be soaked in the solution until it is saturated.

EXAMPLE 1

(22) A spun lace cloth (6 cm3 cm) was soaked in a suspension of 70% isopropyl alcohol (and 30% deionised water) and 0.001% natural diamond powder. The size of diamond powder added was 0-2 micron with an average particle size of 1 micron.

(23) The diamond particles were evenly suspended in the alcohol solution, and were therefore evenly impregnated onto the cloth when the cloth was soaked in the suspension.

(24) To test the efficacy of the wipe, a diamond ring was covered in Vaseline until it became dull and opaque. The wipe was then used to clean the diamond and all Vaseline appeared to the naked eye to be removed. The natural life, fire and brilliance of the diamond were restored.