Alkaline detergent composition containing a carboxylic acid terpolymer for hard water scale control

Abstract

A highly alkaline detergent is described which includes the use of a carboxylic acid terpolymer in combination with an alkali metal hydroxide. The detergent maintains cleaning functions and also prevents hard water scaling at application temperatures, for example at temperatures of between about 145-180 degrees Fahrenheit and, for example, at a pH of 9.5 to about 13.

1 : An alkaline cleaning solution comprising:
 from about 1 to about 1500 ppm of an alkali metal hydroxide; and   from about 5 to about 500 ppm of a carboxylic acid terpolymer comprising in copolymerized form from about 30 to 90% by weight of at least one monoethylenically unsaturated C 3 -C 8 -carboxylic acid, or an anhydride or salt thereof, from about 3 to 60% by weight of at least one monomer comprising a sulfo group, and from about 3 to 20% by weight of at least one nonionic monomer of the formula I
   H 2 C═C(R 1 )(CH 2 ) x O[R 2 —O] y —R 3   (I)
 
   in which R 1  is hydrogen or methyl, R 2  are identical or different, linear or branched C 2 -C 6 -alkylene wherein R 2 —O may be arranged in blocks or randomly, and R 3  is hydrogen or a straight-chain or branched C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, x is 0, 1 or 2 and y is a number from 3 to 50.   
     
     
         2 : The alkaline cleaning solution of  claim 1  further comprising a phosphonate. 
     
     
         3 : The alkaline cleaning solution of  claim 1 , further comprising 5-250 ppm of an additional polymer selected from one or more of the following: polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, polymaleic acid homopolymers, copolymers of acrylic acid, methacrylic and/or maleic acid, terpolymers of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and maleic acid, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 : The alkaline cleaning solution of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one functional ingredient selected from the group consisting of: chelating agents, sequestering agents, alkaline sources, water conditioners, surfactants, hardening agents, bleaching agents, sanitizers, activators, detergent builders, fillers, defoaming agents, anti-redeposition agents, optical brighteners, dyes, odorants, stabilizing agents, dispersants, enzymes, corrosion inhibitors, thickeners and solubility modifiers. 
     
     
         5 : The alkaline cleaning solution of  claim 1 , wherein y in formula (I) is >5, x in formula (I) is 1, and R 1  in formula (I) is H, or wherein y in formula (I) is >5, x in formula (I) is 2, and R 1  in formula (I) is methyl. 
     
     
         6 : The alkaline cleaning solution of  claim 1 , wherein the carboxylic acid terpolymer comprises from about 40 to 90% by weight of the carboxylic acid monomer, anhydride or salt thereof, from about 4 to 40% by weight of the monomer comprising a sulfo group, and from about 4 to 40% by weight of the nonionic monomer of the formula (I). 
     
     
         7 : The alkaline cleaning solution of  claim 1 , wherein R 2  is selected from CH 2 CH 2  and CH 2 CH(CH 3 ), and y is in the range of from 8 to 40, and/or wherein the carboxylic acid monomer, or anhydride or salt thereof is selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and salts thereof. 
     
     
         8 : An alkaline cleaning solution comprising:
 from about 100 to about 1500 ppm of an alkali metal hydroxide; and   from about 5 to about 500 ppm of a carboxylic acid terpolymer comprising in copolymerized form from about 30 to 90% by weight of at least one monoethylenically unsaturated C 3 -C 8 -carboxylic acid, or an anhydride or salt thereof, from about 3 to 60% by weight of at least one monomer comprising a sulfo group, and from about 3 to 40% by weight of at least one nonionic monomer of the formula I
   H 2 C═C(R 1 )(CH 2 ) x O[R 2 —O] y —R 3   (I)
 
   
       in which R 1  is hydrogen or methyl, R 2  are identical or different, linear or branched C 2 -C 6 -alkylene wherein R 2 —O may be arranged in blocks or randomly, and R 3  is hydrogen or a straight-chain or branched C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, x is 0, 1 or 2 and y is a number from 3 to 50; and
 from about 5 to about 250 ppm of an additional polymer selected from one or more of the following: polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, polymaleic acid homopolymers, copolymers of acrylic acid, methacrylic and/or maleic acid, terpolymers of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and maleic acid, and combinations thereof. 
 
     
     
         9 : The alkaline cleaning solution of  claim 8  further comprising a phosphonate. 
     
     
         10 : The alkaline cleaning solution of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one functional ingredient selected from the group consisting of: chelating agents, sequestering agents, alkaline sources, water conditioners, surfactants, hardening agents, bleaching agents, sanitizers, activators, detergent builders, fillers, defoaming agents, anti-redeposition agents, optical brighteners, dyes, odorants, stabilizing agents, dispersants, enzymes, corrosion inhibitors, thickeners and solubility modifiers. 
     
     
         11 : The alkaline cleaning solution of  claim 8 , wherein y in formula (I) is >5, x in formula (I) is 1, and R 1  in formula (I) is H, or wherein y in formula (I) is >5, x in formula (I) is 2, and R 1  in formula (I) is methyl. 
     
     
         12 : The alkaline cleaning solution of  claim 8 , wherein the carboxylic acid terpolymer comprises from about 40 to 90% by weight of the carboxylic acid monomer, anhydride or salt thereof, from about 4 to 40% by weight of the monomer comprising a sulfo group, and from about 4 to 40% by weight of the nonionic monomer of the formula (I). 
     
     
         13 : The alkaline cleaning solution of  claim 8 , wherein R 2  is selected from CH 2 CH 2  and CH 2 CH(CH 3 ), and y is in the range of from 8 to 40, and/or wherein the carboxylic acid monomer, or anhydride or salt thereof is selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and salts thereof. 
     
     
         14 : A method of using an alkaline detergent with hard water to provide scale control, comprising:
 providing a concentrated use solution of  claim 1  or  8 ;   applying said use solution to an article or surface; and   preventing hard water scaling on said article or surface.   
     
     
         15 : The method of  claim 14 , wherein the use solution is applied to said article or surface at a temperature between about 145-180 degrees Fahrenheit.