Compositions and methods for treating surfaces

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods of treating surfaces, to protect or clean said surfaces. The invention more particularly relates to the treatment of interior walls or surfaces, particularly indoor household walls or surfaces, to protect the same from soiling or stains. This invention also relates to compositions, kits and devices for use in the above methods, to protect or clean indoor surfaces. This invention can be applied to various indoor surfaces, such as soft and permeable surfaces, in particular painted walls, wall paper and wallcloth.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of treating indoor household surfaces comprising: 
 applying to all or part of the indoor household surface a first coating composition to form a protective layer, wherein the coating composition is essentially free of pigment, and,    subsequently removing any soil or stain from said coated surface by applying to the coated surface a cleaning treatment or composition.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the coating composition comprises a fluorinated compound.  
     
     
         3 . A method of protecting an indoor household surface selected from: a painted wall, wall paper and wall cloth, from stain, soil or other degradation, comprising applying to all or part of the indoor household surface a composition comprising a fluorinated compound.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the fluorinated compound is a fluorinated polymer.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the fluorinated compound is a perfluorinated polymer.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the fluorinated compound is functionalized to form a covalent or non-covalent bond with the material of the surface to be treated.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein the fluorinated compound comprises one or more functional groups selected from the group consisting of: silane, phosphate, carboxylate, alkylamide, polyether, sulphonate, sulphate and amine.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the fluorinated compound has an average molecular weight of between 400 and 4,000.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the fluorinated compound is selected from the group consisting of fluorinated polymers having the formula: X—CF 2 —(O—C 2 F 4 ) n —(OCF 2 ) m —OCF 2 —Y; Cl—(C 3 F 6 O) n —CF 2 —X; Cl—(C 2 F 4 O) n —CF 2 —X; or X—CF 2 —(O—C 2 F 4 ) n —(OC 3 F 6 ) p —(OCF 2 ) m —OCF 2 —Y, and (partially) hydrogenated forms thereof, wherein m, n and p represent, independently, integer numbers, including 0, m+n or m+n+p being different from 0, wherein X and Y are, independently, CF 3  or an hydrogenated form thereof, a hydrogen atom, a chlorine atom, or a functional group or a different polymer sequence.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 3  wherein the composition further comprises one or both of a fluorosurfactant and a solvent.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the fluorosurfactant comprises a functional group selected from sulphonate, carboxylate, sulphate and phosphate functional groups.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the composition comprises a fluoropolymer with a terminal silane functional group and a fluorosurfactant with a sulphate, sulphonate or phosphate functional group, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 3  wherein the composition further comprises one or more agents selected from the group consisting of: surfactants, perfumes, stabilizers, emulsifying agents, polycarboxylate polymers such as polyacrylates, methacrylates or polyurethanes, thickeners, antistatic agents, UV light screening agents, optical brighteners, non-fluorinated silicone compounds and film-forming polymers, alone or in various combinations thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 3  wherein the composition is essentially free of pigment and comprises, by weight: 
 0.01-40% of a fluorinated compound;  
 0-40% of a fluorosurfactant;  
 0-30% of a surfactant;  
 0-30% of a solvent, in particular an alcohol, ether or ester;  
 0-50% of a non-fluorinated silicone compound;  
 0-50% of a polycarboxylate polymer; and  
 20-99.9% of water.  
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the composition further comprises an optical brightener.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 3  wherein the composition is applied by a sprayer, brush, roller, sponge, wipe or a mop.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 3  wherein the surface is all or a portion of an indoor household wall such as a painted wall, wall paper or wallcloth.  
     
     
         18 . A method of forming a transparent film at the surface of an indoor painted wall, wall paper or wallcloth, said method comprising applying a composition comprising a fluorinated compound to all or part of said surface.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said fluorinated compound protects said surface or material from stain, soil or other degradation.  
     
     
         20 . A method of cleaning an indoor household surface, wherein the surface has been treated by a method of  claim 1  wherein said cleaning composition comprises at least one of a solvent and a surfactant.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the cleaning composition comprises a fluorinated compound.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the fluorinated compound is a (per)fluoropolyether (non-functionalized) of one of the general formulas: (I) CF 3 0—(CF 2 —C 2 F 4 —O) n —(CF 2 O) m —CF 3 —; (11) HF 2 —C—O—[(CF 2 —CF 2 —O) n —(CF 2 —O)m]—CF 2 H; hydrogenated forms thereof.  
     
     
         23 . A composition suitable for treating indoor household walls or materials, the composition comprising a fluorinated compound with a terminal silane functional group and a fluorosurfactant with a sulphate, sulphonate, carboxylate or phosphate functional group.  
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 23  urther comprising one or more agents selected from the group consisting of: surfactants, perfumes, stabilizers, emulsifying agents, polycarboxylate polymers such as polyacrylates, methacrylates or polyurethanes, thickeners, antistatic agents, UV light screening agents, optical brighteners, non-fluorinated silicone compounds and film-forming polymers, alone or in various combinations thereof.  
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 23  further comprising an optical brightener.  
     
     
         26 . A composition suitable for cleaning treated indoor household walls or materials comprising: 
 one or more perfluoropolyether and hydrogenated perfluoropolyethers of at least one of the general formulas (I) and (II) in claim  22 ;    one or more fluorosurfactants such as perfluoropolyether alkylamide-functionalized;    a solvent comprising one or more of the following agents: ethers, n-buthoxy-propoxy-propanol, di(propylene glycol)methylether, glycols, alcohols, hexane or other hydrocarbon solvents; and    one or more non-fluorinated surfactants.    
     
     
         27 . A combination of products for treating household surfaces or material, comprising, separately formulated: 
 a protective composition, wherein said protective composition is essentially free of pigment and comprises a fluorinated compound; and    a cleaning composition comprising a solvent and/or a surfactant.    
     
     
         28 . The combination of products of  claim 27  wherein the cleaning composition comprises a fluorinated polymer.  
     
     
         29 . A combination of products for treating household surfaces or material, comprising, separately formulated: 
 a protective composition comprising a functionalized perfluoropolyether; and    a cleaning composition comprising a fluoropolymer.    
     
     
         30 . A kit for treating household surfaces or material such as painted walls, wall paper and wallcloth, comprising, separately formulated: 
 an essentially pigment-free protective composition comprising a fluorinated compound; and    a cleaning composition adapted for use with the protective composition.