Method for treating hydrophilic stains in a lipophilic fluid system

Abstract

A fabric article treatment composition comprising a polar solvent and a hydrophobic surfactant, wherein the composition is miscible in a lipophilic fluid is provided.

1 . A method for removing and/or reducing a hydrophilic stain from a fabric article in need of treatment, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (i) contacting the hydrophilic stain on a fabric article with a fabric article treatment composition thereby forming a pretreated fabric article; and    (ii) contacting the pretreated fabric article with a lipophilic fluid such that the hydrophilic stain is removed and/or reduced;    wherein the fabric article treatment composition is miscible with the lipophilic fluid and comprises:    a) a polar solvent exhibiting at least one of the following Hansen solubility parameters: 
 i) a fractional polar value (f P ) of greater than 0.02;  
 ii) a fractional hydrogen bonding value (f H ) of greater than 0.10; and  
   b) a hydrophobic surfactant.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the pretreated fabric article is formed inside a fabric article treating apparatus.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the pretreated fabric article is formed prior to placing the fabric article inside a fabric article treating apparatus.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the polar solvent exhibits a fractional polar value (f P ) of greater than 0.05.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the polar solvent exhibits a fractional hydrogen bonding value (f H ) of greater than 0.20.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the polar solvent is selected from the group consisting of: water, alcohols, glycols, polyglycols, ethers, carbonates, esters, ketones, amines, amides, ureas, alkanolamines, alkanolamides, phosphate esters, alkyl nitrites and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein the polar solvent comprises from about 0% to about 50% by weight of the composition of water.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein the polar solvent comprises from about 0.01% to about 20% by weight of the composition of water.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein the polar solvent comprises a glycol and/or polyglycol and/or derivatives thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein the polar solvent comprises an alkoxy alcohol.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the composition comprises from about 2% to about 50% by weight of the composition of the hydrophobic surfactant.  
     
     
         12 . The fabric article treatment composition according to  claim 11  wherein the composition comprises from about 10% to about 30% by weight of the composition of the hydrophobic surfactant.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein the hydrophobic surfactant exhibits an HLB value of from about 3 to about 9.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the hydrophobic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of: silicone-based surfactants, organosulfosuccinate surfactants, alkanolamines, alkanolamides, alcohol alkoxylates, gemini surfactants, polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, alkylhydrogen phosphates and salts thereof, saccharide derivatives and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the composition further comprises a cleaning adjunct and/or a lipophilic fluid.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the composition exhibits a flash point of greater than 37° C.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprises a carrier solvent selected from the group consisting of: silicone solvents, hydrofluoroether solvents, perfluorinated solvents, hydrocarbon solvents, halogenated hydrocarbons, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         18 . A method for removing and/or reducing a hydrophilic stain from a fabric article in need of treatment, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (i) contacting the hydrophilic stain on a fabric article with a fabric article treatment composition thereby forming a pretreated fabric article; and    (ii) contacting the pretreated fabric article with a lipophilic fluid such that the hydrophilic stain is removed and/or reduced;    wherein the fabric article treatment composition is miscible with the lipophilic fluid and comprises:    a) from about 50% to about 70% by weight of the fabric article treatment composition of a first polar solvent;    b. from about 10% to about 30% by weight of the fabric article treatment composition of a second polar solvent different from the first;    c. from about 10% to about 30% by weight of the fabric article treatment composition of a hydrophobic surfactant; and    wherein the fabric article treatment composition is miscible in a lipophilic fluid.    
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18  wherein the first polar solvent comprises 3-methoxy-3-methyl-1-butanol.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18  wherein the second polar solvent comprises water.