Use and application of defined zwitterionic copolymer

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use and application of a water-soluble or water-dispersible copolymer comprising: a) at least a monomer compound of general formula i: in which R 1 is a hydrogen atom, a methyl or ethyl group; R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 and R 6 , which are identical or different, are linear or branched C 1 -C 6 , alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or aminoalkyl groups; m is an integer from 0 to 10; n is an integer from 1 to 6; Z represents a —C(O)O— or —C(O)NH— group or an oxygen atom; A represents a (CH 2 ) p group, p being an integer from 1 to 6; B represents a linear or branched C 2 -C 12 , polymethylene chain optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms or heterogroups, and optionally substituted by one or more hydroxyl or amino groups; X, which are identical or different, represent counterions; and (b) at least one hydrophilic monomer carrying a functional acidic group which is copolymerizable with (a) and which is capable of being ionized in the application medium; (c) optionally at least one monomer compound with ethylenic unsaturation with a neutral charge which is copolymerizable with (a) and (b), preferably a hydrophilic monomer compound with ethylenic unsaturation with a neutral charge, carrying one or more hydrophilic groups, which is copolymerizable with (a) and (b). Said polymer is a particularly good agglomerating agent and can preferentially be used in cleaning operations.

1 . A method of cleaning using a composition comprising an agglomerating agent, said agglomerating agent being a water-soluble or water-dispersible copolymer I comprising: 
 a) at least a monomer compound of general formula i:                          in which    R 1  is a hydrogen atom, a methyl or ethyl group;    R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5  and R 6 , which are identical or different, are linear or branched C 1 -C 6 , alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or aminoalkyl groups;    m is an integer from 0 to 10;    n is an integer from 1 to 6;    Z represents a —C(O)O— or —C(O)NH— group or an oxygen atom;    A represents a (CH 2 ) p  group, p being an integer from 1 to 6;    B represents a linear or branched C 2 -C 12 , polymethylene chain optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms or heterogroups, and optionally substituted by one or more hydroxyl or amino groups;    which are identical or different, represent counterions; and    (b) at least one hydrophilic monomer carrying a functional acidic group which is copolymerizable with (a) and which is capable of being ionized in the application medium;    (c) optionally at least one monomer compound with ethylenic unsaturation with a neutral charge which is copolymerizable with (a) and (b), preferably a hydrophilic monomer compound with ethylenic unsaturation with a neutral charge, carrying one or more hydrophilic groups, which is copolymerizable with (a) and (b).    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the monomer (a) is such that 
 Z represents —C(O)O—, —C(O)NH— or O atom;    n is equal to 2 or 3;    m ranges from 0 to 2;    B represents —CH 2 —CH(OH)—(CH 2 ) q , with q from 1 to 4; and    R 1  to R 6 , which are identical or different, represent a methyl or ethyl group.    
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said copolymer comprises: 
 (c) at least one monomer compound with ethylenic unsaturation with a neutral charge which is copolymerizable with (a) and (b).    
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein (c) is a hydrophilic monomer compound with ethylenic unsaturation with a neutral charge, carrying one or more hydrophilic groups, which is copolymerizable with (a) and (b).  
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein (b) is a C 3 -C 8  carboxylic, sulfonic, sulfuric, phosphonic or phosphoric acids with monoethylenic unsaturation.  
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said water-soluble or water-dispersible copolymer I is obtained by copolymerization of 3 to 80 mol %, of the monomer (a); of 10 to 95 mol %, of the monomer (b); and 0 to 50 mol %, of the monomer (c).  
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the monomers (a) and the monomers (b) have a molar ratio by weight of the total of the monomers (a) to the total of the monomers (b) between 80/20 and 5/95.  
   
   
       8 . A composition comprising a surfactant selected from nonionic, amphoteric, zwitterionic surfactants and mixtures thereof, a water-soluble or water-dispersible copolymer I comprising: 
 a) at least a monomer compound of general formula i:                          in which    R 1  is a hydrogen atom, a methyl or ethyl group;    R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5  and R 6 , which are identical or different, are linear or branched C 1 -C 6 , alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or aminoalkyl groups;    m is an integer from 0 to 10;    n is an integer from 1 to 6;    Z represents a —C(O)O— or —C(O)NH— group or an oxygen atom;    A represents a (CH 2 ) p  group, p being an integer from 1 to 6;    B represents a linear or branched C 2 -C 12 , polymethylene chain optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms or heterogroups, and optionally substituted by one or more hydroxyl or amino groups;    X, which are identical or different, represent counterions; and    (b) at least one hydrophilic monomer carrying a functional acidic group which is copolymerizable with (a) and which is capable of being ionized in the application medium;    (c) optionally at least one monomer compound with ethylenic unsaturation with a neutral charge which is copolymerizable with (a) and (b), preferably a hydrophilic monomer compound with ethylenic unsaturation with a neutral charge, carrying one or more hydrophilic groups, which is copolymerizable with (a) and (b);    and a surface stickiness mitigator selected from the group consisting of a copolymer II comprising    d) at least one monomer having the general formula ii:                          in which,    R 1  and R 4  independently represent H or a C1-6 linear or branched alkyl group    R 2  and R 3  independently represent a linear or branched C1-6 alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or aminoalkyl group, preferably a methyl group    n and m are integers of between 1 and 3    X represents a counterion compatible with the water-soluble or water-dispersible nature of the polymer;    e) at least one hydrophilic monomer with an acid functionality that is copolymerisable with monomer d) and capable of ionizing in the medium in which it is used; and    f) optionally an ethylenically unsaturated hydrophilic monomer compound of neutral charge bearing one or several hydrophilic groups which is copolymerisable with monomers d) and e), the monomer d) to monomer e) ratio ranging from between 60:40 and 5:95;    an anionic surfactant or mixtures thereof, wherein the ratio of water-soluble or water-dispersible copolymer to surface stickiness mitigator is from 10:1 to 1:10.    
   
   
       9 . A composition according to  claim 8  wherein the surfactant is present at a level of from about 0.01% to about 0.5% by weight of the composition.  
   
   
       10 . A composition according to  claim 8  wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of C 8-16  alkyl polyglucoside, cocoamido propyl sulfobetaine or mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       11 . The composition according to  claim 8 , wherein monomer (e) is chosen from C 3 -C 8  carboxylic, sulfonic, sulfuric, phosphonic and phosphoric acids containing monoethylenic unsaturation.  
   
   
       12 . The composition according to  claim 8  wherein monomer (f) is present and is chosen from acrylamide, vinyl alcohol, C 1 -C 4  alkyl esters of acrylic acid and of methacrylic acid, C 1 -C 4  hydroxyalkyl esters of acrylic acid and of methacrylic acid, in particular ethylene glycol and propylene glycol acrylate and methacrylate, polyalkoxylated esters of acrylic acid and of methacrylic acid, in particular the polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol esters.  
   
   
       13 . The composition according to  claim 8  wherein the monomer d) to monomer e) molar ratio is between 50:50 and 10:90.  
   
   
       14 . The composition according to  claim 8  wherein the copolymer I is present at a level of from 0.005% to 1% of the total weight of said composition.  
   
   
       15 . The composition according to  claim 8  wherein the weight ratio of copolymer I to nonionic, amphoteric, zwitterionic surfactant or mixtures thereof is between 1:10 and 10:1, preferably between 1:5 and 5:1.  
   
   
       16 . A composition according to  claim 8  wherein the alkyl aryl anionic surfactant is a linear or branched C 10 -C 13  benzene, toluene, naphthalene sulfonate or mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       17 . A composition according to  claim 8  wherein the ratio of the polymer of  claim 1  to surface stickiness mitigator is 5:1 to 1:5.  
   
   
       18 . A kit for cleaning a surface comprising a nonwoven substrate and a composition comprising a water-soluble or water-dispersible copolymer I comprising: 
 a) at least a monomer compound of general formula i:                          in which    R 1  is a hydrogen atom, a methyl or ethyl group;    R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5  and R 6 , which are identical or different, are linear or branched C 1 -C 6 , alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or aminoalkyl groups;    m is an integer from 0 to 10;    n is an integer from 1 to 6;    Z represents a —C(O)O— or —C(O)NH— group or an oxygen atom;    A represents a (CH 2 ) p  group, p being an integer from 1 to 6;    B represents a linear or branched C 2 -C 12 , polymethylene chain optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms or heterogroups, and optionally substituted by one or more hydroxyl or amino groups;    X, which are identical or different, represent counterions; and    (b) at least one hydrophilic monomer carrying a functional acidic group which is copolymerizable with (a) and which is capable of being ionized in the application medium;    (c) optionally at least one monomer compound with ethylenic unsaturation with a neutral charge which is copolymerizable with (a) and (b), preferably a hydrophilic monomer compound with ethylenic unsaturation with a neutral charge, carrying one or more hydrophilic groups, which is copolymerizable with (a) and (b).    
   
   
       19 . A kit according to  claim 18  wherein the substrate comprises negatively charged fibers.  
   
   
       20 . A kit according to  claim 18  wherein the composition is impregnated into the substrate.  
   
   
       21 . A kit according to  claim 18  wherein the nonwoven substrate comprises 
 (g) a floor sheet consisting essentially of a 10 gm −2  to 50 gm −2  nonwoven comprising at least 20% synthetic fibers;    (h) a liquid reservoir layer consisting essentially of a 50 gm −2  to 150 gm −2  nonwoven comprising at least 60% cellulose-derived fibers; and    j) an optional attachment layer consisting essentially of a 10 gm −2  to 50 gm −2  nonwoven.    
   
   
       22 . A kit according to  claim 21  wherein the floor sheet and attachment layers are coformed together.  
   
   
       23 . A kit according to  claim 18  wherein the composition comprises a nonionic, zwitterionic, amphoteric surfactant or mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       24 . A process of cleaning a surface comprising applying the composition according to  claim 8  to the surface and then wiping the treated surface with a disposable substrate.  
   
   
       25 . A process according to  claim 24  wherein the composition is sprayed onto the surface and then the surface is wiped using a device to which the disposable substrate is attached.