Composition for sealing a colorant to a surface and/or for protecting a surface

Abstract

A composition for treating a surface such as carpets. The composition includes a film forming polyurethane dispersion having first and second film forming polyurethane dispersions. The film forming polyurethane dispersion forms a film when applied to a surface such as a polyester fiber carpet, and the film, upon drying, forms a topcoat on the surface (e.g., the polyester fiber carpet). The first film forming polyurethane dispersion forms a hard component of the topcoat, and the second film forming polyurethane dispersion forms a soft component of the topcoat. The composition also has a solvent that coalesces particles of a surface colorant and causes the particles to flow into the surface, such as carpet fibers, when the composition is applied to the surface. The composition seals and protects a portion of the surface, such as polyester fiber carpet, to which the colorant is applied.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A composition for treating carpets, the composition comprising:
 a film forming polyurethane dispersion including (i) a first film forming polyurethane dispersion and (ii) a second film forming polyurethane dispersion, wherein the film forming polyurethane dispersion forms a film when applied to a polyester fiber carpet, and the film, upon drying, forms a topcoat on the polyester fiber carpet, wherein the first film forming polyurethane dispersion forms a hard component of the topcoat, and the second film forming polyurethane dispersion forms a soft component of the topcoat; and   a solvent for coalescing particles of a carpet colorant and causing the particles to flow into carpet fibers when the composition is applied to the polyester fiber carpet,   wherein the composition seals and protects a portion of the polyester fiber carpet to which the colorant is applied such that, after the polyester fiber carpet is walked on by 30,000 steps and vacuumed by 600 strokes, the ΔE CMC  (l:c=2:1) of the portion of the polyester fiber carpet to which the colorant is applied is less than about 6.0, and the ΔC CMC  of the portion of the polyester fiber carpet to which the colorant is applied is less than about −3.0 D, and   wherein the composition imparts wear resistance to a nylon carpet such that an average width of free ends of carpet fibers that form the nylon carpet increases by less than about 10% when the nylon carpet is subjected to a simulated wear test that includes contacting the carpet fibers to a steel beating bar, covered with nylon, in a drum rotating at thirty-five rotations/minute for seventy-two hours.   
     
     
         2 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein, after the polyester fiber carpet is walked on by 30,000 steps and vacuumed by 600 strokes, the ΔE CMC  (l:c=2:1) of the portion of the polyester fiber carpet to which the colorant is applied is less than about 5.45, and the ΔC CMC  of the portion of the polyester fiber carpet to which the colorant is applied is less than about −3.0 D. 
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein, after the polyester fiber carpet is walked on by 30,000 steps and vacuumed by 600 strokes, the ΔE CMC  (l:c=2:1) of the portion of the polyester fiber carpet to which the colorant is applied is less than about 5.80, and the ΔC CMC  of the portion of the polyester fiber carpet to which the colorant is applied is less than about −1.84 D. 
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition includes one of a compressed gas propellant and a liquefied gas propellant. 
     
     
         5 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the first film forming polyurethane dispersion and the second film forming dispersion are in a ratio of from about 1:1 to about 1:2. 
     
     
         6 . A composition for treating carpets, the composition comprising:
 a film forming polyurethane dispersion including (i) a first film forming polyurethane dispersion and (ii) a second film forming polyurethane dispersion, wherein the film forming polyurethane dispersion forms a film when applied to a polyester fiber carpet, and the film, upon drying, forms a topcoat on the polyester fiber carpet, wherein the first film forming polyurethane dispersion forms a hard component of the topcoat, and the second film forming polyurethane dispersion forms a soft component of the topcoat; and   a solvent for coalescing particles of a carpet colorant and causing the particles to flow into carpet fibers when the composition is applied to the polyester fiber carpet,   wherein the composition protects against color change in a portion of the polyester fiber carpet such that, after the polyester fiber carpet is walked on by 30,000 steps and vacuumed by 600 strokes, the ΔE CMC  (l:c=2:1) of the portion of the polyester fiber carpet is less than about 3.0, and the ΔC CMC  of the portion of the polyester fiber carpet is less than about −2.0 D, and   wherein the composition imparts wear resistance to nylon carpet fibers having an initial average width of about 0.118 inches such that the average width of free ends of the nylon carpet fibers increases by less than about 0.010 inches when the nylon carpet fibers are subjected to a simulated wear test that includes contacting the nylon carpet fibers to a steel beating bar, covered with nylon, in a drum rotating at thirty-five rotations/minute for seventy-two hours.   
     
     
         7 . The composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the composition protects the portion of the polyester fiber carpet such that, after the portion of the polyester fiber carpet is walked on by 30,000 steps and vacuumed by 600 strokes, the ΔE CMC  (l:c=2:1) of the portion of the polyester fiber carpet is less than about 2.49, and the ΔC CMC  of the portion of the polyester fiber carpet is less than about −1.99 D. 
     
     
         8 . The composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the composition protects the portion of the polyester fiber carpet such that, after the portion of the polyester fiber carpet is walked on by 30,000 steps and vacuumed by 600 strokes, the ΔE CMC  (l:c=2:1) of the portion of the polyester fiber carpet is less than about 2.22, and the ΔC CMC  of the portion of the polyester fiber carpet is less than about −1.61 D. 
     
     
         9 . The composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the composition includes one of a compressed gas propellant and a liquefied gas propellant. 
     
     
         10 . A composition for treating carpets, the composition comprising:
 a film forming polyurethane dispersion including (i) a first film forming polyurethane dispersion and (ii) a second film forming polyurethane dispersion, wherein the film forming polyurethane dispersion forms a film when applied to a polyester fiber carpet, and the film, upon drying, forms a topcoat on the polyester fiber carpet, wherein the first film forming polyurethane dispersion forms a hard component of the topcoat, and the second film forming polyurethane dispersion forms a soft component of the topcoat; and   a solvent for coalescing particles of a carpet colorant and causing the particles to flow into carpet fibers when the composition is applied to the polyester fiber carpet,   wherein the composition seals and protects a portion of the polyester fiber carpet to which no colorant is applied such that, after the portion of the polyester fiber carpet is walked on by 30,000 steps and vacuumed by 600 strokes, the ΔE CMC  (l:c=2:1) of the no colorant portion of the polyester fiber carpet is less than about 3.0, and the ΔC CMC  of the no colorant portion of the polyester fiber carpet is less than about −2.0 D,   wherein the composition seals the colorant to the polyester fiber carpet such that the ΔE CMC  (l:c=2:1) of the portion of the polyester fiber carpet to which the colorant is applied is less than about 1.55 after the portion of polyester fiber carpet to which the colorant is applied is vacuumed by 100 strokes, and   wherein the composition imparts wear resistance to a nylon carpet such that an average width of free ends of carpet fibers that form the nylon carpet increases by less than about 10% when the nylon carpet is subjected to a simulated wear test that includes contacting the carpet fibers to a steel beating bar, covered with nylon, in a drum rotating at thirty-five rotations/minute for seventy-two hours.   
     
     
         11 . A composition according to  claim 10 , wherein the composition seals and protects the portion of the polyester fiber carpet to which no colorant is applied such that, after the no colorant portion of the polyester fiber carpet is walked on by 30,000 steps and vacuumed by 600 strokes, the ΔE CMC  (l:c=2:1) of the no colorant portion of the polyester fiber carpet is less than about 2.49, and the ΔC CMC  of the no colorant portion of the polyester fiber carpet is less than about −1.99 D, and
 wherein the composition seals the colorant to the polyester fiber carpet such that the ΔE CMC  (l:c=2:1) of the portion of the polyester fiber carpet to which the colorant is applied is less than about 1.53 after the portion of polyester fiber carpet to which the colorant is applied is vacuumed by 100 strokes. 
 
     
     
         12 . A composition according to  claim 10 , wherein the composition seals and protects the portion of the polyester fiber carpet to which no colorant is applied such that, after the no colorant portion of the polyester fiber carpet is walked on by 30,000 steps and vacuumed by 600 strokes, the ΔE CMC  (l:c=2:1) of the no colorant portion of the polyester fiber carpet is less than about 2.22, and the ΔC CMC  of the no colorant portion of the polyester fiber carpet is less than about −1.61 D, and
 wherein the composition seals the colorant to the polyester fiber carpet such that the ΔE CMC  (l:c=2:1) of the portion of the polyester fiber carpet to which the colorant is applied is less than about 1.03 after the portion of polyester fiber carpet to which the colorant is applied is vacuumed by 100 strokes. 
 
     
     
         13 . A composition according to  claim 10 , wherein, after the polyester fiber carpet is walked on by 30,000 steps and vacuumed by 600 strokes, the ΔE CMC  (l:c=2:1) of the portion of the polyester fiber carpet to which the colorant is applied is less than about 5.45, and the ΔC CMC  of the portion of the polyester fiber carpet to which the colorant is applied is less than about −3.0 D. 
     
     
         14 . The composition according to  claim 10 , wherein, after the polyester fiber carpet is walked on by 30,000 steps and vacuumed by 600 strokes, the ΔE CMC  (l:c=2:1) of the portion of the polyester fiber carpet to which the colorant is applied is less than about 5.80, and the ΔC CMC  of the portion of the polyester fiber carpet to which the colorant is applied is less than about −1.84 D. 
     
     
         15 . The composition according to  claim 10 , wherein the composition is formulated as an aerosol spray. 
     
     
         16 . The composition according to  claim 15 , wherein the composition includes one of a compressed gas propellant and a liquefied gas propellant. 
     
     
         17 . The composition according to  claim 10 , wherein the first film forming polyurethane dispersion and the second film forming dispersion are in a ratio of from about 1:1 to about 1:2. 
     
     
         18 . A composition for treating surfaces, the composition comprising:
 a film forming polyurethane dispersion including (i) a first film forming polyurethane dispersion and (ii) a second film forming polyurethane dispersion, wherein the film forming polyurethane dispersion forms a film when applied to a surface, and the film, upon drying, forms a topcoat on the surface, wherein the first film forming polyurethane dispersion forms a hard component of the topcoat, and the second film forming polyurethane dispersion forms a soft component of the topcoat; and   a solvent for coalescing particles of a surface colorant and causing the particles to flow into the surface when the composition is applied to the surface,   wherein the composition seals and protects a portion of the surface to which the colorant is applied such that, after the surface is walked on by 30,000 steps and vacuumed by 600 strokes, the ΔE CMC  (l:c=2:1) of the portion of the surface to which the colorant is applied is less than about 6.0, and the ΔC CMC  of the portion of the surface to which the colorant is applied is less than about −3.0 D, and   wherein the composition imparts wear resistance to another surface such that an average width of free ends of fibers that form the other surface increases by less than about 10% when the other surface is subjected to a simulated wear test that includes contacting the other surface fibers to a steel beating bar, covered with nylon, in a drum rotating at thirty-five rotations/minute for seventy-two hours.   
     
     
         19 . A composition according to  claim 18 , wherein, after the surface is walked on by 30,000 steps and vacuumed by 600 strokes, the ΔE CMC  (l:c=2:1) of the portion of the surface to which the colorant is applied is less than about 5.45, and the ΔC CMC  of the portion of the surface to which the colorant is applied is less than about −3.0 D. 
     
     
         20 . The composition according to  claim 18 , wherein, after the surface is walked on by 30,000 steps and vacuumed by 600 strokes, the ΔE CMC  (l:c=2:1) of the portion of the surface to which the colorant is applied is less than about 5.80, and the ΔC CMC  of the portion of the surface to which the colorant is applied is less than about −1.84 D. 
     
     
         21 . The composition according to  claim 18 , wherein the first film forming polyurethane dispersion and the second film forming dispersion are in a ratio of from about 1:1 to about 1:2. 
     
     
         22 . The composition according to  claim 18 , wherein the composition is formulated as an aerosol spray. 
     
     
         23 . The composition according to  claim 22 , wherein the composition includes one of a compressed gas propellant and a liquefied gas propellant. 
     
     
         24 . A composition for treating surfaces, the composition comprising:
 a film forming polyurethane dispersion including (i) a first film forming polyurethane dispersion and (ii) a second film forming polyurethane dispersion, wherein the film forming polyurethane dispersion forms a film when applied to a surface, and the film, upon drying, forms a topcoat on the surface, wherein the first film forming polyurethane dispersion forms a hard component of the topcoat, and the second film forming polyurethane dispersion forms a soft component of the topcoat; and   a solvent for coalescing particles of a surface colorant and causing the particles to flow into the surface when the composition is applied to the surface,   wherein the composition protects against color change in a portion of the surface such that, after the surface is walked on by 30,000 steps and vacuumed by 600 strokes, the ΔE CMC  (l:c=2:1) of the portion of surface is less than about 3.0, and the ΔC CMC  of the portion of the surface is less than about −2.0 D, and   wherein the composition imparts wear resistance to fibers of another surface having an initial average width of about 0.118 inches such that an average width of free ends of the fibers increases by less than about 0.010 inches when the fibers are subjected to a simulated wear test that includes contacting the fibers to a steel beating bar, covered with nylon, in a drum rotating at thirty-five rotations/minute for seventy-two hours.   
     
     
         25 . The composition according to  claim 24 , wherein the composition protects the portion of the surface such that, after the portion of the surface is walked on by 30,000 steps and vacuumed by 600 strokes, the ΔE CMC  (l:c=2:1) of the portion of the surface is less than about 2.49, and the ΔC CMC  of the portion of the surface is less than about −1.99 D. 
     
     
         26 . The composition according to  claim 24 , wherein the composition protects the portion of the surface such that, after the portion of the surface is walked on by 30,000 steps and vacuumed by 600 strokes, the ΔE CMC  (l:c=2:1) of the portion of the surface is less than about 2.22, and the ΔC CMC  of the portion of the surface is less than about −1.61 D. 
     
     
         27 . The composition according to  claim 24 , wherein the composition is formulated as an aerosol spray. 
     
     
         28 . The composition according to  claim 27 , wherein the composition includes one of a compressed gas propellant and a liquefied gas propellant. 
     
     
         29 . A composition for treating a surface, the composition comprising:
 a film forming polyurethane dispersion including (i) a first film forming polyurethane dispersion and (ii) a second film forming polyurethane dispersion, wherein the film forming polyurethane dispersion forms a film when applied to a surface, and the film, upon drying, forms a topcoat on the surface, wherein the first film forming polyurethane dispersion forms a hard component of the topcoat, and the second film forming polyurethane dispersion forms a soft component of the topcoat; and   a solvent for coalescing particles of a surface colorant and causing the particles to flow into the surface when the composition is applied to the surface,   wherein the composition seals and protects a portion of the surface to which no colorant is applied such that, after the portion of the surface is walked on by 30,000 steps and vacuumed by 600 strokes, the ΔE CMC  (l:c=2:1) of the no colorant portion of the surface is less than about 3.0, and the ΔC CMC  of the no colorant portion of the surface is less than about −2.0 D,   wherein the composition seals the colorant to the surface such that the ΔE CMC  (l:c=2:1) of the portion of the surface to which the colorant is applied is less than about 1.55 after the portion of the surface to which the colorant is applied is vacuumed by 100 strokes, and   wherein the composition imparts wear resistance to another surface such that an average width of free ends of fibers that form the other surface increases by less than about 10% when the other surface is subjected to a simulated wear test that includes contacting the fibers to a steel beating bar, covered with nylon, in a drum rotating at thirty-five rotations/minute for seventy-two hours.   
     
     
         30 . A composition according to  claim 29 , wherein the composition seals and protects the portion of the surface to which no colorant is applied such that, after the no colorant portion of the surface is walked on by 30,000 steps and vacuumed by 600 strokes, the ΔE CMC  (l:c=2:1) of the no colorant portion of the surface is less than about 2.49, and the ΔC CMC  of the no colorant portion of the surface is less than about −1.99 D, and
 wherein the composition seals the colorant to the surface such that the ΔE CMC  (l:c=2:1) of the portion of the surface to which the colorant is applied is less than about 1.53 after the portion of surface to which the colorant is applied is vacuumed by 100 strokes. 
 
     
     
         31 . A composition according to  claim 29 , wherein the composition seals and protects the portion of the surface to which no colorant is applied such that, after the no colorant portion of the surface is walked on by 30,000 steps and vacuumed by 600 strokes, the ΔE CMC  (l:c=2:1) of the no colorant portion of the surface is less than about 2.22, and the ΔC CMC  of the no colorant portion of the surface is less than about −1.61 D, and
 wherein the composition seals the colorant to the surface such that the ΔE CMC  (l:c=2:1) of the portion of the surface to which the colorant is applied is less than about 1.03 after the portion of the surface to which the colorant is applied is vacuumed by 100 strokes. 
 
     
     
         32 . A composition according to  claim 29 , wherein, after the surface is walked on by 30,000 steps and vacuumed by 600 strokes, the ΔE CMC  (l:c=2:1) of the portion of the surface to which the colorant is applied is less than about 5.45, and the ΔC CMC  of the portion of the surface to which the colorant is applied is less than about −3.0 D. 
     
     
         33 . The composition according to  claim 29 , wherein, after the surface is walked on by 30,000 steps and vacuumed by 600 strokes, the ΔE CMC  (l:c=2:1) of the portion of the surface to which the colorant is applied is less than about 5.80, and the ΔC CMC  of the portion of the surface to which the colorant is applied is less than about −1.84 D. 
     
     
         34 . The composition according to  claim 29 , wherein the composition is formulated as an aerosol spray. 
     
     
         35 . The composition according to  claim 34 , wherein the composition includes one of a compressed gas propellant and a liquefied gas propellant. 
     
     
         36 . The composition according to  claim 29 , wherein the first film forming polyurethane dispersion and the second film forming dispersion are in a ratio of from about 1:1 to about 1:2.