AU763530B2

AU763530B2 - Treating agent for cloth for imparting water repellency and cloth for imparting water repellency or for imparting water repellency and gloss

Info

Publication number: AU763530B2
Application number: AU79616/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Kiyoshi Okamura; Seigo Shinohara; Takashi Ushijima
Original assignee: Taiho Kogyo Co Ltd
Current assignee: Taiho Kogyo Co Ltd
Priority date: 2000-03-28
Filing date: 2000-10-27
Publication date: 2003-07-24
Anticipated expiration: 2020-10-27
Also published as: AU7961600A; WO2001072923A1; NZ516017A; CA2305063A1

Description

Title A TREATING AGENT FOR PRODUCING A POLISHING CLOTH CAPABLE OF GIVING WATER REPELLENCY TO OBJECTS TO BE POLISHED, A PROCESS FOR PRODUCING THE CLOTH, THE CLOTH, AND POLISHING MATERIALS HAVING THE SAME

FUNCTION

Field of the Invention This invention relates to a polishing material, including a wiping cloth, capable of giving durable water repellency and gloss to articles that are wiped with the polishing material, a method of producing the polishing material, and an agent with which a piece of material is treated to change the material into said special polishing material, and more particularly, a wiping cloth capable of providing car bodies with water repellency only by polishing the bodies with the cloth or wiping water-drops remaining on the bodies after washing away with the cloth, a method of producing the wiping cloth, and an agent to be used for the treatment. This invention covers a polishing material other than a wiping cloth, such as a wiping sponge, capable of giving durable water repellency and gloss to the coated surfaces of car bodies by wiping the surfaces with the material.

Background of the Invention Prior methods of waxing car bodies, which have generally been employed, include the followings: Method A, comprising the steps of shampooing or washing a car body with water, wiping water-drops on the car body away, waxing the car body and wiping the wax off; Method B, comprising the steps of washing a car body with a wax-including shampoo, washing out the shampoo with water and wiping water away; S Method C, comprising the steps of shampooing or washing a car body with water, spraying a wax-including solution onto the car body and wiping the solution drops away; and Method D, comprising the steps of spraying a wax-including solution onto a car body and wiping an excess of the wax-including solution sprayed away from the car body.

Method A is sufficient in waxing effect such as gloss and water repellency, and in durability of such effects. However, considerable amounts of time and work are required for drying wax and the wiping.

Methods B and C are easily carried out. However, they cannot produce a high waxing effect.

Method D uses no water and this means that dust and sand having been adhered to the surface of car bodies remain thereon when the surfaces are wiped. Hence the surfaces are easily scratched with the dust and sand during wiping. In addition, this method cannot give the surface a good waxing effect, either.

Thus, the prior waxing methods that can produce an excellent waxing are poor in workability, while the methods that are excellent in workability can hardly produce a sufficient waxing effect.

Summary of the Invention One object of this invention is to provide a wiping cloth capable of providing car bodies with not only water repellency but also gloss only by polishing the bodies with the cloth or wiping water-drops remaining on the bodies after washing away with the cloth.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method of producing the wiping cloth.

A further object of this invention is to provide an agent 'including a water-repellent component, with which agent a piece of cloth is impregnated to change the piece into said special polishing cloth.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a polishing material capable of giving durable water repellency and gloss to the coated surface of car bodies only by washing a car with water and wiping the car with the material.

This series of the inventions can overcome such defects of the prior art as poor time efficiency and poor workability in wiping operation for forming a repellent coating on the surfaces of car bodies.

According to a first aspect, the present invention consists in a material capable of giving durable water repellency and gloss to objects to be polished with the material, lo which material comprises: a first non-woven fabric layer made of a substantial amount of hydrophilic fibers and a second non-woven fabric layer different from said first non-woven fabric layer, and made of substantial amount of hydrophobic fibers, wherein the second non-woven fabric layer is laid and stuck on the first nonwoven fabric layer, and said second non-woven fabric layer or both of the first and second non-woven fabric layers are impregnated with a water-repellent component that comprises a trimethylsiloxy silicate and an organic oily substance.

According to a second aspect, the present invention consists in a material capable of giving durable water repellency and gloss to objects to be polished with the material, which material comprises: a first non-woven fabric layer containing more than 70% by weight of hydrophilic fibers based on the total weight of the first layer, and a second non-woven fabric layer different from said first non-woven fabric layer, and comprising hydrophobic fibers, wherein the second non-woven fabric layer is laid and stuck on the first nonwoven fabric layer, and said second non-woven fabric layer or both of the first and second non-woven 30 fabric layers are impregnated with a water-repellent component that comprises a -77" trimethylsiloxy silicate and an organic oily substance.

oThere is disclosed herein: •go• 1. an agent with which a piece of cloth is treated, comprising a mixture including plural silicones which is dissolved in an organic solvent or dispersed in water; [R:\LIBFF I 174spec i doc:njc 3a 2. the agent recited in paragraph 1 above, wherein the mixture is organopolysiloxane solution containing trimethylsiloxy silicates represented by the following general formula [(CH3)3SiOl/2]x-[SiO2]Y wherein X is within the range of 1-3, and Y is within the range of 0.5-8; 3. agent recited in paragraph 1 above, further including at least one ingredient selected from the group consisting of amino-modified dimethyl polysiloxanes, surfactants, organic particles and inorganic particles; 4. a method of producing a wiping cloth capable of giving water repellency to articles that are wiped with the wiping cloth which comprises impregnating a piece of cloth with the agent recited in paragraph 1 above, wherein the amount of nonvolatile components of the agent is within the range of 1-50 parts by weight based on the weight of the piece; a wiping cloth produced by the method recited in paragraph 4 above; 6. the wiping cloth recited in paragraph 5 above, wherein the 0 0 0 o* [R:\LIBFF]II 174speci.doc:njc dioth is made of synthetic, natural fibers or mixtures of these i fibers; 7. the wiping cloth recited in paragraph 6 above, wherein the cloth is a non-woven fabric; 8. the wiping cloth recited in paragraph 7 above, wherein the cloth is made of very fine fibers having less than 0.3 denier; 9. a material providing durable water repellency and gloss which includes a water-repellent non-woven fabric layer comprising hydrophilic fibers and hydrophobic fibers combined in a weight ratio of the hydrophilic fibers to hydrophobic fibers being within the range of 3:7-7:3, these fibers being impregnated with a waterrepellent component, or comprising hydrophobic fibers impregnated with a water-repellent component and a surfactant; the material recited in paragraph 9 above, wherein the water-repellent non-woven fabric layer is placed adjacent to a non-woven fabric layer which does not include water-repellent components and is substantially made of the hydrophilic fibers; 11. the material recited in paragraph 9 above, wherein the hydrophilic fibers are cellulose fibers; 12. the material recited in paragraph 9 above, wherein the hydrophobic fibers are at least one selected from the group consisting of polyolefin fibers and polyester fibers; 13. the material recited in paragraph 9 above, wherein the water-repellent component comprises a trimethylsiloxy silicate and an organic oily substance in an o/w emulsion with a water-soluble surfactant; 14. the material recited in paragraph 9 above, wherein the water-repellent component comprises a trimethylsiloxy silicate and an organic oily substance dispersed in a solvent by a water-soluble surfactant; the material recited in paragraph 14 above, wherein the brganic oily substance is at least one selected from the group dbnsisting of dimethyl polysiloxane, a modified silicone oil, a synthetic hydrocarbon oil, a petroleum hydrocarbon oil, a fluorooil, an animal oil, a higher alcohol and a higher fatty acid; and 16. the material recited in paragraph 9 above, further comprising an antiseptic.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments The silicones used in this invention may be water-repellent silicones, particularly are preferred trimethylsiloxy silicates represented by the general formula

[(CH

3 3 SiO 12 [SiO 2 (1) wherein X is within the range of 1-3, and Y is within the range of 0.5-8.

The organopolysiloxane solution containing trimethylsiloxy silicates used in this invention comprises 30-60% by weight of the trimethylsiloxy silicates dissolved in a dimethyl polysiloxane having a viscosity of 5-10,000 cst. at 25 C. Examples of the solution are KF-7312K, KF-9021 and X-21-5250 made by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., DC-593 and BY11-018 made by Toray Dow Corning Silicone Co., Ltd., and VP-1038 made by Wacker Chemicals, East Asia.

Other polysiloxane solutions containing trimethylsiloxy silicates represented by the general formula dissolved in the dimethyl polysiloxane as mentioned above, may be used. This invention requires that the amount of the trimethylsiloxy silicates, which are contained in the organopolysiloxane solution, be within the range of 0.5-25 parts by weight based on the weight of the piece of cloth.

In addition, an amino-modified dimetyl polysiloxane, which has a polar group and is easily adsorbed onto the coating, may be used in combination. The amino-modified dimethyl polysiloxane i:acts as an aid for improving the water repellency and adhesion of 'the organopolysiloxane solution of the trimethylsiloxy silicates.

S The amino-modified dimethyl polysiloxane used in this invention has amino groups at its side chains, terminals or both of them.

The amino-modified dimethyl polysiloxane may normally be added in an amount of 10-50 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the organopolysiloxane solution.

Organic solvents used in this invention are not limited as long as they are volatile and can dissolve the water-repellent component. For example, these organic solvents may be industry-grade gasoline, kerosene, mineral spirits, Stoddart solvents, normal paraffinic solvents, isoparaffinic solvents, alcoholic solvents, naphthenic solvents, and bromine-free solvents, which should not damage the fibers.

To the water-repellent component used in this invention may be added various additives such as surfactants or fine particles.

The surfactants do not only act as an emulsifier for forming an emulsion, but also they enhance water-absorbing properties of the fabrics that have been made water-repellent with the water-repellent component.

The surfactants used in this invention may be anionic, cationic, nonionic, or amphoteric ones. In addition to these surfactants, may be used span surfactants, e.g. sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan monostearate, sorbitan sesquioleate, sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monopalmitate, sorbitan tristearate, and sorbitan trioleate.

These surfactants may be added in an amount of 1-20 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the organopolysiloxane solution containing trimethylsiloxy silicates.

The fine particles used in this invention may be inorganic particles or organic particles generally used as a lustering agent.

;For example, these particles may be natural or artificial kaoline, 'talc, silica rock, diatomaceous earth, pearlite, calcium carbonate, Zeolite, alumina, aluminum hydroxide, an insoluble silicone resin powder such as KMP-590 and X-52-1034 made by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., and Torayfil R-901 and R-902 made by Toray Dow Corning Silicone Co., Ltd.. insoluble silicone rubber powder such as KMP-594 and KMP-595 made by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., and Torayfil E-600 and E-604, a cellulose powder, a polyolefin powder, an ethylene tetrafluoride resin powder, an ethylene tetrafluoride-propylene hexafluoride copolymer resin powder, a higher fatty acid bisamide powder, a metallic soap of higher fatty acid, an acryl resin powder, an epoxy resin powder, powders of synthetic resins such as nylon, a synthetic silica spherical powder, or the like.

The amount of the particles is preferably 20-200 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the organopolysiloxane solution.

The amount of the agent, with which a piece of cloth is impregnated to change the piece into the polishing cloth of the invention, may be within the range of 1-50 parts by weight based on the weight of the piece.

The cloth of this invention may be a fabric made from natural fibers, synthetic fibers or both of them.

The natural fibers used in this invention may be cotton, silk, flax or wool. The synthetic fibers may be of polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, vinylon, polyurethane or rayon.

The fibers used for the cloth of this invention may be very fine ones of less than 0.3 denier, or combined fibers of the very fine fibers with normal fibers. To use the very fine fibers makes the wiping cloth capable of easily absorbing water and of easily adsorbing stain. In addition, the coated surface can hardly be scratched when wiped with the wiping cloth.

S A method of impregnating a piece of cloth with the waterrepellent component may be a known coating method, which has been employed in industries.

The materials providing durable water repellency and gloss of this invention will be described below in detail.

These materials are roughly classified in the following three sorts: 1) A material providing durable water repellency and gloss which includes a layer of a water-repellent non-woven fabric comprising hydrophilic fibers and hydrophobic fibers combined in a specific proportion, impregnated with a water-repellent component (hereinafter referred to as the durable water repellency and gloss-providing material of embodiment 1); 2) A material providing durable water repellency and gloss which includes a layer of a water-repellent non-woven fabric comprising hydrophobic fibers impregnated with a waterrepellent component and a surfactant (hereinafter referred to as the durable water repellency and gloss-providing material of embodiment and 3) A material providing durable water repellency and gloss which has a first layer of a first non-woven fabric which is the same as those mentioned above and a second layer of a second non-woven fabric impregnated with the water-repellent component and stacked on at least one side of the first layer (hereinafter referred to as the durable water repellency and gloss-providing material of embodiment 3).

Durable water repellency and gloss-providing material of embodiment 1 The non-woven fabric in the durable water repellency and gloss-providing material of embodiment 1 comprises hydrophilic .iibers and hydrophobic fibers in a weight ratio of the former to 'the latter being 3:7-7:3, preferably 4:6-6:4. If the weight ratio of the hydrophilic fibers to the hydrophobic fibers is less than 3:7, the non-woven fabric does not show a sufficient water-absorbing performance. Therefore, water remaining on washed cars will hardly be wiped out. If the weight ratio of the hydrophilic fibers to the hydrophobic fibers is more than 7:3, on the other hand, the fabric will not have a sufficient amount of the water-repellent component retained therein. Consequently, the water-repellent component oozes rapidly onto the surface of car bodies from the wiping cloth, so that the water-repellent component will unevenly be applied onto the surface of car bodies. In such a case, the whole amount of the water-repellent component may inconveniently be oozed out from the non-woven fabric layer before the car body is completely polished.

The hydrophilic fibers may have a water content of 20% or more at a humidity of 95-100%. Cellulose fibers are practically used.

The cellulose fibers include rayon fibers such as viscose rayon, cupra and saponified fibers, natural plant fibers such as cotton, flax, ramie, paper mulberry and paper bush, and pulp fibers from cotton linter, wood pulp and straw pulp.

Two or more kinds of fibers selected from the rayon fibers, the natural plant fibers and the pulp fibers may be combined to form the non-woven fabric.

Among the hydrophilic fibers as mentioned above, the rayon fibers and pulp fibers are particularly preferred.

The hydrophobic fibers may have a water content of 5% or less at a humidity of 95-100%. Polyolefin fibers and polyester fibers are practically used.

The polyolefin fibers include, for example, polyethylene fibers and polypropylene fibers.

The polyester fibers include, for example, polyethylene terephthalate fibers, polyethylene isophthalate fibers, and ipolyethylene terephthalate-polyethylene isophthalate copolymer 'fibers.

Two or more kinds of fibers selected from the polyolefin fibers and polyester fibers may be combined to form the non-woven fabric.

The non-woven fabric may be dry-processed non-woven fabric or wet-processed non-woven fabric.

The dry-processed non-woven fabric includes a binder-bonded non-woven fabric comprising a web bonded with a binder, and needle-punched or stitch-bonded non-woven fabric comprising a web mechanically bonded.

The water-repellent component may be, for example, a mixture of a trialkylsiloxy silicate and an organic oily substance in the state of an o/w emulsion emulsified with a water-soluble activating agent, or a mixture of a trialkylsiloxy silicate, an organic oily substance and a water-soluble activating agent dispersed in a solvent.

The trialkylsiloxy silicate may be, for example, a silicone resin comprising unit M represented by general formula below and unit Q represented by general formula below and having a three-dimensional network structure.

R

1

R

3 Si 0 (2)

R

2 wherein R 1

R

2 and R 3 all represent alkyl groups having at least one carbon atom, preferably 1-3 carbon atoms, and R 2 and R 3 may be identical with each other or different from each other.

0

I

0 Si O (3) 0 In the trialkylsiloxy silicate, R 1

R

2 and R 3 all are preferably methyl group. Practically, "SILICONE RESIN POWDER 803TF" and "SILICONE RESIN MK" made by Asahi Kasei-Wacker Silicone Co., Ltd., and "Torayfil R910" made by Toray-Dow Corning Silicone Co., Ltd. are preferred.

The organic oily substances include silicone oils such as an alkyl polysiloxane having 1-3 carbon atoms, amino-modified dimethylpolysiloxane and alcohol-modified dimethyl polysiloxane, fluorooils, oily aliphatic hydrocarbons such as a liquid paraffin, synthetic hydrocarbon oils or petroleum hydrocarbon oils such as a copolymer of polybutene or ethylene with an olefin, animal or plant oils such as soybean oil, corn oil, whale oil and lanoline, higher alcohols such as oleyl alcohol and tridecyl alcohol, and higher fatty acids such as oleic acid and 12-hydroxystearic acid.

As a preferred example of the water-repellent component reference may be made to a mixture of trimethylsiloxy silicate and an organic oily substance in the state of an o/w emulsion emulsified with a water soluble surfactant.

The trimethylsiloxy silicate and an organic oily substance are preferably mixed at a weight ratio of 1.5:8.5-7:3, because such a mixture has a long lasting good water repellency and excellent spreadability. The weight ratio particularly preferred is 3:7- 6:4.

I4i The amount of the water-repellent component to be infiltrated fis preferably within the range of 100-400% per unit weight of the non-woven fabric, more preferably 200-300%. The unit weight means the weight of the fabric of one square meter.

To the water-repellent component solution may be added a solvent for improving the permeability and the drying characteristics of the non-woven fabric. The solvent is capable of dissolving the water-repellent component therein and volatile to some extent. Examples practically used are hydrocarbons, alcohols, ketones and esters, and mixtures thereof.

A method of impregnating the non-woven fabric with the water-repellent component includes an immersing method in which the non-woven fabric is immersed in the water-repellent component solution, a coating method in which the non-woven fabric is coated with the water-repellent component with a roller, and a spraying method in which the water-repellent component is sprayed onto the non-woven fabric.

The durable water repellency and gloss-providing materials of embodiments 1i, 2 and 3 may include perfumes and/or antiseptics, as desired. The antiseptics are preferably added, because the durable water repellency and gloss-providing materials in a hydrous state have a tendency to get moldy. The antiseptics may be sodium benzoate, methyl benzoate, potassium sorbate, sodium dehydroacetate, and commercially available "Cason CG" made by Rohm Haas, Co.

Durable water repellency and gloss-providing materials of embodiment 2 The non-woven fabric in the durable water repellency and gloss-providing material of embodiment 2 comprises a substantial amount of hydrophobic fibers, for example, more than 70% by weight, preferably more than 90% by weight of hydrophobic fibers.

if The hydrophobic fibers are the same as those mentioned for 'the durable water repellency and gloss-providing material of embodiment 1 above.

The non-woven fabric may be a spray-fiber method non-woven fabric or span-bonded non-woven fabric as well as dry-processed non-woven fabric or wet-processed non-woven fabric. The dryprocessed non-woven fabric and the wet-processed non-woven fabric are the same as those mentioned for the durable water repellency and gloss-providing material of embodiment 1 above.

The water-repellent component with which the non-woven fabric is impregnated may be trimethylsiloxy silicate as mentioned for the durable water repellency and gloss-providing material of embodiment 1 above, for example, a mixture of a silicone resin having the three-dimensional network structure with an organic oily substance.

The surfactant may be preferably a highly permeable or wettable, water-soluble surfactant, practically aliphatic alkanol amides, sulfonate-type surfactants, sulfate-type surfactants, alkylpolyoxyalkylene ether-type surfactants, alkylaryl polyoxyalkylene ether-type surfactants and polyoxyalkylene aliphatic ester-type surfactants.

The sulfonate-type surfactants include alkyl sulfonates, dialkyl sulfosuccinates, ester sulfonates and alkylaryl sulfonates of an alkaline metal, ammonium, amine and alkanolamine, practically sodium alkylsulfonates, sodium dioctylsulfosuccinate, sodium alkylbenzensulfonates, ammonium alkylbenzensulfonates, sodium aklylsulfates, and triethanolamine alkylsulfates.

The alkylpolyoxyalkylene ether-type surfactants include, for example, alkylpolyoxyethylene ethers.

The alkylaryl polyoxyalkylene ether-type surfactants include, for example, alkylphenylpolyoxyethylene ether.

The polyoxyalkylene aliphatic ester-type surfactants include ,polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene glycerine fatty acid esters, polyethylene glycol fatty acid esters, and polyglycerine fatty acid esters.

The amount of the water-repellent component to be infiltrated into the durable water repellency and gloss-providing material of embodiment 2 is preferably within the range of 100-400% per unit weight of the non-woven fabric, more preferably 200-300%, which is the same as the amount in embodiment 1.

The amount of the surfactant to that of the water-repellent component is preferably such that the weigh ratio of surfactant/water-repellent component is within the range of 1/30-1/1, more preferably 1/20-1/5.

In the case where the non-woven fabric is simultaneously impregnated with the water-repellent component and the surfactant, for example, the water-repellent component and the surfactant are dispersed in a solvent and then the non-woven fabric is impregnated with the resultant dispersion. Alternatively, the non-woven fabric may directly be impregnated with an o/w emulsion of the water-repellent component and the surfactant.

On the other hand, the non-woven fabric may be impregnated separately with the water-repellent component and the surfactant.

In this case, impregnation with the water-repellent component may be carried out in the same manner as that mentioned for the durable water repellency and gloss-providing material of embodiment 1. The surfactant may be applied in a form of an aqueous solution or an organic solvent solution by the same manner as that mentioned for the durable water repellency and gloss-providing material of embodiment 1. Where the separate impregnation is used, the non-woven fabric is preferably impregnated with the water-repellent component first, and then with the surfactant after the water or organic solvent evaporates from the treated non-woven fabric.

Durable water repellency and gloss-providing materials of 'embodiment 3 The durable water repellency and gloss-providing materials of embodiment 3 is comprised of a first layer made of a first non-woven fabric made from a substantial amount of hydrophilic fibers and a second layer made of a second non-woven fabric made from a substantial amount of hydrophobic fibers and stacked on the first layer.

First, the first non-woven fabric for the first layer will be described below.

The first non-woven fabric may practically contain more than by weight, particularly preferably more than 90% by weight, of hydrophilic fibers. This first non-woven fabric acts as a holder for the water absorbed by the second non-woven fabric when the washed car body is wiped with the cloth.

The hydrophilic fibers are the same as those mentioned for the durable water repellency and gloss-providing materials of embodiment 1 above.

The non-woven fabric of the first layer may be the same dry-processed non-woven fabric or wet-processed non-woven fabric as that mentioned for the durable water repellency and glossproviding materials of embodiment 1 above.

The non-woven fabric of the second layer may be the same non-woven fabric as that mentioned for the durable water repellency and gloss-providing materials of embodiment 1 above. This second non-woven fabric works for absorbing the water on the car body surface when the washed car body is wiped with the cloth.

The second layer may be stacked on either side or both sides of the first layer.

The durable water repellency and gloss-providing material of embodiment 3 comprising the first layer having the second layer stacked on one side thereof is preferably folded in such a manner ,that the second layer faces outward when used for wiping the car body.

S In order to stack the first and second layers on each other, they may be stitched or adhered onto each other with an adhesive such as a hot-melt adhesive.

The water-repellent component used may be the same as that mentioned for the durable water repellency and gloss-providing material of embodiment 1. Only the second layer or both of the first and second layers may be impregnated with the water-repellent component.

In order to prepare the durable water repellency and gloss-providing material of embodiment 3, for example, the second layer may be impregnated with the water-repellent component and then stacked onto the first layer. Alternatively, the first and second layers may be stacked in such a manner as mentioned above and then impregnated with the water-repellent component.

Theamount of the water-repellent component to be infiltrated is preferably within the range of 100-400% per unit weight of the non-woven fabric, more preferably 200-300%.

When a car body is wiped with the durable water repellency and gloss-providing material of embodiment 3, the first layer absorbs the water on the car body and holds the water therein, and the second layer gives repellency and gloss to the car body.

How to use the durable water repellency and gloss-providing materials of this invention The durable water repellency and gloss-providing materials can be used for polishing car bodies, for example.

A car body can be polished with the durable water repellency and gloss-providing material in accordance with, for example, the following procedures.

First, the car body is washed in a normal way. A badly stained ,bar body is preferably shampooed. The washed car body is rinsed with water. Then, the wet surface of the car body is wiped with the durable water repellency and gloss-providing material of this invention.

Thus, the water on the surface of the car body is absorbed in the durable water repellency and gloss-providing material, and simultaneously the water-repellent component included in the material is uniformly applied onto the surface of the car body and exerts the waxing effect on the surface.

If the durable water repellency and gloss-providing material absorbs a large amount of water to lose the water absorbing-ability, the absorbed amount of water may be removed from the material by squeezing to restore the ability.

Furthermore, a little stained car body can directly be wiped with the durable water repellency and gloss-providing material without washing with water. The durable water repellency and gloss-providing material in a wetted state may be applied to the car body to exert the waxing effect and washing effect. In this case, since no washing is required, the durable water repellency and gloss-providing material of this invention is excellent in workability.

The durable water repellency and gloss-providing material of this invention can be applied not only to polishing of car bodies, but also various silver-made vessels such as a candlestick, window panes, chandeliers, and furniture.

Examples Examples 1-26 were carried out with the durable water repellency and gloss-providing material of this invention in accordance with the following procedures.

Materials to be impregnated with: 1i Material A: PXD6035 (trade name) made by Ohmikenshi Co. Ltd.

'comprising hydrophilic rayon fibers and hydrophobic polyethylene terephthalate (hereinafter referred to as "PET") fibers at a weight ratio of 6:4 was used for the non-woven fabric.

Material B: 7673-8 (trade name) made by Fuji Chemicloth Co., Ltd. comprising hydrophobic polypropylene (hereinafter referred to as fibers and hydrophobic PET fibers at a weight ratio of 1:1 was used for the non-woven fabric.

Material C: Neosheet (trade name) made by Asahi Kasei Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. consisting of 100% pulp was used for the first non-woven fabric layer, and Material B used for the second non-woven fabric layer consisting essentially of hydrophobic fibers. The second non-woven fabric layer was stitched together with the first non-woven fabric layer on one side thereof.

Material D: PXD6040M (trade name) made by Ohmikenshi Co., Ltd.

comprising hydrophilic rayon fibers and hydrophobic PET fibers at a weight ratio of 4:1 was used for the non-woven fabric.

Infiltrating Liquids: Infiltrating Liquid 1): Trimethylsiloxy silicate SILICONE RESIN POWDER 803TF (trade name) made by Asahi Kasei-Wacker Silicone Co., Ltd.

part by weight Dimethylsilicone oil SH-200(10c/s) (trade name) made .by Toray-Dow Corning Silicone Co., Ltd.

parts by weight Surfactant Polyoxyethylene (POE)(9) secondary alkylether BT-9 (trade name) made by Nikko Chemicals Co., Ltd.

i 0.4 part by weight Antiseptic Cason CG made by Rohm Haas Co.

0.2 part by weight Ion exchanged water Balance Infiltrating Liquid 2): Trimethylsiloxy silicate SILICONE RESIN POWDER 803TF (trade name) made by Asahi-Wacker Silicone Co., Ltd.

part by weight Dimethylsilicone oil SH-200(10c/s) (trade name) made by Toray-Dow Corning Silicone Co., Ltd.

parts by weight Surfactant monolaurate (trade name) made by Nikko Chemicals Co., Ltd.

0.4 part by weight Sodium dehydroacetate 0.4 part by weight Ion exchanged water Balance Infiltrating Liquid 3): Trimethylsiloxy silicate SILICONE RESIN POWDER 803TF (trade name) made by Asahi Kasei-Wacker Silicone Co., Ltd.

part by weight Polybutene Nissan polybutene OSH (trade name) made by Nippon Oils and Fats Co., Ltd.

parts by weight Surfactant Alkanolamide Stahome F (trade name) made by Nippon Oils and Fats Co., Ltd.

0.4 part by weight Ion exchanged water Balance Infiltrating Liquid 4): Trimethylsiloxy silicate SILICONE RESIN POWDER 803TF (trade name) made by Asahi Kasei-Wacker Silicone Co., Ltd.

part by weight Liquid paraffin Morescowhite P-300 (trade name) made by K.K. Matsumura Kenkyusho parts by weight Surfactant Lauryl triethanolamine sulfate TEALS (trade name) made by Nikko Chemicals Co., Ltd.

0.4 part by weight Ion exchanged water Balance Infiltrating Liquid Trimethylsiloxy silicate SILICONE RESIN POWDER 803TF (trade name) made by Asahi Kasei-Wacker Silicone Co., Ltd.

1.0 part by weight Volatile Cyclic Silicone TSF405 (trade name) made by GE-Toshiba Silicone Co., Ltd.

part by weight Surfactant POE(9) secondary alkylether BT-9 (trade name) made by Nikko Chemicals Co., Ltd.

0.4 part by weight Ion exchanged water Balance Infiltrating Liquid 6): Trimethylsiloxy silicate SILICONE RESIN POWDER 803TF (trade name) made by Asahi Kasei-Wacker Silicone Co., Ltd.

part by weight Volatile Cyclic Silicone TSF404 (trade name) made by GE-Toshiba Silicone Co., Ltd.

part by weight Volatile Cyclic Silicone TSF405 (trade name) made by GE-Toshiba Silicone Co., Ltd.

part by weight Surfactant POE(9) secondary alkylether BT-9 (trade name) i, made by Nikko Chemicals Co., Ltd.

0.4 part by weight Ion exchanged water Balance Infiltrating Liquid 7): Trimethylsiloxy silicate SILICONE RESIN POWDER 803TF (trade name) made by Asahi Kasei-Wacker Silicone Co., Ltd.

parts by weight Volatile hydrocarbon solvent Aisozol 300 made by Nippon Petroleum Chemical Co., Ltd.

0.4 part by weight Ion exchanged water Balance Infiltrating Liquid 8): Trimethylsiloxy silicate Torayfil R-910 (trade name) made by Toray-Dow Corning Silicone Co., Ltd.

parts by weight Surfactant POE(9) secondary alkylether BT-9 (trade name) made by Nikko Chemicals Co., Ltd.

0.4 part by weight Isopropyl alcohol Balance Infiltrating Liquid 9) Trimethylsiloxy silicate SILICONE RESIN POWDER MK (trade name) made by Asahi Kasei-Wacker Silicone Co., Ltd.

part by weight Liquid Lanoline made by Yoshikawa Oils and Fats Co., Ltd.

parts by weight ijj Surfactant POE(9) secondary alkylether BT-9 (trade name) made by Nikko Chemicals Co., Ltd.

0.4 part by weight Antiseptic Cason CG made by Rohm Haas Co.

0.2 part by weight Ion exchanged water Balance Infiltrating Liquid 11): Trimethylsiloxy silicate SILICONE RESIN POWDER 803TF (trade name) made by Asahi Kasei-Wacker Silicone Co., Ltd.

part by weight Oleyl alcohol part by weight Volatile Cyclic Silicone TSF405 (trade name) made by GE-Toshiba Silicone Co., Ltd.

0.4 part by weight Ion exchanged water Balance Infiltrating Liquid 12): Trimethylsiloxy silicate SILICONE RESIN POWDER 803TF (trade name) made by Asahi Kasei-Wacker Silicone Co., Ltd.

part by weight Liquid Lanoline made by Nippon Fine Chemical Co., Ltd.

part by weight Surfactant Sodium di-2-ethylhexyl sulfosuccinate OTP-100 (trade name) made by Nikko Chemicals Co., Ltd.

0.4 part by weight Ion exchanged water Balance Infiltrating Liquid 13): Trimethylsiloxy silicate SILICONE RESIN POWDER 803TF (trade name) made by Asahi Kasei-Wacker Silicone Co., Ltd.

0.4 part by weight Ethyl alcohol part by weight l Ion exchanged water Balance *i nhfiltrating Liquid 14): Trimethylsiloxy silicate SILICONE RESIN POWDER 803TF (trade name) made by Asahi Kasei-Wacker Silicone Co., Ltd.

part by weight Surfactant Polyoxyethylene (POE)(9) secondary alkylether BT-9 (trade name) made by Nikko Chemicals Co., Ltd.

0.4 part by weight Ethylene glycol part by weight Ion exchanged water Balance Each of these Infiltrating liquids above was prepared by gradually adding ion-exchanged water or alcohol to the waterrepellent component and surfactant under stirring to make en emulsion. The surfactants, POE(9) and POE(10), have polyoxyethylene chain repeating numbers of 9 and 10, respectively.

Examples 1-4 The fabrics of Materials A to D above of 0.1 m 2 in size were impregnated with 10 g of Infiltrating Liquid 1) above. These fabrics were dried in a drier at 50° C for one hour to prepare the durable water repellency and gloss-providing materials.

,;Examples 5-17 S The fabric of Material B above of 0.1 m 2 in size was impregnated with 10 g of each of Infiltrating Liquids The fabrics were dried in a drier at 50 C for one hour to prepare the durable water repellency and gloss-providing materials.

Examples 18-26 The fabric of Material A above of 0.1 m 2 in size was impregnated with 10 g of each of Infiltrating Liquids The fabrics were dried in a drier at 50 C for one hour to prepare the durable water repellency and gloss-providing materials.

A dark blue-metallic coated car was waxed with the durable water repellency and gloss-providing materials thus prepared in accordance with the following steps.

First, the body of the car was washed with water using a sponge.

Then, the coated surface of the car body washed was waxed with the durable water repellency and gloss-providing materials without wiping off the water remaining on the body. The kinds of the durable water repellency and gloss-providing materials and the waxing results are reported as Examples 1-26 in Table 1.

In Example 2, the waxing was carried out in such a manner that the second layer side of the durable water repellency and gloss-providing material was brought in contact with the coated surface of the body.

The washing and waxing were evaluated for workability, waxing effects (water repellency and glossiness) and durability of the waxing effects in accordance with the following testing methods and criteria. The results are shown in Table 1. The durability of the waxing effects was evaluated on test pieces prepared by applying the same coating as that of the car body onto steel plates.

The amounts of time and work required to waorkabix the car body were r The amounts of time and work required to wax the car body were evaluated in accordance with the following criteria: W: Working time was short, and a little work required; X: Working time was short, and work in some degree required; Y: Working time was long, and work in some degree required; Z: Working time was long, and work to a great degree required.

Water repellency The waxed surface of the car body was sprayed with water, and the shape of water-drops formed was observed with the eyes. The results were evaluated in accordance with the following criteria: W: The water-drops were close to a true sphere; X: The water-drops were nearly spherical; Y: The water-drops were nearly spheroidal; Z: The water-drops did not even reach a spheroid.

Glossiness The degree of glossiness increase of the waxed car body was observed with the eyes. The results were evaluated in accordance with the following criteria: W: The glossiness increased to a large degree as compared with that of the non-waxed car body; X: The glossiness increased to some and definite degree as compared with that of the non-waxed car body; Y: The glossiness increased to a little degree as compared with that of the non-waxed car body; Z: The glossiness scarcely increased, or unevenness of the glossiness occurred.

Durability of waxing effects The test pieces, washed and waxed in the same procedures as ithose mentioned for the washing and waxing the car body, were exposed 'outdoors. How long the water repellency and glossiness were maintained was observed with the eyes. The results in accordance with the following criteria: W: The water repellency and glossiness were one month or more; X: The water repellency and glossiness were two weeks to four weeks; Y: The water repellency and glossiness were one week to two weeks; Z: The water repellency and glossiness were one week or less.

were evaluated maintained for maintained for maintained for maintained for Some comparative examples will be shown below. In these comparative examples the same car as used in Examples 1-26 was used.

Comparative Example 1 The car body was washed with water using a sponge and wiped off with a towel. Then, the car body was waxed in a normal way with a solid wax made by THE SURLUSTER Co. and imported by Dowa Co. in Japan. The solid wax was dried and an excess of the wax wiped off with a towel.

Comparative Example 2 A sufficient amount of water was applied onto the car body.

The car body was washed with a car shampoo including a wax made by Wilson Co. Then, the shampoo was washed away with water, and the water retained on the car body was wiped off with a towel.

Comparative Example 3 The car body was washed with water using a sponge. A pre-use wiping-free quick water-repellent made by Soft 99 Corporation was

I

1 sprayed onto the car body without wiping off water in advance, and 'washed with water. Then, the car body was wiped with a towel.

Comparative Example 4 "Water-free quick waxing-washing agent" made by Kao Corporation was sprayed onto the car body and wiped off.

In the comparative examples, workability, waxing effects and durability of waxing effects were evaluated in accordance with the same manners as those in Examples 1-26. The results are shown in Table 1.

Comparative Examples 5-7 The non-woven fabric of Material B was impregnated with g of each of Infiltrating Liquids 1, 3 and 4, except that these Liquids did not contain any amount of trimethylsiloxy silicates, which amount was replaced with water. The non-woven fabric was dried in a drier at 50 C for one hour.

The water repellency and gloss-providing materials thus obtained were used for washing and waxing the same car as that used in Examples 1-26.

Table 1 Waxing Effect Durabil- Infil- Material Work- Waxin Effect Durabil- Example Trating Impreg- abil- Water Glossi- ity of liquid Nated ity repel- ness waxing lency effect Example 1 1 A W X X X Example 2 1 C W Y W X Example 3 1 D W X X X Example 4 1 B W X X X Example 5 2 B W X X X Example 6 3 B W X X X Example 7 4 B W X X X Example 8 5 B W X X X Eape96 B W X X X 7 B W X X X Example 11 8 B W Y W X Example 12 9 B W X X X Example13 10 B W X X X Example 14 11 B W X W X Example 15 12 B W X X X Example 16 13 B W X X X Exml 7 14 B W Y X X Example 18 6 A W X X X Example 19 7 A W X X X Example 20 8 A W X X X Exml 1 9 A W X X X Example 22 10 A W X X X Example 23 11 A W Y W X Example 24 12 A W X X X Exml 5 13 A W X X X Example 26 14 A W X X X Com. Ex. 1 1 -Z W W W Com. Ex. 2 2 -W Z Z Z Com. Ex. 3 3 -W Y Z Z Com. Ex. 4 4 -X Z X Z Com. Ex. 5 B W Z X Z Com. Ex. 6 -B W Z X Z Com. Ex. 7 1 B I W Z X Z Example 27 A comparison of the present invention with US 6,309,984 was undertaken. In the experiment rayon was used for the hydrophilic fiber and polyethylene terephithalate, which will be abbreviated to "PET" in the following, for the hydrophobic fiber. Rayon is 5 a hydrophilic fiber and an equivalent of cotton and nylon. (column 5, lines 43-45 of US 6,309,984). On the other hand, PET is a well-known polyester, which is a hydrophobic or lipophilic fiber (colun 5, lines 34-37).

(Experiment) 0:9 0 94 *0 60 S S

S

q

V.

S 505 5055

S

0* S 6* 0 Oe [RALIBFF] I I I74speci.doc:njc 31a Two types of non-woven fabric materials were prepared and evaluated. For the hydrophilic fiber, a rayon fiber was employed, and PET for the hydrophobic or lipophilic fiber. In both materials the weight ratio of the rayon to the PET was 6:4.

Cloth Material A was the same as Material A in this application, which is a blended non-woven fabric. Cloth material B was a 2-layer material, similar to material C in this application. A rayon non-woven fabric layer as first non-woven fabric layer and a PET non-woven fabric layer as second non-woven fabric layer were laid on each other and stitched together so that the weight ratio of the rayon layer to the PET layer was 6:4. In this way, Cloth Material B was prepared. The area of each cloth material was 0. lm 2 For the water-repellent component was used Infiltrating Liquid 1) of the present application. Both Cloth Materials A and B were completely impregnated with this liquid to such an extent that the liquid dripped from the cloth materials.

The materials impregnated with the liquid were dried for an hour at 50C. Thereby, the materials to be tested were obtained.

The following properties of the obtained test materials were measured.

The amount of the liquid, before use, per unit weight of the non-woven fabric.

(ii) The time length from the time when wiping with the cloth material started to the time when the supply of the water-repellent component by the cloth material stopped.

(iii) The amount of the liquid left, after the wiping, in the cloth material per unit weight of the weight of the non-woven fabric.

Results oo 0oo 000o r oO o .go.

°ee o .1111 ooo go (ii) (iii) Cloth material A 250% 4 hours Cloth Material B 330% 5.5 hours (Discussion) From the preceding experiment are understood the followings: When the kind and amount of hydrophilic fiber and those of a hydrophobic fiber are the same, a cloth material prepared by layering the hydrophilic fabric and the hydrophobic fabric can be impregnated with a larger amount of a waterrepellent component than a cloth material of blended non-woven fabric.

[R:\LIBFFI I 174speci.doc:njc 31b When the are of a layered cloth material is the same as that of a blended cloth material, an object having a larger area can be wiped with the former.

Since the amount of the water-repellent component left in the layered cloth material after the wiping was smaller than that of the water-repellent component left in the blended cloth material, the component in the layered cloth material can more effectively be used.

It can be understood that the layered cloth material of the present invention is better in various properties than the blended cloth material of US 6,309,984.

The present invention provides a material which is capable of giving an excellent 1o durable water repellency and gloss to a car body by simply washing the car body with water and wiping off water-drops remaining on the body with the material.

*i CR:\LIBFF] II 174speci.doc:njc

Claims

1. A material capable of giving durable water repellency and gloss to objects to be polished with the material, which material comprises: a first non-woven fabric layer made of a substantial amount of hydrophilic fibers and a second non-woven fabric layer different from said first non-woven fabric layer, and made of substantial amount of hydrophobic fibers, wherein the second non-woven fabric layer is laid and stuck on the first non- woven fabric layer, and said second non-woven fabric layer or both of the first and second non-woven fabric layers are impregnated with a water-repellent component that comprises a trimethylsiloxy silicate and an organic oily substance.

2. The material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic fibers are cellulose fibers.

3. The material as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the hydrophobic fibers are at least one selected from the group consisting ofpolyolefin fibers and polyester fibers.

4. The material as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the water- repellent component is in a state of o/w emulsion formed with a water-soluble surfactant. The material as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the water- repellent component is dispersed in a solvent by a water-soluble surfactant.

6. The material as claimed in claim 5, wherein the organic oily substance is at least one selected from the group consisting of dimethyl polysiloxane, a modified silicone oil, a synthetic hydrocarbon oil, a petroleum hydrocarbon oil, a fluorooil, an animal oil, a higher alcohol and a higher fatty acid.

7. The material as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, further including an antiseptic.

8. The material as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the second non- woven fabric layer is laid and stuck on one side of the first non-woven fabric layer.

9. The material as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the second non- S 30 woven fabric layer is laid and stuck on each side of the first non-woven fabric layer.

10. The material as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first non- woven fabric layer contains more than 70% by weight of hydrophilic fibers based on the total weight of the first layer, and wherein said hydrophilic fibers comprise cellulose fibers. o [R:\LIBFF]I I I74spcci.doc:njc 33

11. The material as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first non- woven fabric layer and the second non-woven layer are stitched together.

12. The material as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the first non- woven fabric layer and the second non-woven fabric layer are adhered to each other with an adhesive.

13. The material as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein said hydrophilic fibers are cellulose fibers.

14. The material as claimed in claim 13, wherein said cellulose fibers are at least one selected from the group consisting of rayon fibers, natural plant fibers and pulp fibers. The material as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the hydrophobic fibers are at least one selected from the group consisting of polyolefin fibers and polyester fibers.

16. The material as claimed in claim 15, wherein said polyolefin fibers are at least one selected from the group consisting of polyethylene fibers and polypropylene fibers, and said polyester fibers are at least one selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate fibers, polyethylene isophthalate fibers and polyethylene terephthalate-polyethylene isophthalate copolymer fibers.

17. The material as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein said hydrophilic fibers are pulp and said hydrophobic fibers are a mixture of polypropylene fibers with polyethylene terephthalate fibers at a weight ratio of 1: 1.

18. The material as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the amount of said water-repellent component is within the range of 100-400% per unit weight of the *non-woven fabric.

19. A material capable of giving durable water repellency and gloss to objects to be polished with the material, which material comprises: a first non-woven fabric layer containing more than 70% by weight of hydrophilic fibers based on the total weight of the first layer, and a second non-woven fabric layer different from said first non-woven fabric 30 layer, and comprising hydrophobic fibers, wherein the second non-woven fabric layer is laid and stuck on the first non- woven fabric layer, and said second non-woven fabric layer or both of the first and second non-woven fabric layers are impregnated with a water-repellent component that comprises a trimethylsiloxy silicate and an organic oily substance. [R:\LIBFF] I 74spcci.doc:njc I fc 34 A material capable of giving durable water repellency and gloss to objects to be polished with the material, said material being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the examples 1 to 26 but excluding any comparative examples.

21. A process for preparing a material capable of giving durable water repellency and gloss to objects to be polished with the material, said process substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the examples 1 to 26 but excluding any comparative examples.

22. A material capable of giving durable water repellency and gloss to objects, o0 prepared by the process of claim 21.

23. A material according to any one of claims 1 to 20 or 22 when used to polish an object. Dated 21 May, 2003 Taiho Industries Co., Ltd. Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON O o *e *o* [R:\LIBFF] I 1174spcci.doc:njc