Water-based silicone dispersion containing low level of silicone oils

1. A sprayable water-based composition for enhancing shine or gloss in an elastomeric surface, the composition being in the form of an aqueous dispersion comprising:

(a) from about 0.1% to about 20% by weight of at least one polydiorganosiloxane fluid;

(b) from about 0.02 to about 2.0% by weight of an alkali-swellable acrylic homopolymer crosslinked with a polyalkenyl polyether or an alkali-swellable acrylic copolymer crosslinked with a polyalkenyl polyether;

(c) from about 85% to about 98% by weight of water;

(d) one or more solvents wherein the composition only contains solvents which have a refractive index of about 1.4 to about 1.5; and

(e) from about 0.10 to about 1.0% of a silicone wetting agent for reducing surface tension when dissolved in water or a water solution.

2. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the alkali-swellable acrylic polymer or copolymer is present at a level of from about 0.05% to about 0.10% by weight of the composition.

3. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one polydiorganosiloxane fluid is selected from the group consisting of silicone oils having the general formula:

(R n SiO ((4-n)/2) ) m

wherein n is between 0 and 3, m is 2 or greater, and R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkylene, allyl, aryl, benzyl, phenyl, amine, amide, vinyl, fluoroalkyl, perfluoroalkane, carboxyester and quaternary alkyl ammonium radicals, and mixtures thereof.

4. A composition according to claim 3 , wherein the polydiorganosiloxane fluid is selected from the group consisting of polydimethylsiloxane, polydiethylsiloxane, polymethylphenylsiloxane, polyalkylarylsiloxane, polyethylene-oxydialkylsiloxane, polypropylene-oxydialkylsiloxane, polydialkylcyclosiloxane and mixtures thereof.

5. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the polydiorganosiloxane fluid is a polydimethylsiloxane fluid having a viscosity of from about 2 to about 60,000 centistokes at 25° C.

6. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the wetting agent comprises a silicone polyether.

7. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises one or more buffers or pH adjusting agents.

8. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of: glycerin, sorbitol, and combinations or mixtures thereof.

9. A method of enhancing shine or gloss in an elastomeric surface, comprising:

(1) applying an effective amount of the composition of claim 1 to said surface; and

(2) distributing said composition onto said surface with a sprayer.

10. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the polydiorganosiloxane fluid comprises a polydimethylsiloxane fluid having a viscosity of from about 300 to about 400 centistokes at 25° C.

11. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the water-based composition is self-leveling and does not require any touching or wiping to spread the composition over the surface evenly.

12. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the elastomeric surface comprises rubber or vinyl.

13. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition exhibits a rheological Critical Strain value greater than zero and less than about 0.5 and an Elastic Modulus value greater than zero and less than about 400 Pascals.

14. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric surface comprises a vinyl, leather, rubber or synthetic plastic surface.

15. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric surface comprises an automotive surface selected from vinyl interior surfaces, leather interior surfaces and exterior rubber surfaces.

16. A composition according to claim 1 which has no emulsifying agent apart from the silicone wetting agent.

17. A composition according to claim 16 wherein the emulsifying agent is a surfactant apart from the silicone wetting agent.