IP Library Granted Patent US 7,901,731
Granted Patent B2
US 7,901,731 · App. 12/828,076 · Granted Mar 8, 2011

Treatment and kits for creating transparent renewable surface protective coatings

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,901,731
App. No.
12/828,076
Granted
Mar 8, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, treatment compositions and treatment systems are disclosed for forming a detachable and renewable coating on a receptive surface by a process of applying a treatment composition comprising a plurality of hydrophobically modified fumed silica particles colloidally dispersed in a volatile solvent; allowing the volatile solvent to evaporate; and thereby depositing a protective coating on the receptive surface consisting of a layer of the hydrophobically modified particles, which provide a substantially transparent coating with dirt- and water-repellency properties that effectively shed dry particulate soils as well as water from the treated surface or treated article bearing a receptive surface. The methods, treatment compositions and treatment systems employing the hydrophobically modified fumed silica particle are particularly useful in providing nearly invisible detachable coatings and treated articles featuring surface protective benefits including dirt- and water-repellency, self-cleaning with water, and easier cleaning benefits when applied to a variety of automotive and home surfaces, both interior and exterior, including articles and materials such as metals, painted materials, sealed materials, plastics and polymeric articles, wood, textiles and the like.

Claims (48)

1. A method of forming a detachable and renewable protective coating on a receptive surface comprising the steps of:

A. applying a treatment composition to said receptive surface, said treatment composition comprising a plurality of hydrophobically modified fumed silica particles colloidally dispersed in a volatile solvent;

wherein the treatment composition is obtained by a process comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a pre-dispersion of silica particles comprising hydrophobically modified fumed silica particles by stirring said silica particles into a solution comprising:

(i) at least one compound of general formula (I) or (II):

(R1R2R3Si)2NR4  (I)

—(R1R2SiNR4)m-(cyclo)  (II)

wherein R1, R2 and R3 can be the same or different, and are independently selected from hydrogen, straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl chain groups of from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or aromatic groups of from 6 to 12 carbon atoms, R4 is hydrogen or a methyl group, and m is from 3 to 8; and

(ii) a first volatile solvent or solvent mixture selected from straight or branched, linear or cyclic aliphatic, or aromatic hydrocarbons with 2 to 14 carbon atoms, monovalent linear or branched alcohols with 1 to 6 carbon atoms, ketones or aldehydes with 1 to 6 carbon atoms, ethers or esters with 2 to 8 carbon atoms, or linear or cyclic polydimethylsiloxanes with 2 to 10 dimethylsiloxy units, wherein the concentration of the hydrophobically modified fumed silica particles in the pre-dispersion results in from 10 percent to about 30 percent by weight of the total weight of the pre-dispersion, and wherein the concentration of any one of compounds (I) and/or (II) is between 0.1 and 10 percent by weight of the total weight of the pre-dispersion; and

 (b) mixing with a disperser said pre-dispersion to provide a process composition while reducing said silica particles to a median particle size in the range between 100 and 4000 nanometers;

B. allowing said volatile solvent to evaporate from said receptive surface; and

C. thereby depositing said protective coating on said receptive surface, wherein said protective coating provides dirt- and water-repellency to said receptive surface, wherein said detachable coating is substantially transparent and results in a change of less than 250 Delta Haze units to said receptive surface measured before and after deposition of said coating, as measured by the Chrome Test.

2. A method of forming a detachable and renewable protective coating on a receptive surface comprising the steps of:

A. applying a treatment composition to said receptive surface, said treatment composition comprising a plurality of hydrophobically modified fumed silica particles colloidally dispersed in a volatile solvent;

wherein the treatment composition is obtained by a process comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a pre-dispersion of silica particles comprising hydrophobically modified fumed silica particles by stirring said silica particles into a solution comprising:

(i) at least one compound of general formula (I) or (II):

(R1R2R3Si)2NR4  (I)

—(R1R2SiNR4)m-(cyclo)  (II)

wherein R1, R2 and R3 can be the same or different, and are independently selected from hydrogen, straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl chain groups of from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or aromatic groups of from 6 to 12 carbon atoms, R4 is hydrogen or a methyl group, and m is from 3 to 8; and

(ii) a first volatile solvent or solvent mixture selected from straight or branched, linear or cyclic aliphatic, or aromatic hydrocarbons with 2 to 14 carbon atoms, monovalent linear or branched alcohols with 1 to 6 carbon atoms, ketones or aldehydes with 1 to 6 carbon atoms, ethers or esters with 2 to 8 carbon atoms, or linear or cyclic polydimethylsiloxanes with 2 to 10 dimethylsiloxy units, wherein the concentration of the hydrophobically modified fumed silica particles in the pre-dispersion results in from 10 percent to about 30 percent by weight of the total weight of the pre-dispersion, and wherein the concentration of any one of compounds (I) and/or (II) is between 0.1 and 10 percent by weight of the total weight of the pre-dispersion;

 (b) mixing with a disperser said pre-dispersion to provide a process composition while reducing said silica particles to a median particle size in the range between 100 and 4000 nanometers; and

 (c) optionally, adding one or more of the following components to the treatment composition: a suspending agent, a functional adjunct and a propellant;

B. allowing said volatile solvent to evaporate from said receptive surface; and

C. thereby depositing said protective coating on said receptive surface, wherein said protective coating provides dirt- and water-repellency to said receptive surface, wherein said detachable coating is substantially transparent and results in a change of less than 3.0 Delta E units to said receptive surface measured before and after deposition of said coating.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said solution further comprises at least one durability agent selected from alkoxysilanes of general formula (III)

R5aSi(OR6)4-a  (III)

wherein R5 is a straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl chain group of from 1 to 16 carbon atoms, optionally substituted with fluorine atoms, hydroxyl, amino, mercapto, or epoxy groups, R6 is an alkyl chain of 1 to 2 carbon atoms, and a is 1 or 2; or alkyl-modified linear or cyclic polydimethylsiloxanes of general formula (IV) or (V)

(CH3)3SiO[(CH3)2SiO]n[(CH3)R7SiO]oSi(CH3)3  (IV)

—[(CH3)2SiO]p[(CH3)R7SiO]q— (cyclo)  (V)

wherein R7 is an alkyl chain group of from 6 to 24 carbon atoms, n is from 1 to 100, o is from 1 to 40, p from 0 to 7, and q is from 1 to 7, provided that the sum (p+q) is at least 3; whereby the concentration of any one of the durability agents (III) and/or (IV) and/or (V) is between 0.1 and 10 percent by weight of the total weight of the pre-dispersion.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising (c) diluting the process composition with a second volatile solvent or solvent mixture selected from straight or branched, linear or cyclic aliphatic, or aromatic hydrocarbons with 2 to 14 carbon atoms, optionally substituted with fluorine or chlorine atoms, monovalent linear or branched alcohols with 1 to 6 carbon atoms, ketones or aldehydes with 1 to 6 carbon atoms, ethers or esters with 2 to 8 carbon atoms, or linear or cyclic polydimethylsiloxanes with 2 to 10 dimethylsiloxy units to a final concentration of the hydrophobically modified fumed silica particles of minimum 5 percent by weight of the total weight of the process composition.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising (d) adding a durability agent selected from alkoxysilanes of general formula (III)

R5aSi(OR6)4-a  (III)

wherein R5 is a straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl chain group of from 1 to 16 carbon atoms, optionally substituted with fluorine atoms, hydroxyl, amino, mercapto, or epoxy groups, R6 is an alkyl chain of 1 to 2 carbon atoms, and a is 1 or 2; or alkyl-modified linear or cyclic polydimethylsiloxanes of general formulas (IV) or (V)

(CH3)3SiO[(CH3)2SiO]n[(CH3)R7SiO]oSi(CH3)3  (IV)

—[(CH3)2SiO]p[(CH3)R7SiO]q— (cyclo)  (V)

wherein R7 is an alkyl chain group of from 6 to 24 carbon atoms, n is from 1 to 100, o is from 1 to 40, p from 0 to 7, and q is from 1 to 7, provided that the sum (p+q) is at least 3, to the dispersion as obtained in step (b) or step (c), whereby the concentration of any one of the durability agents (III) and/or (IV) and/or (V) is between 0.01 and 10 percent by weight of the total weight of the process composition.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein said hydrophobically modified fumed silica particles have a median particle size of between 100 and 4,000 nanometers.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein said hydrophobically modified fumed silica particles have a median particle size of between 100 and 3,000 nanometers.

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein said hydrophobically modified fumed silica particles have a median particle size of between 100 and 1,000 nanometers.

9. The method of claim 2 , wherein said receptive surface comprises a non-porous substrate, porous substrate, and combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said receptive surface is selected from the group consisting of automotive surfaces, household interior surfaces, household exterior surfaces, articles of construction, and combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein said non-porous substrate is selected from the group consisting of metal, metal oxides, aluminum, anodized aluminum, painted substrates, stainless steel, chrome, clear-coated automotive surfaces, ellastomers, vinyl, plastics, polymers, sealed wood, laminates, composites, and combinations thereof.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said protective coating on said non-porous substrate is substantially transparent and results in a change of less than 3.0 Delta E units of said non-porous substrate after application of said coating.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein said porous substrate is selected from the group consisting of fibers, textiles, non-wovens, foam substrates, cloth, clothing, leather, upholstery, carpet, curtains, marble, granite, grout, mortar, concrete, spackling, plaster, adobe, stucco, brick, unglazed tile, tile, unglazed porcelain, porcelain, clay, wallpaper, cardboard, paper, wood, and combinations thereof.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said protective coating on said porous surface is substantially transparent and results in a change of less than 3.0 Delta L units of said porous substrate after application of said coating.

15. The method of claim 2 , wherein said coating further exhibits a Durability Duration value of greater than or equal to 15 seconds.

Assignments (11)
AMENDED AND RESTATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 19, 2025
From: ENERGIZER BRANDS, LLC; ENERGIZER AUTO, INC.,; ENERGIZER AUTO SALES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 070565/0282 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 30, 2020
From: ENERGIZER BRANDS, LLC; ENERGIZER AUTO, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 054875/0651 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 25, 2019
From: THE ARMOR ALL/STP PRODUCTS COMPANY
To: ENERGIZER AUTO, INC.
Reel/Frame 050829/0790 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 30, 2019
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
To: THE ARMOR ALL/STP PRODUCTS COMPANY
Reel/Frame 048183/0811 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 28, 2019
From: THE ARMOR ALL/STP PRODUCTS COMPANY
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 048157/0549 →
NOTICE OF SUCCESSOR AGENT AND ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST (INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY) REEL/FRAME 036131/0722 Recorded Jun 5, 2018
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
Reel/Frame 046303/0421 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2015
From: THE ARMOR ALL/STP PRODUCTS COMPANY
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 036131/0722 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2015
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
To: APPLICA CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; APPLICA CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC., A CORP. OF FLORIDA; KWIKSET CORPORATION; LIQUID HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; NATIONAL MANUFACTURING CO.; PRICE PFISTER, INC.; ROV HOLDING, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; ROVCAL, INC.; ROVCAL, INC., A CORP. OF CALIFORNIA; RUSSELL HOBBS, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; SALIX ANIMAL HEALTH, LLC; SEED RESOURCES, L.L.C.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC. AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO ROVCAL, INC.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; TELL MANUFACTURING, INC.; TETRA HOLDING (US), INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; TETRA HOLDINGS (US), INC.; UNITED INDUSTRIES CORPORATION; UNITED INDUSTRIES CORPORATION AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO LIQUID HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; UNITED PET GROUP, INC.; UNITED PET GROUP, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE
Reel/Frame 036102/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 28, 2015
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: THE ARMOR ALL/STP PRODUCTS COMPANY
Reel/Frame 035736/0697 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 22, 2014
From: THE ARMOR ALL/STP PRODUCTS COMPANY
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 032113/0621 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 19, 2013
From: THE CLOROX COMPANY
To: THE ARMOR ALL/STP PRODUCTS COMPANY
Reel/Frame 030833/0963 →