Xeros, Inc.

Invista North America S.a.r.l.

Fiberite Inc.

National Starch and Chemical Investment Holding Corporation

Cytec Industries Inc.

Stephen Derek Jenkins

Patrick Terence McGrail

Frazer John Kennedy

Stephen Martin Burkinshaw

Michael Anthony Neal

Jeffrey Thomas Carter

David Anthony Harrison

Scott D Lucas

Alan John Waddon

Peter R Ciriscioli

Elizabeth Jean Abercrombie

Junaid Ahmed Siddiqui

Robin Kelvin Maskell

Simon Kniesel

Michael David Sawford

Philipp Kloke

Martina Schoemer

Simon Paul Wells

J Paul Davis

John Edward Steele

Wayne Robert Szymczyk

Robert Andrew Bird

Christopher Ian Lindsay

Robin K Maskell

Gordon Thomas Emmerson

Graham H Hall

Derek J Winter

Jill Barbara Cunningham

Michael William Gardner

John Paul Davis

William George Westwater

Ana America Tellechea Lopez

Shyam Sathyanarayana

A method for cleaning a substrate which is or comprises a textile, the method comprising agitating the substrate and a cleaning composition comprising: i. cleaning particles comprising a thermoplastic polyamide and a hydrophilic material at least part of which is located inside the cleaning particle, said cleaning particles having an average particle size of from 1 to 100 mm; and ii. a liquid medium. An apparatus suitable for performing said method comprising a rotatable cleaning chamber and a particle storage tank containing the cleaning particles. Use of the cleaning particles for cleaning a substrate which is or comprises a textile.

Cleaning method, apparatus and use

The invention provides a cleaning formulation comprising a multiplicity of solid cleaning particles, wherein the solid cleaning particles comprise polymeric particles and at least one cleaning agent, wherein the at least one cleaning agent is immobilised on the surface of the polymeric particles. Typically the at least one cleaning agent is immobilised on the surface of the polymeric particles by means of chemical bonds, typically ionic bonds, hydrogen bonds, covalent bonds, polar bonds, or bonds formed by virtue of unequal charge distributions between polymeric particles and immobilised materials. The invention also provides a method for the cleaning of a substrate, the method comprising the treatment of the substrate with a formulation according to the invention, and a method for the preparation of the cleaning formulation of the invention which comprises treating a multiplicity of polymeric particles with at least one cleaning agent.

Cleaning material

Methods for cleaning at least one soiled substrate in a rotatably mounted cylindrical drum of a cleaning apparatus with a multiplicity of solid particles are provided. One method includes the steps of: agitating the at least one soiled substrate in the drum with wash liquor and the multiplicity of solid particles for a first cleaning cycle wherein the wash liquor includes at least one cleaning agent; draining the wash liquor from the cleaning apparatus; and introducing an aqueous non-detergent medium into the cleaning apparatus and agitating the at least one soiled substrate with the multiplicity of solid particles in the drum for a second cleaning cycle. Another method includes rotating the drum such that the at least one soiled substrate moves about a generally circular path and introducing the multiplicity of solid particles into the drum through an annulus defined by the generally circular path as the drum rotates.

Cleaning method including use of solid particles

The invention provides a method for the cleaning of a soiled substrate, the method comprising treating the substrate with a solid particulate cleaning material and wash water, the treatment being carried out in an apparatus comprising a drum comprising perforated side walls and having a capacity of between 5 and 50 liters for each kg of fabric in the washload, wherein said solid particulate cleaning material comprises a multiplicity of polymeric particles at a particle to fabric addition level of 0.1:1-10:1 by mass, each particle being substantially cylindrical or spherical in shape and having an average density in the range of 0.5-2.5 g/cmand an average volume in the range of 5-275 mm, and wherein said drum comprising perforated side walls is rotated at a speed which generates G forces in the range of from 0.05 to 900 G. The polymeric particles may comprise foamed or unfoamed polymeric materials which may comprise either linear or crosslinked polymers. Preferably, at least one detergent is employed in the cleaning process. The invention provides optimum cleaning performance as a result of improved mechanical interaction between substrate and cleaning media and is preferably used for the cleaning of textile fabrics. The method allows for significant reductions in the consumption of detergents, water and energy when compared with the conventional wet cleaning of textile fabrics, and also facilitates reduced washing-related textile fabric damage. The invention also envisages a cleaning composition comprising a solid particulate cleaning composition and at least one additional cleaning agent. In particular embodiments of the invention, the solid particulate cleaning material is separated and recovered and then re-used in subsequent cleaning processes. Typically, the solid particulate cleaning material is itself cleaned intermittently in order to maintain its efficacy.

Cleaning method

The invention provides a method for the cleaning of a soiled substrate, the method comprising treating the substrate with a non-polymeric solid particulate cleaning material and wash water, the treatment being carried out in an apparatus comprising a drum comprising perforated side walls and having a capacity of between 5 and 50 liters for each kg of fabric in the washload, wherein the solid particulate cleaning material comprises a multiplicity of non-polymeric particles at a particle to fabric addition level of 0.1:1-10:1 by mass, each of the particles being substantially cylindrical or spherical in shape, and wherein the drum comprising perforated side walls is rotated at a speed which generates G forces in the range of from 0.05 to 900 G. The non-polymeric particles may comprise particles of glass, silica, stone, wood, or any of a variety of metals or ceramic materials. Preferably the solid particulate cleaning material additionally comprises a multiplicity of polymeric particles each of which is substantially cylindrical or spherical in shape. Preferably, at least one detergent is employed in the cleaning process. The invention provides optimum cleaning performance as a result of improved mechanical interaction between substrate and cleaning media and is preferably used for the cleaning of textile fabrics. The method allows for significant reductions in the consumption of detergents, water and energy when compared with the conventional wet cleaning of textile fabrics, and also facilitates reduced washing-related textile fabric damage. The invention also envisages a cleaning composition comprising a solid particulate cleaning composition and at least one additional cleaning agent.

There is disclosed an apparatus and method for use in the cleaning of soiled substrates, the apparatus including housing means having a first upper chamber having mounted therein a rotatably mounted cylindrical cage and a second lower chamber located beneath the cylindrical cage; at least one recirculation means; access means; pumping means and a multiplicity of delivery means, wherein the rotatably mounted cylindrical cage includes a drum including perforated side walls wherein up to 60% of the surface area of the side walls includes perforations and the perforations include holes having a diameter of no greater than 25.0 mm. The method carried out by the apparatus involves cleaning a soiled substrate by treatment of the moistened substrate with a formulation including solid particulate cleaning material and wash water.

Cleaning apparatus using solid particulate cleaning material

The invention provides a method and formulation for cleaning a soiled substrate, the method comprising the treatment of the moistened substrate with a formulation comprising a multiplicity of polymeric particles, wherein the polymeric particles comprise at least one antimicrobial agent. Preferably, the substrate is wetted so as to achieve a substrate to water ratio of between 1:0.1 to 1:5 w/w. Optionally, the formulation additionally comprises at least one additional cleaning agent, and in this embodiment, it is preferred that the polymeric particles are mixed with the at least one additional cleaning agent. Preferably, the additional cleaning material comprises a surfactant, which most preferably has detergent properties. Most preferably, the substrate comprises a textile fiber. Typically, the polymeric particles comprise particles of polyester or nylon, most preferably in the form of beads. The results obtained are very line with those observed when carrying out conventional aqueous cleaning processes and the method provides the significant advantage that the use of antimicrobial agents in or on the polymer bead greatly improves the overall hygiene in the washing machine by preventing mold and bacterial growth on the polymer particle surfaces, particularly at low temperatures.

The invention provides a method for cleaning a soiled substrate, the method comprising the treatment of the moistened substrate with a formulation comprising a multiplicity of polymeric particles, wherein the polymeric particles are applied in combination with a detergent formulation, the method being characterized in that the detergent formulation is divided into its separate chemical constituents and these chemical constituents are added at different times during the wash cycle. The method allows for improved cleaning with reduced overall chemical loading, and facilitates addition of the more expensive parts of the formulations when they are most effective for cleaning performance, thereby providing considerable cost savings in comparison with conventional all-in-one detergent formulations. A method for cleaning the polymeric particles is also provided.

The invention provides a method for the drying of a wet substrate, the method comprising treating the substrate with a solid particulate material at ambient or elevated temperature, the treatment being carried out in an apparatus comprising a drum comprising perforated side walls, wherein the drum comprising perforated side walls is rotated so as to facilitate increased mechanical action between the substrate and the particulate material. Preferably, the drum comprising perforated side walls has a capacity of between 5 and 50 liters for each kg of fabric in the load and is rotated at a speed which generates G forces in the range of from 0.05 to 0.99 G, and the method is carried out at a temperature of between 5&#xb0; and 120&#xb0; C. Preferably, the solid particulate material comprises a multiplicity of particles at a particle to fabric addition level of 0.1:1-10:1 by mass, wherein the particles comprise polymeric particles, non-polymeric particles, or mixtures of polymeric and non-polymeric particles. All particles may be solid or hollow in their structure, have smooth or irregular surface features, and are of such a shape and size as to allow for good flowability and intimate contact with the wet substrate. The invention provides optimum drying performance as a result of improved mechanical interaction between substrate and particulate media and is preferably used for the drying of textile fabrics. The method allows for significant reduction in the consumption of energy when compared with the conventional tumble drying of textile fabrics, and also facilitates reduced textile fabric damage.

Drying method

The invention provides a method and formulation for cleaning a soiled substrate, the method comprising the treatment of the moistened substrate with a formulation comprising a multiplicity of polymeric particles, wherein the polymeric particles comprise at least one antimicrobial agent. Preferably, the substrate is wetted so as to achieve a substrate to water ratio of between 1:0.1 to 1:5 w/w. Optionally, the formulation additionally comprises at least one additional cleaning agent and, in this embodiment, it is preferred that the polymeric particles are mixed with the at least one additional cleaning agent. Preferably, the additional cleaning material comprises a surfactant, which most preferably has detergent properties. Most preferably, the substrate comprises a textile fiber. Typically, the polymeric particles comprise particles of polyester or nylon, most preferably in the form of beads. The results obtained are very much in line with those observed when carrying out conventional aqueous cleaning processes and the method provides the significant advantage that the use of antimicrobial agents in or on the polymer bead greatly improves the overall hygiene in the washing machine by preventing mold and bacterial growth on the polymer particle surfaces, particularly at low temperatures.

The invention provides an apparatus and method for use in the cleaning of soiled substrates, the apparatus comprising: (a) housing means, having: (i) a first upper chamber having mounted therein a rotatably mounted cylindrical cage, and (ii) a second lower chamber located beneath said cylindrical cage; (b) at least one recirculation means; (c) access means; (d) a multiplicity of delivery means; and (e) sealing means, wherein said sealing means is removably attached to the outer surface of the cylindrical side walls of said rotatably mounted cylindrical cage, and is adapted to prevent the ingress or egress of fluids and solid particulate matter from the interior of said cage. The method involves cleaning the soiled substrate by treatment of the substrate with a formulation comprising solid particulate cleaning material and wash water, the method being carried out using the apparatus of the invention, and the apparatus and method find particular application in the cleaning of textile fabrics.

Cleaning apparatus for soiled substrates having a removable cage sealing means

Bottles, containers and other articles are formed from polypropylene compositions that include a reheating agent, such as antimony, carbon black, graphite, titanium, copper, manganese, iron, tungsten, graphite, infra-red absorbing dyes or other infra-red absorbing material. The reheating time for the polypropylene composition is shortened for injection stretch blow molding or thermoforming, and the polypropylene granule composition with reheating agent has an L* value of at least 80% of the L* value for a polypropylene granule control without added reheating agents as measured by the Gardner color test. The reheating agent may be incorporated into the polypropylene composition by in situ chemical reduction of a metal compound, such as antimony triglycolate, with a reducing agent, such as hypophosphorous acid. In addition, the polypropylene composition with reheating agent may be derived from a polypropylene masterbatch with high concentrations of reheating agent.

Molding of polypropylene with enhanced reheat characteristics

A method for enhancing solid state polymerization of polyethylene terephthalate is disclosed in which at least one monomeric unit of diacid and/or dimethyl ester comprising at least one pendant chemical side group is copolymerized with a diol and a diacid or a dimethyl ester. The at least one pendant chemical side group may include groups chosen from tertiary butyl, hexyl, pentyl, butyl, propyl, ethyl, methyl, nitrosyl (NO) and sulfonyl (SO) groups.

Method for producing enhanced solid state

An additive system for polyester polymers comprising an effective amount of (i) a fatty acid amide selected from the group consisting of oleyl palmitamide, ethylene bis stearamide, ethylene bis oleomide, and stearyl erucamide; (ii) a partially or fully calcined porous poly(methylsilsequioxane); and (iii) a stabilizer comprising a primary and a secondary antioxidant.

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Middlesbrough, United Kingdom

Stephen Derek Jenkins