Sealer Finish Remover Compositions

This invention relates to compositions useful for removing solvent-based sealer finishes, especially to improved compositions containing an organosilicon complex.

Solvent-based sealer finishes (such as oil modified polyurethanes, moisture cured urethanes, acrylic-urethanes, solvent solution acrylics, catalyzed epoxies, and polymerized vegetable oils) usually require removal by methylene chloride paint stripper formulations. Because health and environmental concerns are limiting and/or obsoleting use of such chlorinated solvents, the industry is in need of efficient, alternative stripper compositions.

A sealer finish remover composition is provided containing (a) a solvent selected from amines, glycol ethers, and mixtures thereof, (b) water, and (c) an organosilicon complex formed from a silicate such as sodium metasilicate and a linear, 6-10 carbon (optimally, 8 carbon), organic compound such as caprylic acid or sodium n-octane sulfonate. The formulations may be tailored for either machine or mop-on, mop-off application, the latter strippers generally having higher solvent concentrations and pH.

It has now been found that the use of a linear, 6-10 carbon, organic compound in the presence of silicates, or metasilicates, accelerates sealer finish removal and solvent efficiency. The addition of an organic such as n-octane sulfonate (preferably sodium n-octane sulfonate) or caprylic acid to metasilicate (preferably sodium metasilicate) results in the formation of an organosilicon complex. When incorporated in the subject solvent-containing formulations the floor dwell time (to dissolve the finish) is as little as 1-2 minutes and finish removal can be accomplished in one application.

The solvents can be amines (typically diethanolamine, diethylamine, or, preferably, monoethanolamine) and/or one or more glycol ethers (preferably ethylene glycol monobutyl ether and/or ethylene glycol phenyl ether). The solvents generally comprise about 10-30% by weight of the formulation, more typically about 13-24%. Water generally comprises about 50-84% of the formulation, more typically about 58-77%.

The silicate generally comprises about 4-8% of the formulation, more typically about 5 to 7.2%. The organic compound generally comprises 1 to 30% (more typically about 2.9 to 8%) and may contain 6-10 carbons such as caproic acid, decylenic acid, caprylic acid, or alkali salts such as sodium n-octane sulfonate. Sodium hydroxide, silicates, and/or alkali salts are present in such formulations to keep the pH elevated and to prevent calcium deposits. Conventional surfactants (such as fluorinated alkyl polyoxethylene ethanols--available commercially, for example, as FLUORAD FC-170-C, a product of the 3M Company) and dyes are also optionally added in minor amounts. For mop-on, mop-off applications, sodium xylenesulfonate may be added to assist in solubilization.

Typical formulations for mop-on, mop-off (A) and machine (B) applications are as follows (in percent by weight).