Cleaning solution
AssigneeSun Chemical Corporation
InventorsJerome Fox, Saeid Savarmand
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides cleaning solutions for removing ink, coating, varnish, adhesive, etc. residue from printing equipment. The cleaning solutions of the present invention comprise one or more solvents, preferably selected from acetoacetates, alcohols, glycol ethers, glycol esters, terpenes, and water, and are preferably free of surfactants. The cleaning solutions of the invention have a relative evaporation time (RET) of less than 60 seconds, and a ratio of the RET to the radius of the sphere of solubility of the resin in the ink to be removed of less than 6.
Claims13
A method of removing residual inks and coatings from a surface comprising:
- a) applying a cleaning solution on the surface, wherein the cleaning solution comprises one or more solvents selected from the group consisting of acetoacetates, alcohols, glycol ethers, glycol esters, terpenes, and water;
- wherein
- i. the cleaning solution is free of surfactants;
- ii. the relative evaporation time (RET) of the solvents is less than or equal to 60 seconds;
- iii. a ratio of RET of the solvents to a radius of the sphere of solubility of a resin (R) of an ink or coating to be removed is less than or equal to 6;
- and
- wherein the cleaning solution comprises at least one acetoacetate;
- and
- wherein the cleaning solution removes residual inks and coatings from a surface;
- b) allowing the cleaning solution to sit on the surface for a period of time to dissolve equal to or greater than 62.5% of the residual ink or coating;
- and
- c) wiping the cleaning solution off of the surface.
A cleaning solution comprising one or more solvents selected from the group consisting of acetoacetates, alcohols, glycol ethers, glycol esters, terpenes, and water;
- wherein
- a) the cleaning solution is free of surfactants;
- b) the relative evaporation time (RET) of the solvents is less than or equal to 60 seconds;
- c) a ratio of RET of the solvents to a radius of the sphere of solubility of a resin (R) of an ink or coating to be removed is less than or equal to 6;
- and
- wherein the cleaning solution comprises at least one acetoacetate;
- and wherein the cleaning solution removes residual inks and coatings from a surface.
A method of formulating a cleaning solution comprising:
- a) determining a radius of the sphere of solubility of a resin (R) of an ink or coating from the Hansen solubility parameters of the resin;
- and
- b) mixing one or more solvents, each independently selected from the group consisting of acetoacetates, alcohols, glycol ethers, glycol esters, terpenes, and water, to produce a solvent blend, wherein:
- i. a relative evaporation time (RET) of the solvent blend is less than or equal to 60 seconds;
- and
- ii. a ratio of RET to R is less than or equal to 6;
- ;
- wherein the cleaning solution comprises at least one acetotate;
- wherein the cleaning solution is free of surfactants;
- and
- wherein the cleaning solution removes residual inks and coatings from a surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.