Paint stripper and varnish remover compositions containing organoclay rheological additives, methods for making these compositions and methods for removing paint and other polymeric coatings from flexible and inflexible surfaces

Abstract

The present invention relates to non-toxic, non-flammable, safe compositions employing primarily biodegradable components for use in removing and stripping paint, varnishes and stains from hard and/or flexible surfaces. The compositions generally avoid the use of methylene chloride, methanol, toluol or acetone. Paint stripper compositions of the present invention have flash points above about 120.degree. F. and an absence of low-boiling VOC's comprising: a. about 0% to about 60% by weight of a terpene compound containing at least 10 carbon atoms; b. about 10% to about 69% by weight of N-methyl pyrrolidone or its equivalent; and c. about 0% to about 20% by weight of an emulsifying surfactant. Compositions of the present invention may further comprise one or more of the following: about 5% to about 15% by weight of a solvent extender or bulking agent, about 5% to about 60% of a high flash point, high K.sub.B (kauri-butanol) solvent selected from the group consisting of ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, butylene carbonate, glycols and glycol ethers, about 0% to about 45% water, from 0% to about 8% by weight of a thixotropic or thickening agent, preferably an organoclay thickening agent, for example, steralkonium hectorite, about 2% to about 20% by weight of an odor masking component, for example d'limonene and mixtures, thereof. In the organoclay containing compositions according to the present invention, about 10% to about 45%, preferably about 30 to 45% of a polar solvent, especially including water, ethanol, and mixtures of water and ethanol. Methods of stripping coating from surfaces and methods of making these compositions are also described.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.