Liquid crystal compositions

This invention relates to a liquid crystal composition comprising a water insoluble organic compound, at least one nonionic surfactant, an abrasive, a sulfonate surfactant, a cosurfactant and water.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to an anticream detergent composition containing an 
abrasive. More specifically, it is of a liquid detergent composition in 
liquid crystal state which when brought into contact with oily soil is 
superior to other liquid detergent compositions in detergency and in other 
physical properties. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Liquid aqueous synthetic organic detergent compositions have long been 
employed for human hair shampoos and as dishwashing detergents for hand 
washing of dishes (as distinguished from automatic dishwashing machine 
washing of dishes). Liquid detergent compositions have also been employed 
as hard surface cleaners, as in pine oil liquids, for cleaning floors and 
walls. More recently they have proven successful as laundry detergents 
too, apparently because they are convenient to use, are instantly soluble 
in wash water, and may be employed in "pre-spotting" applications to 
facilitate removals of soils and stains from laundry upon subsequent 
washing. Liquid detergent compositions have comprised anionic, cationic 
and nonionic surface active agents, builders and adjuvants, including, as 
adjuvants, lipophilic materials which can act as solvents for lipophilic 
soils and stains. The various liquid aqueous synthetic organic detergent 
compositions mentioned serve to emulsify lipophilic materials, including 
oily soils, in aqueous media, such as wash water, by forming micellar 
dispersions and emulsions. 
Although emulsification is a mechanism of soil removal, it has been only 
comparatively recently that it was discovered how to make microemulsions 
which are much more effective than ordinary emulsions in removing 
lipophilic materials from substrates. Such microemulsions are described in 
British Patent Specification No. 2,190,681 and in U.S. Pat. Nos. 
5,075,026; 5,076,954 and 5,082,584 and 5,108,643, most of which relate to 
acidic microemulsions useful for cleaning hard surfaced items, such as 
bathtubs and sinks which microemulsions are especially effective in 
removing soap scum and lime scale from them. However, as in Ser. No. 
4,919,839 the microemulsions may be essentially neutral and such are also 
taught to be effective for microemulsifying lipophilic soils from 
substrates. In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 7/313,664 there is 
described a light duty microemulsion liquid detergent composition which is 
useful for washing dishes and removing greasy deposits from them in both 
neat and diluted forms. Such compositions include complexes of anionic and 
cationic detergents as surface active components of the microemulsions. 
The various microemulsions referred to include a lipophile, which may be a 
hydrocarbon, a surfactant, which may be an anionic and/or a nonionic 
detergent(s), a co-surfactant, which may be a poly-lower alkylene glycol 
lower alkyl ether, e.g., tripropylene glycol monomethyl ether, and water. 
Although the manufacture and use of detergent compositions in microemulsion 
form significantly improved cleaning power and greasy soil removal, 
compared to the usual emulsions, the present invention improves them still 
further and also increases the capacity of the detergent compositions to 
adhere to surfaces to which they have been applied. Thus, they drop or run 
substantially less than cleaning compositions of "similar" cleaning power 
which are in microemulsion or normal liquid detergent form. Also, because 
they form microemulsions with lipophilic soil or stain material 
spontaneously, with essentially no requirement for addition of any energy, 
either thermal or mechanical, they are more effective cleaners at room 
temperature and at higher and lower temperatures that are normally 
employed in cleaning operations than are ordinary liquid detergents, and 
are also more effective than detergent compositions in microemulsion form. 
The present liquid crystal detergent compositions may be either clear or 
somewhat cloudy or milky (opalescent) in appearance but both forms thereof 
are stable on storage and components thereof do not settle out or become 
ineffective, even on storage at somewhat elevated temperatures for periods 
as long as six months and up to a year. The presence of the cosurfactant 
in the liquid crystal detergent compositions helps to make such 
compositions resist freezing at low temperatures. 
In accordance with the present invention a liquid detergent composition 
containing an abrasive, suitable at room temperature or colder, for 
pre-treating and cleaning materials soiled with lipophilic soil, is in 
liquid crystal form and comprises synthetic organic surface active agents, 
a cosurfactant, a solvent for the soil, and water. The invention also 
relates to processes for treating items and materials soiled with 
lipophilic soil with compositions of this invention to loosen or remove 
such soil, by applying to the locus of such soil on such material a soil 
loosening or removing amount of an invented composition. In another aspect 
of the invention lipophilic soil is absorbed from the soiled surface into 
the liquid crystal. 
In recent years all-purpose liquid detergents have become widely accepted 
for cleaning hard surfaces, e.g., painted woodwork and panels, tiled 
walls, wash bowls, bathtubs, linoleum or tile floors, washable wall paper, 
etc.. Such all-purpose liquids comprise clear and opaque aqueous mixtures 
of water-soluble synthetic organic detergents and water-soluble detergent 
builder salts. In order to achieve comparable cleaning efficiency with 
granular or powdered all-purpose cleaning compositions, use of 
water-soluble inorganic phosphate builder salts was favored in the prior 
art all-purpose liquids. For example, such early phosphate-containing 
compositions are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,560,839; 3,234,138; 
3,350,319; and British Patent No. 1,223,739. 
In view of the environmentalist's efforts to reduce phosphate levels in 
ground water, improved all-purpose liquids containing reduced 
concentrations of inorganic phosphate builder salts or non-phosphate 
builder salts have appeared. A particularly useful self-opacified liquid 
of the latter type is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,244,840. 
However, these prior art all-purpose liquid detergents containing detergent 
builder salts or other equivalent tend to leave films, spots or streaks on 
cleaned unrinsed surfaces, particularly shiny surfaces. Thus, such liquids 
require thorough rinsing of the cleaned surfaces which is a time-consuming 
chore for the user. 
In order to overcome the foregoing disadvantage of the prior art 
all-purpose liquid, U.S. Pat. No. 4,017,409 teaches that a mixture of 
paraffin sulfonate and a reduced concentration of inorganic phosphate 
builder salt should be employed. However, such compositions are not 
completely acceptable from an environmental point of view based upon the 
phosphate content. On the other hand, another alternative to achieving 
phosphate-free all-purpose liquids has been to use a major proportion of a 
mixture of anionic and nonionic detergents with minor amounts of glycol 
ether solvent and organic amine as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,935,130. 
Again, this approach has not been completely satisfactory and the high 
levels of organic detergents necessary to achieve cleaning cause foaming 
which, in turn, leads to the need for thorough rinsing which has been 
found to be undesirable to today's consumers. 
Another approach to formulating hard surfaced or all-purpose liquid 
detergent composition where product homogeneity and clarity are important 
considerations involves the formation of oil-in-water (o/w) microemulsions 
which contain one or more surface-active detergent compounds, a 
water-immiscible solvent (typically a hydrocarbon solvent), water and a 
"cosurfactant" compound which provides product stability. By definition, 
an o/w microemulsion is a spontaneously forming colloidal dispersion of 
"oil" phase particles having a particle size in the range of 25 to 800 
.ANG. in a continuous aqueous phase. 
In view of the extremely fine particle size of the dispersed oil phase 
particles, microemulsions are transparent to light and are clear and 
usually highly stable against phase separation. 
Patent disclosures relating to use of grease-removal solvents in o/w 
microemulsions include, for example, European Patent Applications EP 
0137615 and EP 0137616--Herbots et al; European Patent Application EP 
0160762--Johnston et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,991--Herbots et al. Each 
of these patent disclosures also teaches using at least 5% by weight of 
grease-removal solvent. 
It also is known from British Patent Application GB 2144763A to Herbots et 
al, published Mar. 13, 1985, that magnesium salts enhance grease-removal 
performance of organic grease-removal solvents, such as the terpenes, in 
o/w microemulsion liquid detergent compositions. The compositions of this 
invention described by Herbots et al. require at least 5% of the mixture 
of grease-removal solvent and magnesium salt and preferably at least 5% of 
solvent (which may be a mixture of water-immiscible non-polar solvent with 
a sparingly soluble slightly polar solvent) and at least 0.1% magnesium 
salt. 
The following representative prior art patents also relate to liquid 
detergent cleaning compositions in the form of o/w microemulsions: U.S. 
Pat. Nos. 4,472,291--Rosario; 4,540,448--Gauteer et al; 
3,723,330--Sheflin; et al. 
Liquid detergent compositions which include terpenes, such as d-limonene, 
or other grease-removal solvent, although not disclosed to be in the form 
of o/w microemulsions, are the subject matter of the following 
representative patent documents: European Patent Application 0080749; 
British Patent Specification 1,603,047; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,414,128 and 
4,540,505. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,128 broadly discloses an 
aqueous liquid detergent composition characterized by, by weight: 
(a) from 1% to 20% of a synthetic anionic, nonionic, amphoteric or 
zwitterionic surfactant or mixture thereof; 
(b) from 0.5% to 10% of a mono- or sesquiterpene or mixture thereof, at a 
weight ratio of (a):(b) being in the range of 5:1 to 1:3; and 
(c) from 0.5% to 20% of a polar solvent having a solubility in water at 
15.degree. C. in the range of from 0.2% to 10%. Other ingredients present 
in the formulations disclosed in this patent include from 0.05% to 10% by 
weight of an alkali metal, ammonium or alkanolammonium soap of a C.sub.13 
-C.sub.24 fatty acid; a calcium sequestrant from 0.5% to 13% by weight; 
non-aqueous solvent, e.g., alcohols and glycol ethers, up to 10% by 
weight; and hydrotropes, e.g., urea, ethanolamines, salts of lower 
alkylaryl sulfonates, up to 10% by weight. All of the formulations shown 
in the Examples of this patent include relatively large amounts of 
detergent builder salts which are detrimental to surface shine. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,826 teaches liquid crystal compositions but these 
compositions exhibit thermal stability in the limited temperature range of 
19.degree. C. to 36.degree. C. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to improved, liquid crystal detergent 
compositions containing an abrasive. The compositions have improved 
scouring ability and interfacial tension which improves the cleaning of 
hard surface such as plastic, vitreous and metal surfaces having a shiny 
finish, oil stained floors, automotive engines and other engines. More 
particularly, the improved cleaning compositions exhibit good scouring 
power and grease soil removal properties due to the improved interfacial 
tensions and leave the cleaned surfaces shiny without the need of or 
requiring only minimal additional rinsing or wiping. The latter 
characteristic is evidenced by little or no visible residues on the 
unrinsed cleaned surfaces and, accordingly, overcomes one of the 
disadvantages of prior art products. 
Surprisingly, these desirable results are accomplished even in the absence 
of polyphosphate or other inorganic or organic detergent builder salts and 
also in the complete absence or substantially complete absence of 
grease-removal solvent. 
In one aspect, the invention generally provides a stable, liquid crystal, 
hard surface cleaning composition especially effective in the removal of 
oily and greasy oil. The liquid crystal composition includes, on a weight 
basis: 
0 to 15% of a water-mixable cosurfactant having either limited ability or 
substantially no ability to dissolve oily or greasy soil; 
1% to 20% of a sodium salt of a C.sub.8 -C.sub.16 linear alkyl benzene 
sulfonate surfactant; 
0.1 to 20% of an ethoxylated nonionic surfactant; 
0.1% to 4% of an unsaturated fatty acid having 12 to 20 carbon atoms; 
0.5% to 10% of an alkali metal carbonate; 
0.02% to 15% of a perfume, essential oil, or water insoluble hydrocarbon 
having 6 to 18 carbon atoms; 
0.1% to 10% of an abrasive; and 
the balance being water, wherein the liquid crystal detergent composition 
does not contain any sulfate surfactant, and the liquid detergent 
composition has a storage modulus equal to or higher than one Pascal (1 
Newton/sq. m.), more preferably higher than 10 Pascal at a temperature of 
20.degree. C. to 40.degree. C. at a strain of 0.1% to 5% second as 
measured on a Carri-Med CS Rheometer and is thermally stable and exist as 
a clear liquid crystal in the temperature range from 8.degree. C. to 
43.degree. C., more preferably 4.degree. C. to 43.degree. C. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a stable liquid crystal detergent 
composition comprising approximately by weight: 1% to 20% of a sodium salt 
C.sub.8 -C.sub.16 linear alkyl benzene sulfonate surfactant, 0 to 15% of a 
cosurfactant, 0.1 to 20% of an ethoxylated nonionic surfactant, 0.1% to 4% 
of an unsaturated fatty acid having 12 to 20 carbon atoms, 0.02% to 15% of 
a water insoluble hydrocarbon, essential oil or a perfume, 0.1% to 10% of 
an abrasive, 0.5% to 10% of an alkali metal carbonate, and the balance 
being water, wherein the liquid detergent composition does not contain any 
sulfate surfactant, and the liquid detergent composition has a storage 
modulus equal to or higher than one Pascal (1 Newton/sq. m.), more 
preferably higher than 10 Pascal at a temperature of 20.degree. C. to 
40.degree. C. at a strain of 0.1% to 5% second as measured on a Carr-Med 
CS Rheometer and is thermally stable and exist as a liquid crystal in the 
temperature range from 10.degree. C. to 45.degree. C., more preferably 
4.degree. C. to 43.degree. C. 
According to the present invention, the role of the water insoluble 
hydrocarbon can be provided by a non-water-soluble perfume. Typically, in 
aqueous based compositions the presence of a solubilizers, such as alkali 
metal lower alkyl aryl sulfonate hydrotrope, triethanolamine, urea, etc., 
is required for perfume dissolution, especially at perfume levels of 1% 
and higher, since perfumes are generally a mixture of fragrant essential 
oils and aromatic compounds which are generally not water-soluble. 
As used herein and in the appended claims the term "perfume" is used in its 
ordinary sense to refer to and include any non-water soluble fragrant 
substance or mixture of substances including natural (i.e., obtained by 
extraction of flower, herb, blossom or plant), artificial (i.e., mixture 
of natural oils or oil constituents) and synthetically produced substance) 
odoriferous substances. Typically, perfumes are complex mixtures of blends 
of various organic compounds such as alcohols, aldehydes, ethers, aromatic 
compounds and varying amounts of essential oils (e.g., terpenes) such as 
from 0% to 80%, usually from 10% to 70% by weight, the essential oils 
themselves being volatile odoriferous compounds and also serving to 
dissolve the other components of the perfume. 
Quite surprisingly although the perfume is not, per se, a solvent for 
greasy or oily soil, --even though some perfumes may, in fact, contain as 
much as 80% of terpenes which are known as good grease solvents--the 
inventive compositions in dilute form have the capacity to solubilize up 
to 10 times or more of the weight of the perfume of oily and greasy soil, 
which is removed or loosened from the hard surface by virtue of the action 
of the anionic and nonionic surfactants, said soil being taken up into the 
oil phase of the o/w microemulsion. 
In the present invention the precise composition of the perfume is of no 
particular consequence to cleaning performance so long as it meets the 
criteria of water immiscibility and having a pleasing odor. Naturally, of 
course, especially for cleaning compositions intended for use in the home, 
the perfume, as well as all other ingredients, should be cosmetically 
acceptable, i.e., non-toxic, hypoallergenic, etc. 
The hydrocarbon such as a perfume is present in the liquid crystal 
composition in an amount of from 0.02% to 10% by weight, preferably from 
0.05% to 8% by weight. If the hydrocarbon (perfume) is added in amounts 
more than 6% by weight, the cost is increased without any additional 
cleaning benefit and, in fact, with some diminishing of cleaning 
performance insofar as the total amount of greasy or oily soil which can 
be taken up in the oil phase of the microemulsion will decrease 
proportionately. 
Furthermore, although superior grease removal performance will be achieved 
for perfume compositions not containing any terpene solvents, it is 
apparently difficult for perfumers to formulate sufficiently inexpensive 
perfume compositions for products of this type (i.e., very cost sensitive 
consumer-type products) which includes less than 20%, usually less than 
30%, of such terpene solvents. 
Thus, merely as a practical matter, based on economic consideration, the 
liquid crystal cleaning compositions of the present invention may often 
include as much as 0.2% to 7% by weight, based on the total composition, 
of terpene solvents introduced thereunto via the perfume component. 
However, even when the amount of terpene solvent in the cleaning 
formulation is less than 1.5% by weight, such as up to 0.6% by weight or 
0.4% by weight or less, satisfactory grease removal and oil removal 
capacity is provided by the inventive compositions. 
In place of the perfume in either the microemulsion composition or the all 
purpose hard surface cleaning composition at the same previously defined 
concentrations that the perfume was used in either the microemulsion or 
the all purpose hard surface cleaning composition one can employ an 
essential oil or a water insoluble organic compound such as a water 
insoluble hydrocarbon having 6 to 18 carbon such as a paraffin or 
isoparaffin such as Isopar H, isodecane, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, 
decanol and terpineol. 
Suitable essential oils are selected from the group consisting of: Anethole 
20/21 natural, Aniseed oil china star, Aniseed oil globe brand, Balsam 
(Peru), Basil oil (India), Black pepper oil, Black pepper oleoresin 40/20, 
Bois de Rose (Brazil) FOB, Borneol Flakes (China), Camphor oil, White, 
Camphor powder synthetic technical, Cananga oil (Java), Cardamom oil, 
Cassia oil (China), Cedarwood oil (China) BP, Cinnamon bark oil, Cinnamon 
leaf oil, Citronella oil, Clove bud oil, Clove leaf, Coriander (Russia), 
Coumarin 69.degree. C. (China), Cyclamen Aldehyde, Diphenyl oxide, Ethyl 
vanilin, Eucalyptol, Eucalyptus oil, Eucalyptus citriodora, Fennel oil, 
Geranium oil, Ginger oil, Ginger oleoresin (India), White grapefruit oil, 
Guaiacwood oil, Gurjun balsam, Heliotropin, Isobornyl acetate, 
Isolongifolene, Juniper berry oil, L-methyl acetate, Lavender oil, Lemon 
oil, Lemongrass oil, Lime oil distilled, Litsea Cubeba oil, Longifolene, 
Menthol crystals, Methyl cedryl ketone, Methyl chavicol, Methyl 
salicylate, Musk ambrette, Musk ketone, Musk xylol, Nutmeg oil, Orange 
oil, Patchouli oil, Peppermint oil, Phenyl ethyl alcohol, Pimento berry 
oil, Pimento leaf oil, Rosalin, Sandalwood oil, Sandenol, Sage oil, Clary 
sage, Sassafras oil, Spearmint oil, Spike lavender, Tagetes, Tea tree oil, 
Vanilin, Vetyver oil (Java), Wintergreen 
The ethoxylated nonionic surfactant is present in amounts of about 0.1% to 
20%, preferably 1% to 9% by weight of the liquid crystal composition and 
provides superior performance in the removal of oily soil and mildness to 
human skin. 
The water soluble ethoxylated nonionic surfactants utilized in this 
invention are commercially well known and include the primary aliphatic 
alcohol ethoxylates and secondary aliphatic alcohol ethoxylates. The 
length of the polyethenoxy chain can be adjusted to achieve the desired 
balance between the hydrophobic and hydrophilic elements. 
The nonionic surfactant class includes the condensation products of a 
higher alcohol (e.g., an alkanol containing about 2 to 20 carbon atoms in 
a straight or branched chain configuration) condensed with about 4 to 20 
moles of ethylene oxide, for example, lauryl or myristyl alcohol condensed 
with about 16 moles of ethylene oxide (EO), tridecanol condensed with 
about 6 to moles of EO, myristyl alcohol condensed with about 10 moles of 
EO per mole of myristyl alcohol, the condensation product of EO with a cut 
of coconut fatty alcohol containing a mixture of fatty alcohols with alkyl 
chains varying from 10 to about 14 carbon atoms in length and wherein the 
condensate contains either about 6 moles of EO per mole of total alcohol 
or about 9 moles of EO per mole of alcohol and tallow alcohol ethoxylates 
containing 6 EO to 11 EO per mole of alcohol. 
A preferred group of the foregoing nonionic surfactants are the Neodol 
ethoxylates (Shell Co.), which are higher aliphatic, primary alcohol 
containing about 9-15 carbon atoms, such as C.sub.9 -C.sub.11 alkanol 
condensed with 2 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide (Neodol 91-8 or Neodol 91-5 
or Neodol 91-2.5), C.sub.12-13 alkanol condensed with 6.5 moles ethylene 
oxide (Neodol 23-6.5), C.sub.12-15 alkanol condensed with 12 moles 
ethylene oxide (Neodol 25-12), C.sub.14-15 alkanol condensed with 13 moles 
ethylene oxide (Neodol 45-13), and the like. Such ethoxamers have an HLB 
(hydrophobic lipophilic balance) value of about 8 to 15 and give good O/W 
emulsification, whereas ethoxamers with HLB values below 7 contain less 
than 4 ethyleneoxide groups and tend to be poor emulsifiers and poor 
detergents. 
Additional satisfactory water soluble alcohol ethylene oxide condensates 
are the condensation products of a secondary aliphatic alcohol containing 
8 to 18 carbon atoms in a straight or branched chain configuration 
condensed with 5 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide. Examples of commercially 
available nonionic detergents of the foregoing type are C.sub.11 -C.sub.15 
secondary alkanol condensed with either 9 EO (Tergitol 15-S-9) or 12 EO 
(Tergitol 15-S-12) marketed by Union Carbide. 
In total or partial replacement of the ethoxylated nonionic surfactant one 
can use a polyesterified surfactant which is a mixture of: 
##STR1## 
wherein w equals one to four, most preferably one. B is selected from the 
group consisting of hydrogen or a group represented by: 
##STR2## 
wherein R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl group having 6 to 
22 carbon atoms, more preferably about 12 to about 16 carbon atoms and 
alkenyl groups having about 6 to 22 carbon atoms, more preferably about 12 
to 16 carbon atoms, wherein a hydrogenated tallow alkyl chain or a coco 
alkyl chain is most preferred, wherein at least one of the B groups is 
represented by said 
##STR3## 
R' is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl groups; x, 
y and z have a value between 0 and 60, more preferably 0 to 40, provided 
that (x+y+z) equals about 2 to about 100, preferably 4 to about 24 and 
most preferably about 6 to 19, wherein in Formula (I) the ratio of 
monoester/diester/triester is 40 to 90/5 to 35/1 to 20, more preferably 45 
to 90/9 to 32/1 to 12, wherein the ratio of Formula (I) to Formula (II) is 
a value between 3 to about 0.33, preferably 1.5 to about 0.4. 
The esterified polyethoxyether surfactant (ethoxylated glycerol esters) 
used in the instant composition is manufactured by the Kao Corporation and 
sold under the trade name Levenol such as Levenol F-200 which has an 
average EO of 6 and a molar ratio between glycerol and coco fatty acid of 
0.55 or Levenol V501/2 which has an average EO of 17 and a molar ratio 
between glycerol and coco fatty acid of 1.5. The esterified 
polyethoxyether surfactant has a molecular weight of about 400 to about 
1600, and a pH (50 grams / liter of water) of 5-7. The Levenol nonionic 
detergents are substantially non irritant to human skin and have a primary 
biodegradabillity higher than 90% as measured by the Wickbold method 
Bias-7d. 
Two examples of the Levenol compounds are Levenol V-501/2 which has 17 
ethoxylated groups and is derived from tallow fatty acid with a fatty acid 
to glycerol ratio of 1.5 and a molecular weight of 1465 and Levenol F-200 
has 6 ethoxylated groups and is derived from coco fatty acid with a fatty 
acid to glycerol ratio of 0.55. The Levenol (esterified polyethoxyether 
nonionic detergent) has ecoxicity values of algae growth inhibition&gt;100 
mg/liter; acute toxicity for Daphniae&gt;100 mg/liter and acute fish 
toxicity&gt;100 mg/liter. The Levenol has a ready biodegradability higher 
than 60% which is the minimum required value according to OECD 301 B 
measurement to be acceptably biodegradable. 
Other polyesterified nonionic surfactants useful in the instant 
compositions are Crovol PK-40 and Crovol PK-70 manufactured by Croda GMBH 
of the Netherlands. Crovol PK-40 is a polyoxyethylene (12) Palm Kernel 
Glyceride which has 12 EO groups. Crovol PK-70 which is prefered is a 
polyoxyethylene (45) Palm Kernel Glyceride have 45 EO groups. 
The anionic surfactant which is used in the instant compositions at a 
concentration of about 1 wt. % to about 20 wt. %, more preferably about 2 
wt % to about 14 wt. % is a sodium salt of a C.sub.8 -C.sub.16 linear 
alkyl benzene sulfonate surfactant. 
The major class of compounds found to provide highly suitable cosurfactants 
for the microemulsion over temperature ranges extending from 5.degree. C. 
to 43.degree. C. for instance are glycerol, ethylene glycol, water-soluble 
polyethylene glycols having a molecular weight of 300 to 1000, 
polypropylene glycol of the formula HO(CH.sub.3 CHCH.sub.2 O).sub.n H 
wherein n is a number from 2 to 18, mixtures of polyethylene glycol and 
polypropyl glycol (Synalox) and mono C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl ethers and 
esters of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol having the structural 
formulas R(X).sub.n OH and R.sub.1 (X).sub.n OH wherein R is C.sub.1 
-C.sub.6 alkyl group, R.sub.1 is C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 acyl group, X is 
(OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2) or (OCH.sub.2 (CH.sub.3)CH) and n is a number from 1 
to 4, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, an alkyl lactate, wherein the 
alkyl group has 1 to 6 carbon atoms, 1 methoxy-2-propanol, 1 
methoxy-3-propanol, and 1 methoxy 2-, 3- or 4-butanol. 
Representative members of the polypropylene glycol include dipropylene 
glycol and polypropylene glycol having a molecular weight of 200 to 1000, 
e.g., polypropylene glycol 400. Other satisfactory glycol ethers are 
ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (butyl cellosolve), diethylene glycol 
monobutyl ether (butyl carbitol), triethylene glycol monobutyl ether, 
mono, di, tri propylene glycol monobutyl ether, tetraethylene glycol 
monobutyl ether, mono, di, tripropylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene 
glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monohexyl ether, diethylene 
glycol monohexyl ether, propylene glycol tertiary butyl ether, ethylene 
glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol 
monopropyl ether, ethylene glycol monopentyl ether, diethylene glycol 
monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol 
monopropyl ether, diethylene glycol monopentyl ether, triethylene glycol 
monomethyl ether, triethylene glycol monoethyl ether, triethylene glycol 
monopropyl ether, triethylene glycol monopentyl ether, triethylene glycol 
monohexyl ether, mono, di, tripropylene glycol monoethyl ether, mono, di 
tripropylene glycol monopropyl ether, mono, di, tripropylene glycol 
monopentyl ether, mono, di, tripropylene glycol monohexyl ether, mono, di, 
tributylene glycol mono methyl ether, mono, di, tributylene glycol 
monoethyl ether, mono, di, tributylene glycol monopropyl ether, mono, di, 
tributylene glycol monobutyl ether, mono, di, tributylene glycol 
monopentyl ether and mono, di, tributylene glycol monohexyl ether, 
ethylene glycol monoacetate and dipropylene glycol propionate. 
Tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether is the preferred cosurfactant because of 
its hydrophobic character. 
The amount of cosurfactant required to stabilize the liquid crystal 
compositions will, of course, depend on such factors as the surface 
tension characteristics of the cosurfactant, the type and amounts of the 
primary surfactants and perfumes, and the type and amounts of any other 
additional ingredients which may be present in the composition and which 
have an influence on the thermodynamic factors enumerated above. 
Generally, amounts of cosurfactant used in the liquid crystal composition 
is in the range of from 0 to 15%, more preferably 0.1 to 15% by weight 
provide stable dilute liquid crystal composition for the above-described 
levels of primary surfactants and perfume and any other additional 
ingredients as described below. 
The instant liquid crystal compositions contain about 0.1 to 10 wt. %, more 
preferably 0.25 to 6 wt. % of an abrasive selected from the group 
consisting of amorphous hydrated silica and polyethylene powder particles 
and mixtures thereof. 
The amorphous silica (oral grade) used to enhance the scouring ability of 
the liquid crystal gel was provided by Zeoffin 155. The mean particles 
size of Zeoffin silica is about 8 up to about 15 .mu.m. Its apparent 
density is about 0.32 to about 0.37 g/ml. An amorphous hydrated silica 
from Crosfield of different particles sizes (9, 15 and 300 .mu.m), and 
same apparent density can also be used. Another amorphous silica from 
Rhone-Poulenc is Tixosil 103 having a mean particle size of 8 to 12 .mu.m 
and an apparent density of 0.25-0.4 g/ml. 
Another abrasive which can be used is a polyethylene powder having a 
particle size of about 200 to about 500 microns and a density of about 
0.91 to about 0.99 g/liter, more preferably about 0.94 to about 0.96. 
Another preferred abrasive is calcite used at a concentration of about 0 to 
20 wt. %, more preferably 1 wt. % to 10 wt. % and is manufactured by J. M. 
Huber Corporation of Illinois. Calcite is a limestone consisting primarily 
of calcium carbonate and 1% to 5% of magnesium carbonate which has a mean 
particle size of 5 microns and oil absorption (rubout) of about 10 and a 
hardness of about 3.0 Mohs. 
The instant compositions contains about 1 to about 10 wt. %, more 
preferably about 2 to about 8 wt. % of an alkali metal carbonate such as 
sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate and mixtures thereof. 
In addition to their excellent scouring ability and capacity for cleaning 
greasy and oily soils, the alkaline pH liquid crystal formulations also 
exhibit excellent cleaning performance and removal of soap scum and lime 
scale in neat (undiluted) as well as in diluted usage. 
The instant composition can contain about 0 to about 10 wt. %, more 
preferably about 0.05 to about 8 wt. % of a magnesium salt such as 
magnesium chloride and/or magnesium sulfate heptahydrate and mixtures 
thereof and more preferably Magnesium oxide (MgO). Mg(LAS)2 is, first of 
all, formed by reaction between MgO and LAS sulfonic acid. Then the other 
active ingredients are added to form liquid crystal structure. 
The final essential ingredient in the inventive microemulsion compositions 
having improved interfacial tension properties is water. The proportion of 
water in the liquid crystal detergent composition generally is in the 
range of 20% to 97%, preferably 70% to 97% by weight. 
A composition of this invention is in a liquid crystal state when it is of 
lypotropic structure, is transparent or slightly turbid (opalescent) but 
no opaque, and has a storage modulus equal to or higher than one Pascal (1 
Newton/sq. m.), more preferably higher than 10 Pascal and most preferably 
higher than 20 Pascal and when measured at a temperature of 4 to 
50.degree. C., at a frequency of 1 radian per second and at a strain of 
0.1 to 5%. The rheological behavior of the compositions of this invention 
were measured at 25.degree. C. by means of a Carri-Med CS Rheometer. In 
making the measurement, a cone and plate are used at a cone angle of 2 
degrees: 0 minutes: 0 seconds with a cone diameter of 4.0 cm, measurement 
system gap of 53.0 micro m and a measurement system inertia of 17.02 micro 
Nm sec.sup.-2. 
To make the liquid crystal compositions of the invention is relatively 
simple because they tend to form spontaneously with little need for the 
addition of energy to promote transformation to the liquid crystal state. 
However, to promote uniformity of the composition mixing will normally be 
undertaken and it has been found desirable first to mix the surfactants 
and cosurfactant into the premix with additional water which is from a 
premix of the polycarboxylate thickener with water and then followed by 
admixing of the lipophilic component, usually a hydrocarbon (but esters or 
mixtures of hydrocarbons and esters may also be employed). It is not 
necessary to employ heat and most mixings are preferably carried out at 
about room temperature (20.degree.-25.degree. C.). 
The invented compositions having a pH of about 10 to about 13 may be 
applied to such surfaces by pouring onto them, by application with a cloth 
or sponge, or by various other contacting means but it is preferred to 
apply them in the form of a spray by spraying them onto the substrate from 
a hand or finger pressure operated sprayer or squeeze bottle. Such 
application may be onto hard surfaces, such as dishes, walls or floors, 
from which lipophilic (usually greasy or oily) soil is to be removed, or 
may be onto fabrics, such as laundry, which has previously been stained 
with lipophilic soils, such as motor oil. The invented compositions may be 
used as detergents and as such may be employed in the same manner in which 
liquid detergents are normally utilized in dishwashing, floor and wall 
cleaning and laundering, but it is preferred that they be employed as 
pre-spotting agents too, in which applications they are found to be 
extremely useful in loosening the adhesions of lipophilic soils to 
substrates, thereby promoting much easier cleaning with application of 
more of the same invented detergent compositions or by applications of 
different commercial detergent compositions, in liquid, bar or particulate 
forms. 
The various advantages of the invention have already been set forth in some 
detail and will not be repeated here. However, it will be reiterated that 
the invention relates to the important discovery that effective liquid 
detergent compositions can be made in the liquid crystal state and that 
because they are in such state they are especially effective in removing 
lipophilic soils from substrates and also are effective in removing from 
substrates non-lipophilic materials. Such desirable properties of the 
liquid crystal detergent compositions of this invention make them ideal 
for use as pre-spotting agents and detergents for them ideal for use as 
pre-spotting agents and detergents for removing hard-to-remove soils from 
substrates in various hard and soft surface cleaning operations. 
The following examples illustrate but do not limit the invention. Unless 
otherwise indicated, all parts in these examples, in the specification and 
in the appended claims are by weight and all temperature are in .degree. 
C.

EXAMPLE I 
The following formulas (wt. %) were made by simple mixing at 25.degree. C. 
______________________________________ 
A B 
______________________________________ 
Na2CO3 3.4 3.9 
NaOH (32%) 3.5 4.02 
LAS 5.95 6.84 
Dobanol 45-4 5.16 -- 
Dobanol 91-2.5 -- 2.96 
C16-C18-6EO -- 2.96 
Coco fatty acid 2.08 2.39 
Isopar H 5.92 5.74 
Perfume (luminea) 0.5 0.5 
Amorphous silica 2 2 
Water Balance Balance 
Cleaning ratio (B/P): 
10% hard tallow -0.23 -0.43 
Soap scum -0.58 -0.43 
Baked on food A145 = B A156 = B 
G' (Pa) 
4.degree. C. 20 80 
R.T 60 60 
43.degree. C. 310 420 
G" (Pa) 
4.degree. C. 10 10 
R.T 10 5 
43.degree. C. 20 50 
______________________________________ 
The pH of the above formulae is about 10.6 
Re: B is the reference: classical cream cleanse (Cif) 
Evaluation test: 
The cleaning performance of the different prototypes was evaluated versus a 
classical cream cleanser (Cif) as reference. The results are given in 
terms of cleaning easiness index: 
1-(strokes number proto/strokes number ref (B))! 
If strokes number proto=strokes number ref., then the index is 0 (cleaning 
equivalence between prototype and reference). 
If strokes number proto&gt;strokes number ref. then the index is characterized 
by a negative value (the more negative the index, the less efficient the 
prototype). 
If strokes number proto&lt;strokes number ref. then the index is characterized 
by a positive value (the more positive the index, the more efficient the 
prototype). 
The higher the G' value the higher the elasticity of the composition, as 
well as the degree of structuration. The higher the G" value the higher 
the viscosity. To form a stable structure a necessary condition is that 
G'&gt;G", and both G' and G" at a temperature of 25.degree. C. must be at 
least 20 Pa and more preferably at least 30 Pa. 
The thermal stability of the samples were measured by.sub.-- classic ageing 
test (put 100 ml of product for several weeks at 4.degree. C., R.T, 
35.degree. C. and 43.degree. C.).We also can predict the thermal stability 
by rheological measurements (G' and G" as a function of Themperature).The 
more stable G' values all over the Temperature range 4.degree.-43.degree. 
C., the more stable the prototype. 
The invention has been described with respect to various embodiments and 
illustrations of it but is not to be considered as limited to these 
because it is evident that one of skill in the art with the present 
specification before him or her will be able to utilize substitutes and 
equivalents without departing from the invention.