Cleaning processes and compositions

Abstract: A method for cleaning an article comprises contacting the article with a cleaning composition comprising a linear or branched volatile siloxane.

Description: The present invention is directed to a composition, more specifically, to a siloxane fluid based composition, for use in dry cleaning and to a dry cleaning process using the composition. Current dry cleaning technology uses perchloroethylene ("PERC") or petroleum-based materials as the cleaning solvent. PERC suffers from toxicity and odor issues. The petroleum-based products are not as effective as PERC in cleaning garments. Linear volatile siloxanes and cyclic siloxanes have been reported as spot cleaning solutions, see US 4,685,930. Other patents disclose the use of silicone soaps in petroleum solvents, see JP 09299687, and the use of silicone surfactants in super critical carbon dioxide solutions has been reported, see, for example, WO 99/10587, US 5,683,977, US 5,676,705 and Chem. Mark. Rep., 15 Dec 1997, 252(24), p. 15. Non-volatile silicone oils have also been used as the cleaning solvent requiring removal by a second washing with perfluoroalkane to remove the silicone oil, see JP 06327888. Numerous other patents have issued in which siloxanes or organomodified silicones have been present as addenda in PERC or petroleum based dry cleaning solvents, see, for example, WO 9401510; US 4911853; US 4005231; US 4065258. US-A-5834416 discloses binary azeotrope compositions containing n-propyl acetate or sec-butyl acetate and hexamethyldisiloxane which are useful for cleaning, rinsing or drying. US-A-5833761 discloses a method of cleaning an industrial part including a cleaning step and a vapor drying step in which the cleaning agent comprises a low molecular weight polyorganosiloxane or an aliphatic hydrocarbon. In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to a method for cleaning an article, comprising contacting the article with a composition comprising a linear or branched volatile siloxane and a polyethersiloxane surfactant. In a second aspect, the present invention is directed to a cleaning composition, which, comprises a linear or branched volatile siloxane and a polyethersiloxane surfactant. In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning composition comprises a branched or linear volatile siloxane and a cyclic siloxane and a polyethersiloxane surfactant. The process of the present invention is effective in removing both non-polar stains, such as for example, oil and sebum, and polar stains, such as, for example, salts, components of coffee, tea and grape juice, from the article, for example, a garment, being cleaned and in suppressing redeposition of soil on the article. Preferably, the first preferred embodiment of the cleaning composition of the present invention comprises, based on 100 parts by weight ("pbw") of the composition, from 80 pbw to 99.99 pbw, more preferably from 90 pbw to 99.9 pbw and even more preferably from 92 pbw to 99.5 pbw of the linear or branched volatile siloxane and from 0.01 pbw to 20 pbw, more preferably from 0.1 pbw to less than 10 pbw and even more preferably from 0.5 pbw to 8 pbw of the surfactant. In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning composition further comprises, based on 100 pbw of the composition, up to 10 pbw, more preferably from 0.01 pbw to 10 pbw, even more preferably from 0.1 pbw to 5 pbw, even more preferably 0.5 pbw to 2 pbw water. Preferably, the second preferred embodiment of the cleaning composition of the present invention comprises, based on 100 pbw of the composition, from 0.1 pbw to 99.9 pbw, more preferably from 50.1 pbw to 99 pbw and even more preferably from 80 pbw to 99 pbw of the linear or branched volatile siloxane and from 0.1 pbw to 99.9 pbw, more preferably from pbw 1 to 49.99 pbw and even more preferably from 1 pbw to 20 pbw of the cyclic siloxane. In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning composition further comprises, based on 100 pbw of the composition, up to 10 pbw, more preferably from 0.01 pbw to 10 pbw , even more preferably from 0.1 pbw to 5 pbw, even more preferably 0.5 pbw to 2 pbw water. The linear or branched, volatile siloxane comprises one or more of, hexamethyldisiloxane, octamethyltrisiloxane, decamethyltetrasiloxane, dodecamethylpentasiloxane, tetradecamethylhexasiloxane or hexadecamethylheptasiloxane or methyltris(trimethylsiloxy)-silane. In a more highly preferred embodiment, the linear or branched, volatile siloxane of the present invention comprises octamethyltrisiloxane, decamethyltetrasiloxane, or dodecamethylpentasiloxane or methyltris-(trimethylsiloxy)silane. In a highly preferred embodiment, the siloxane component of the composition of the present invention consists essentially of decamethyltetrasiloxane. Suitable linear or branched volatile siloxanes are made by known methods, such as, for example, hydrolysis and condensation of one or more of tetrachlorosilane, methyltrichlorosilane, dimethyldichlorosilane, trimethylchlorosilane, or by isolation of the desired fraction of an equilibrate mixture of hexamethyldisiloxane and octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane or the like and are commercially available. Compounds suitable as the cyclic siloxane component of the present invention are those containing a polysiloxane ring structure that includes from 2 to 20 silicon atoms in the ring. The linear, volatile siloxanes and cyclic siloxanes are relatively volatile materials, having, a boiling point of below 300°C at a pressure of 101 KPa (760 millimeters of mercury ("mm Hg")). In a preferred embodiment, the cyclic siloxane component comprises one or more compounds of the structural formula (II): wherein: R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and R 8 are each independently a monovalent hydrocarbon group; and a and b are each integers wherein 0 ≤ a ≤ 10 and 0 ≤ b ≤ 10, provided that 3 ≤ (a + b) ≤ 10. In a preferred embodiment, the cyclic siloxane comprises one or more of, octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane, tetradecamethylcycloheptasiloxane. In a more highly preferred embodiment, the cyclic siloxane of the present invention comprises octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane or decamethylcyclopentasiloxane. In a highly preferred embodiment, the cyclic siloxane component of the composition of the present invention consists essentially of decamethylcyclopentasiloxane. Suitable cyclic siloxanes are made by known methods, such as, for example, hydrolysis and condensation of dimethyldichlorosilane and are commercially available. It is believed that those cleaning compositions according to the present invention that lack a cyclic siloxane component would be more stable than those which include a cyclic siloxane component, in that cyclic siloxanes are known to ring open and polymerize under acidic and basic conditions. The surfactant component of the present invention comprises one or more polyether siloxane compounds those according to the structural formula III: M e D f D* g M* 2-e wherein: M is R 9 3 SiO 1/2 ; D is R 10 2 SiO 2/2 ; M* is R 11 3 SiO 1/2 ; D* is R 12 2 SiO 2/2 ; each R 9 , R 10 is independently H, a monovalent hydrocarbon group. each R 11 is independently H, a monovalent hydrocarbon group, or -(CH 2 ) h -O-(C 2 H 4 O) i -(C 3 H 6 O) j ―(C n H 2n O) k -R 13 , provided that at least one R 11 is -(CH 2 ) h -O-(C 2 H 4 O) i -(C 3 H 6 O) j ―(C n H 2n O) k -R 13 ; each R 12 is independently H, a monovalent hydrocarbon group, or -(CH 2 ) h -O-(C 2 H 4 O) i -(C 3 H 6 O) j ―(C n H 2n O) k -R 13 , provided that at least one R 12 is -(CH 2 ) h -O-(C 2 H 4 O) i -(C 3 H 6 O) j ―(C n H 2n O) k -R 13 ; R 13 is H, a monovalent hydrocarbon group or alkyloxy; 0 ≤ e ≤ 2; 0 ≤ f ≤ 1000; 0 ≤ g ≤ 50, provided that g ≥ 1 if e is 2; 1 ≤ h ≤ 16; 0 ≤ i ≤ 30; 0 ≤ j ≤ 30; 0 ≤ k ≤ 30; and 4 ≤ n ≤ 8, provided that i + j + k > 0. In a preferred embodiment, 2 ≤ i ≤ 25, 0 ≤ j ≤ 25 and 0 ≤ k ≤ 25, more preferably k is 0. The composition of the present invention may, optionally, contain other components, such as, for example, fabric conditioners, brighteners, bleaching agents, enzymes, water-repellent treatments, anti-static agents, fragrances and detergents. In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning composition of the present invention further comprises a minor amount, preferably, less than 50 pbw per 100 pbw of the composition, and, more preferably, less than 10 pbw per 100 pbw of the composition, of one or more non-siloxane fluids. Suitable non-siloxane fluids include aqueous fluids, such as, for example, water, and organic fluids, for example, hydrocarbon fluids and halogenated hydrocarbon fluids. A textile or leather article, typically, a garment, is dry cleaned by contacting the article with the composition of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, the articles to be cleaned include textiles made from natural fibers, such as for example, cotton, wool, linen and hemp, from synthetic fibers, such as, for example, polyester fibers, polyamide fibers, polypropylene fibers and elastomeric fibers, from blends of natural and synthetic fibers, from natural or synthetic leather or natural or synthetic fur. In a first embodiment of the method of the present invention, a cleaning composition is applied to at least a localized area of the article to be cleaned by, for example, pouring, spraying, brushing or rubbing onto a stained area and then removed, for example, by blotting with a dry absorbent material, such as a sponge, cloth towel or paper towel. In a second embodiment of the method of the present invention, the article to be cleaned is immersed in a cleaning composition. The article and cleaning composition are then separated, by, for example, one or more of draining and centrifugation. In a preferred embodiment, separation of the article and cleaning composition is followed by the application of heat, preferably, heating to a temperature of from 15 °C to 120 °C, preferably from 20 °C to 100 °C, or reduced pressure, preferably, a pressure of from 133.3 Pa to 99.99 KPa (1 mm Hg to 750 mm Hg), or by application of heat and reduced pressure, to the article. The cleaning method of the present invention removes particulate soils, such as for example, insoluble particles such as silicates, carbon black, as well as both polar stains, such as for example, salts, sugars, water soluble biological fluids, and nonpolar stains, such as, for example, hydrocarbons, oils, greases, sebum, from the garment and prevents the redeposition of the soils, polar stains and nonpolar stains on the article. EXAMPLES 1-162 are for illustrative purposes only and are outside the scope of the invention. The respective cleaning compositions used in Examples 1-162 were each prepared by combining the components listed below in the relative amounts set forth below in TABLES I - XIV below: methyl terminated tetradimethyl siloxane ("MD 2 M"); decamethylcyclopentasiloxane ("D 5 "); polyether siloxane compounds, each according to structural formula III above, were used: Polyether siloxane e f g Ratio C 2 H 4 O C 3 H 6 O Number average molecular weight (MW n )of polyether substituent R 13 A 2 20 3 50: 50 1700 H B 2 15 5 100: 0 550 H C 0 3 0 100: 0 900 H D 0 3 0 100: 0 200 H E 2 500 6.5 50: 50 1700 H F 2 400 18 100: 0 550 H A first set of textile samples (5.08 cm x 5.08 cm (2" x 2")squares of red satin textile) were soiled with polar stains by pipetting droplets of an 8 wt % aqueous sodium chloride solution on each of the textile samples of the set. A second set of textile samples were soiled with nonpolar stains by pipetting droplets of fresh motor oil (Quaker State SAE 10W-30) on each of the textile samples of the set. Each of the dry cleaning compositions was then placed in a 4 ounce bottle. Each of the soiled textile samples was contacted with a respective one of the cleaning compositions by immersing the soiled textile sample in 50 g of one of the cleaning compositions. The textile samples and cleaning compositions were agitated by gently shaking each of the bottles. Following agitation, each of the textile samples was removed from the cleaning composition, allowed to drain, blotted and then heated at ∼50°C to dry the samples. The appearance of each of the dried textile samples was then evaluated by visual inspection and rated on the following scale (an average of three readings is reported): Rating 5 = complete removal of stain 4 = slight stain remaining 3 = moderate stain removal 2 = slight stain removal 1 = no stain removal The amounts of linear, branched and cyclic siloxanes, polyether siloxane and water used in each of Examples 1-130, as well as the type of stain and the results obtained in each of those examples are set forth in TABLES I-IX below. EX # MD 2 M, Amount (g) Stain Polyether Siloxane Polyether Siloxane, Amount (g) H 2 O, Amount (g) Cleaning 1 49.5 Salt -- -- -- 2.7 2 49.5 Salt A 0.5 -- 4 3 49 Salt A 0.5 0.5 4.3 4 49.5 Salt F 0.5 -- 3.7 5 49 Salt F 0.5 0.5 3.7 6 49.5 Salt B 0.5 -- 4 7 49 Salt B 0.5 0.5 4 8 49.5 Salt C 0.5 -- 3.3 9 49 Salt C 0.5 0.5 4 10 49.5 Salt D 0.5 -- 5 11 49 Salt D 0.5 0.5 4 12 49.5 Salt E 0.5 -- 3.3 13 49 Salt E 0.5 0.5 4.3 14 49.5 Salt B/E 0.25/0.25 -- 4 15 49 Salt B/E 0.25/0.25 0.5 4.7 EX # MD 2 M, Amount (g) Stain Polyether Siloxane Polyether Siloxane, Amount (g) H 2 O, Amount (g) Cleaning 16 47.5 Salt -- -- -- 2.7 17 47.5 Salt A 2.5 -- 4 18 47 Salt A 2.5 0.5 5 19 47.5 Salt F 2.5 -- 4 20 47 Salt F 2.5 0.5 4.7 21 47.5 Salt B 2.5 -- 4.7 22 47 Salt B 2.5 0.5 4.7 23 47.5 Salt C 2.5 -- 3.7 24 47 Salt C 2.5 0.5 5 25 47.5 Salt D 2.5 -- 4.3 26 47 Salt D 2.5 0.5 5 27 47.5 Salt E 2.5 -- 4 28 47 Salt E 2.5 0.5 4.3 29 47.5 Salt B/E 1.25/1.25 -- 4.7 30 47 Salt B/E 1.25/1.25 0.5 3.7 EX # MD 2 M, Amount (g) Stain Polyether Siloxane Polyether Siloxane, Amount (g) H 2 O, Amount (g) Cleaning 31 49.5 Oil -- -- -- 5 32 49.5 Oil A 0.5 -- 5 33 49 Oil A 0.5 0.5 4.3 34 49.5 Oil F 0.5 -- 4.3 35 49 Oil F 0.5 0.5 4.3 36 49.5 Oil B 0.5 -- 4.3 37 49 Oil B 0.5 0.5 4.3 38 49.5 Oil C 0.5 -- 5 39 49 Oil C 0.5 0.5 5 40 49.5 Oil D 0.5 - 5 41 49 Oil D 0.5 0.5 5 42 49.5 Oil E 0.5 -- 5 43 49 Oil E 0.5 0.5 4.7 44 49.5 Oil B/E 0.25/0.25 -- 4.7 45 49 Oil B/E 0.25/0.25 0.5 4.7 EX # MD 2 M, Amount (g) Stain Polyether Siloxane Polyether Siloxane, Amount (g) H 2 O, Amount (g) Cleaning 46 47.5 Oil -- -- -- 5 47 47.5 Oil A 2.5 -- 4.3 48 47 Oil A 2.5 0.5 5 49 47.5 Oil F 2.5 -- 4.7 50 47 Oil F 2.5 0.5 4.3 51 47.5 Oil B 2.5 -- 5 52 47 Oil B 2.5 0.5 4.3 53 47.5 Oil C 2.5 -- 5 54 47 Oil C 2.5 0.5 4 55 47.5 Oil D 2.5 -- 5 56 47 Oil D 2.5 0.5 5 57 47.5 Oil E 2.5 -- 5 58 47 Oil E 2.5 0.5 5 59 47.5 Oil B/E 1.25/1.25 -- 4.7 60 47 Oil B/E 1.25/1.25 0.5 4.3 EX # D 5 /MD 2 M, Amount (g) Stain Polyether Siloxane Polyether Siloxane, Amount (g) H 2 O, Amount (g) Cleaning 61 24.75/24.75 Salt -- -- -- 3 62 24.75/24.75 Salt A 0.5 -- 4.3 63 24.5/24.5 Salt A 0.5 0.5 4 64 24.75/24.75 Salt F 0.5 -- 4 65 24.5/24.5 Salt F 0.5 0.5 5 66 24.75/24.75 Salt B 0.5 -- 4.3 67 24.5/24.5 Salt B 0.5 0.5 5 68 24.75/24.75 Salt C 0.5 -- 3.3 69 24.5/24.5 Salt C 0.5 0.5 4 70 24.75/24.75 Salt D 0.5 -- 4.3 71 24.5/24.5 Salt D 0.5 0.5 5 72 24.75/24.75 Salt E 0.5 -- 4 73 24.5/24.5 Salt E 0.5 0.5 4.7 74 24.75/24.75 Salt B/E 0.25/0.25 -- 3.3 75 24.5/24.5 Salt B/E 0.25/0.25 0.5 4 EX # D 5 /MD 2 M, Amount (g) Stain Polyether Siloxane Polyether Siloxane, Amount (g) H 2 O, Amount (g) Cleaning 76 24.75/24.75 Salt -- -- -- 2.7 77 23.75/23.75 Salt A 2.5 -- 4.3 78 23.5/23.5 Salt A 2.5 0.5 5 79 23.75/23.75 Salt F 2.5 -- 4 80 23.5/23.5 Salt F 2.5 0.5 4.7 81 23.75/23.75 Salt B 2.5 -- 4.7 82 23.5/23.5 Salt B 2.5 0.5 4.7 83 23.75/23.75 Salt C 2.5 -- 3.3 84 23.5/23.5 Salt C 2.5 0.5 5 85 23.75/23.75 Salt D 2.5 -- 4.7 86 23.5/23.5 Salt D 2.5 0.5 5 87 23.75/23.75 Salt E 2.5 -- 4 88 23.5/23.5 Salt E 2.5 0.5 4 89 23.75/23.75 Salt B/E 1.25/1.25 -- 4.7 90 23.5/23.5 Salt B/E 1.25/1.25 0.5 3.7 EX # D 5 /MD 2 M, Amount (g) Stain Polyether Siloxane Polyether Siloxane, Amount (g) H 2 O, Amount (g) Cleaning 91 24.75/24.75 Oil -- -- -- 3 92 24.75/24.75 Oil A 0.5 -- 4.7 93 24.5/24.5 Oil A 0.5 0.5 4.7 94 24.75/24.75 Oil F 0.5 -- 4.3 95 24.5/24.5 Oil F 0.5 0.5 4.7 96 24.75/24.75 Oil B 0.5 -- 4.3 97 24.5/24.5 Oil B 0.5 0.5 4.7 98 24.75/24.75 Oil C 0.5 -- 4.7 99 24.5/24.5 Oil C 0.5 0.5 4 100 24.75/24.75 Oil D 0.5 -- 5 101 24.5/24.5 Oil D 0.5 0.5 5 102 24.75/24.75 Oil E 0.5 -- 5 103 24.5/24.5 Oil E 0.5 0.5 4.7 104 24.75/24.75 Oil B/E 0.25/0.25 -- 4.3 105 24.5/24.5 Oil B/E 0.25/0.25 0.5 4.3 EX # D 5/ MD 2 M, Amount (g) Stain Polyether Siloxane Polyether Siloxane, Amount (g) H 2 O, Amount (g) Cleaning 106 24.75/24.75 Oil -- -- -- 5 107 23.75/23.75 Oil A 2.5 -- 4.7 108 23.5/23.5 Oil A 2.5 0.5 5 109 23.75/23.75 Oil F 2.5 -- 4.7 110 23.5/23.5 Oil F 2.5 0.5 4.7 111 23.75/23.75 Oil B 2.5 -- 5 112 23.5/23.5 Oil B 2.5 0.5 4.3 113 23.75/23.75 Oil C 2.5 -- 5 114 23.5/23.5 Oil C 2.5 0.5 5 115 23.75/23.75 Oil D 2.5 -- 5 116 23.5/23.5 Oil D 2.5 0.5 5 117 23.75/23.75 Oil E 2.5 -- 5 118 23.5/23.5 Oil E 2.5 0.5 5 119 23.75/23.75 Oil B/E 1.25/1.25 -- 4.7 120 23.5/23.5 Oil B/E 1.25/1.25 0.5 4.3 EX # D 5 /MD 2 M, Amount (g) Stain Polyether Siloxane Polyether Siloxane, Amount (g) H 2 O, Amount (g) Cleaning 121 4.95/44.55 Salt E 0.5 -- 2.7 122 4.9/44.1 Salt E 0.5 0.5 5 123 12.37/37.13 Salt E 0.5 -- 3 124 12.25/36.75 Salt E 0.5 0.5 4.7 125 24.75/24.75 Salt E 0.5 -- 3.5 126 24.5/24.5 Salt E 0.5 0.5 4.5 127 37.13/12.37 Salt E 0.5 -- 3 128 36.75/12.25 Salt E 0.5 0.5 5 129 44.55/4.95 Salt E 0.5 -- 2.7 130 44.10/4.9 Salt E 0.5 0.5 4.7 Examples 131-162 were conducted using 5.08 cm x 5.08 cm (2"x2") blue 60/40 cotton polyester textile swatches. The salt concentration in the salt solution used to stain the swatches was either 20%, 8% or 7% by weight, as noted in the TABLES X-XIV below. The testing was conducted in the same manner as and the results ranked on the same scale as in Examples 1-130 above. The amounts of linear or cyclic siloxane, polyether siloxane and water used in each of Examples 131-162, as well as the type of stain and the results obtained in each of those examples are set forth in TABLES X-XIV below. EX # MD 2 M, Amount (g) Stain( 20%) Polyether Siloxane Polyether Siloxane, Amount (g) H 2 O, Amount (g) Cleaning 131 49.5 Salt -- -- -- 3 132 49.5 Salt E 0.5 -- 2.7 133 49 Salt E 0.5 0.5 3 134 49.5 Salt C 0.5 -- 4 135 49 Salt C 0.5 0.5 4.3 136 49 Oil -- -- -- 5 137 49.5 Oil E 0.5 -- 5 138 49 Oil E 0.5 0.5 5 139 49.5 Oil C 0.5 -- 5 140 49 Oil C 0.5 0.5 5 141 49 Salt E 0.5 1.5 4.7 EX # MD 2 M, Amount (g) Stain( 7%) Polyether Siloxane Polyether Siloxane, Amount (g) H 2 O, Amount (g) Cleaning 142 49.5 Salt -- -- -- 3 143 49.5 Salt E 0.5 -- 3 144 49 Salt E 0.5 0.5 5 145 49.5 Salt C 0.5 -- 4.3 146 49 Salt C 0.5 0.5 4 EX # D 5 /MD 2 M, Amount (g) Stain( 20%) Polyether Siloxane Polyether Siloxane, Amount (g) H 2 O, Amount (g) Cleaning 147 24.75/24.75 Salt -- -- -- 3.3 148 24.75/24.75 Salt E 0.5 -- 3.3 149 24.5/24.5 Salt E 0.5 0.5 3 150 24.75/24.75 Salt C 0.5 -- 4 151 24.5/24.5 Salt C 0.5 0.5 4.7 152 24.75/24.75 Oil -- -- -- 5 153 24.75/24.75 Oil E 0.5 -- 5 154 24.5/24.5 Oil E 0.5 0.5 5 155 24.75/24.75 Oil C 0.5 -- 5 156 24.5/24.5 Oil C 0.5 0.5 5 157 24.75/24.75 Salt E 0.5 1.5 3.3 EX # MD 2 M, Amount (g) Stain (7%) Polyether Siloxane Polyether Siloxane, Amount (g) H 2 O, Amount (g) Cleaning 158 24.75/24.75 Salt -- -- -- 3.3 159 24.75/24.75 Salt E 0.5 -- 2 160 24.5/24.5 Salt E 0.5 0.5 4.7 151 24.75/24.75 Salt C 0.5 -- 3 152 24.5/24.5 Salt C 0.5 0.5 2 EX # D 5 /MD 2 M, Amount (g) Stain (8%) Polyether Siloxane Polyether Siloxane, Amount (g) H 2 O, Amount (g) Cleaning 153 4.95/44.55 Salt E 0.5 -- 2.7 154 4.9/44.1 Salt E 0.5 0.5 3.7 155 12.37/37.13 Salt E 0.5 -- 3.3 156 12.25/36.75 Salt E 0.5 0.5 4.3 157 24.75/24.75 Salt E 0.5 -- 4 158 24.5/24.5 Salt E 0.5 0.5 4.3 159 37.13/12.37 Salt E 0.5 -- 3.7 160 36.75/12.25 Salt E 0.5 0.5 3.7 161 44.55/4.95 Salt E 0.5 -- 3.3 162 44.10/4.9 Salt E 0.5 0.5 4

Claims: A method for cleaning an article, comprising contacting the article with a cleaning composition comprising (a) a linear or branched volatile siloxane selected from hexamethyldisiloxane, octamethyltrisiloxane, decamethyltetrasiloxane, dodecamethylpentasiloxane, tetradecamethylhexasiloxane, hexadecamethylheptasiloxane or methyltris(trimethylsiloxy)-silane and (b) a polyethersiloxane surfactant according to the structural formula III: M e D f D* g M* 2-e wherein: M is R 9 3 SiO 1/2 ; D is R 10 2 SiO 2/2 ; M* is R 11 3 SiO 1/2 ; D* is R 12 2 SiO 2/2 ; each R 9 , R 10 is independently H, a monovalent hydrocarbon group; each R 11 is independently H, a monovalent hydrocarbon group, or -(CH 2 ) h -O-(C 2 H 4 O) i -(C 3 H 6 O) j ―(C n H 2n O) k -R 13 , provided that at least one R 11 is -(CH 2 ) h -O-(C 2 H 4 O) i -(C 3 H 6 O) j ―(C n H 2n O) k -R 13 ; each R 12 is independently H, a monovalent hydrocarbon group, or -(CH 2 ) h -O-(C 2 H 4 O) i -(C 3 H 6 O) j ―(C n H 2n O) k -R 13 , provided that at least one R 12 is -(CH 2 ) h -O-(C 2 H 4 O) i -(C 3 H 6 O) j ―(C n H 2n O) k -R 13 ; R 13 is H, a monovalent hydrocarbon group or alkyloxy; 0 ≤ e ≤ 2; 0 ≤ f ≤ 1000; 0 ≤ g ≤ 50, provided that g ≥ 1 if e is 2; 1 ≤ h ≤ 16; 0 ≤ i ≤ 30; 0 ≤ j ≤ 30; 0 ≤ k ≤ 30; and 4 ≤ n ≤ 8, provided that i + j + k > 0. The method of claim 1, wherein the article is contacted with the cleaning composition by applying the cleaning composition to at least a localized area of the article. The method of claim 1, wherein the article is contacted with the cleaning composition by immersing the article in the cleaning composition. The method of claim 3, wherein, subsequent to contacting the article with the cleaning composition, the cleaning composition is separated from the article by one or more of draining and centrifugation. The method of claim 4, wherein, subsequent to separation of cleaning composition from the article, the article is heated to a temperature of from 15 °C to 120 °C. The method of claim 4 or claim 5, wherein, subsequent to separation of cleaning composition from the article, the article is subjected to reduced pressure. The method of claim 1, wherein the cleaning composition further comprises a cyclic siloxane. A cleaning composition, comprising (a) a linear or branched volatile siloxane selected from hexamethyldisiloxane, octamethyltrisiloxane, decamethyltetrasiloxane, dodecamethylpentasiloxane, tetradecamethylhexasiloxane or hexadecamethylheptasiloxane or methyltris(trimethylsiloxy)-silane and (b) a polyethersiloxane surfactant according to the structural formula III: M e D f D* g M* 2-e wherein: M is R 9 3 SiO 1/2 ; D is R 10 2 SiO 2/2 ; M* is R 11 3 SiO 1/2 ; D* is R 12 2 SiO 2/2 ; each R 9 , R 10 is independently H, a monovalent hydrocarbon group; each R 11 is independently H, a monovalent hydrocarbon group, or -(CH 2 ) h -O-(C 2 H 4 O) i -(C 3 H 6 O) j ―(C n H 2n O) k -R 13 , provided that at least one R 11 is -(CH 2 ) h -O-(C 2 H 4 O) i -(C 3 H 6 O) j ―(C n H 2n O) k -R 13 ; each R 12 is independently H, a monovalent hydrocarbon group, or -(CH 2 ) h -O-(C 2 H 4 O) i -(C 3 H 6 O) j ―(C n H 2n O) k -R 13 , provided that at least one R 12 is -(CH 2 ) h -O-(C 2 H 4 O) i -(C 3 H 6 O) j ―(C n H 2n O) k -R 13 ; R 13 is H, a monovalent hydrocarbon group or alkyloxy; 0 ≤ e ≤ 2; 0 ≤ f ≤ 1000; 0 ≤ g ≤ 50, provided that ≥ 1 if e is 2; 1 ≤ h ≤ 16; 0 ≤ i ≤ 30; 0 ≤ j ≤ 30; 0 ≤ k ≤ 30; and 4 ≤ n ≤ 8, provided that i + j + k > 0. The composition of claim 8, wherein the surfactant exhibits an HLB value of from 3 to 14. A cleaning composition according to claim 8 further comprising a cyclic siloxane. The cleaning composition of claim 10, wherein the cyclic siloxane comprises one or more compounds of the structural formula: wherein: R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and R 8 are each independently a monovalent hydrocarbon group; and a and b are each integers wherein 0 ≤ a ≤ 10 and 0 ≤ b ≤ 10, provided that 3 ≤ (a + b) ≤ 10.

Inventors: KILGOUR JOHN ALFRED, PERRY ROBERT J, KILGOUR, JOHN ALFRED, PERRY, ROBERT J.
Applicants: GEN ELECTRIC, GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Application year: 2000
Main classification: D06L1
IPC codes: C11D7, D06L1, C11D3, C11D17, C11D1