A cleaning implement comprises a modified open-cell foam with a density in the range from about 5 to about 1,000 kg/m3 and with an average pore diameter in the range from about 1 μm to about 1 mm, comprising an amount in the range from about 1 to about 2,500% by weight, based on the weight of the unmodified open-cell foam, of at least about one water-insoluble polymer (b), selected from polystyrene, styrene copolymers, polybutadiene, butadiene copolymers, polyvinylesters, polyvinylethers, copolymers from (meth)acrylic acid with at least one (meth)acrylate, and polyurethanes, with the proviso that styrene-acrylonitrile-C1-C10-alkyl (meth)acrylate terpolymers, styrene-butadiene-n-butyl acrylate terpolymers, and styrene-maleic anhydride copolymers are excluded.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning implement according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cleaning implement according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
Claims
1. A cleaning implement (1) comprising a modified open-cell foam (2) with a density in the range from about 5 to about 1,000 kg/m3 and with an average pore diameter in the range from about 1 μm to about 1 mm, comprising an amount in the range from about 1 to about 2,500% by weight, based on the weight of the unmodified open-cell foam, of at least about one water-insoluble polymer (b), selected from: polystyrene, styrene copolymers, polybutadiene, butadiene copolymers, polyvinylesters, polyvinylethers, copolymers from (meth)acrylic acid with at least one (meth)acrylate, polyurethanes, polyethylene and wax derivatives thereof, polypropylene and wax derivatives thereof, polyethylene-copolymers, polypropylene-copolymers, and ethylene-propylene-diene-copolymers and combinations thereof; with the proviso that styrene-acrylonitrile-C1-C10-alkyl (meth)acrylate terpolymers, styrene-butadiene-n-butyl acrylate terpolymers, and styrene-maleic anhydride copolymers are excluded.
2. A cleaning implement (1) according to claim 1, wherein said water-insoluble polymer (b) is a polyurethane.
3. A cleaning implement (1) according to claim 1, wherein said open-cell foam (a) (2) is selected from aminoplastic foams.
4. A cleaning implement (1) according to claim 1, wherein said open-cell foam (a) is selected from aminoplastic foams which have been produced by foaming a precondensate of at least one organic di- or triamine with at least on carbonyl compound.
5. A cleaning implement (1) according to claim 1, wherein said open-cell foam (a) (2) is a melamine foam.
6. A cleaning implement (1) according to claim 5, wherein said melamine foam is a melamine-formaldehyde resin foam.
7. A cleaning implement (1) according to claim 1, wherein said water-insoluble polymer (b) has thermoplastic properties.
8. A cleaning implement (1) according to claim 1, wherein said water-insoluble polymer (b) has elastomeric properties.
9. A cleaning implement (1) according to claim 1, wherein said cleaning implement has a thickness of at least about 15 mm.
10. A cleaning implement (1) according to claim 1, having a shape selected from the group consisting of : cube shape, rectangular shape, pyramid shape, cylindrical shape, cone shape, pencil eraser shape, cuboid shape, and tetrahedron shape.
11. A cleaning implement (1) according to claim 1, having a volume of from about 1 cm3 to about 10,000 cm3.
12. A cleaning implement (1) according to claim 1, wherein said modified open-cell foam forms (2) a first layer and wherein said cleaning implement additionally comprises a second layer of material.
13. A cleaning implement (1) according to claim 12, wherein said second layer of material is a second foam layer (3).
14. A cleaning implement (1) according to claim 13, wherein said second foam layer (3) consists of: polyurethane foams; polypropylene foams; polyethylene foams; cellulose foam sponges; naturally occurring sponges; open-cell polyester foams; and cross-lined polyethylene foams; and combinations thereof.
15. A cleaning implement (1) according to claim 13, wherein said layer of modified open-cell foam and said layer of a second foam (3) are joined by means of a permanent attachment or a temporary attachment.
16. A cleaning implement (1) according to claim 13, wherein said layer of said modified open-cell foam (2) and said layer of a second foam (3) are joined by an attachment means providing a permanent attachment selected from the group consisting of: foam flame laminating the two layers together; use of a permanent adhesive; sewing the two layers together; and needle-punching the two layers together; and combinations thereof.
17. A cleaning implement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of said modified open-cell foam (2) layer is from about 5 mm to about 100 mm.
18. A cleaning implement (1) according to claim 12, wherein said cleaning implement comprises at least one additional layer.
19. A cleaning implement (1) according to claim 1, wherein said cleaning implement comprises two outer layers of said modified open-cell foam (a) and an inner layer of material.
20. A cleaning implement (1) according to claim 19, wherein said inner layer of a second foam material.
21. A cleaning implement (1) according to claim 20, wherein said inner layer of a second foam material is made of a foam material selected from the group consisting of: polyurethane foams; polypropylene foams; polyethylene foams; cellulose foam sponges; naturally occurring sponges; open-cell polyester foams; and cross-lined polyethylene foams; and combinations thereof.
22. A cleaning implement (1) according to claim 1, wherein said modified open-cell foam comprises at least one additive selected from the group consisting of: biocides; solids, preferably abrasive materials and/or filler materials; surfactants, colorants, lubricants, cross-linkers, fragrances, plasticizers; odor scavengers; and microcapsules; and combinations thereof.
23. A method of cleaning a hard surface with a cleaning implement (1) comprising a modified open-cell foam (2) with a density in the range from about 5 to about 1,000 kg/m3 and with an average pore diameter in the range from about 1 μm to about 1 mm, comprising an amount in the range from about 1 to about 2,500% by weight, based on the weight of the unmodified open-cell foam, of at least about one water-insoluble polymer (b), selected from: polystyrene, styrene copolymers, polybutadiene, butadiene copolymers, polyvinylesters, polyvinylethers, copolymers from (meth)acrylic acid with at least one (meth)acrylate, polyurethanes, polyethylene and wax derivatives thereof, polypropylene and wax derivatives thereof, polyethylene-copolymers, polypropylene-copolymers, and ethylene-propylene-diene-copolymers and combinations thereof; with the proviso that styrene-acrylonitrile-C1-C10-alkyl (meth)acrylate terpolymers, styrene-butadiene-n-butyl acrylate terpolymers, and styrene-maleic anhydride copolymers are excluded, said method comprising bringing said cleaning implement (1) into contact with said hard surface.
24. A method of cleaning a hard surface according to claim 23, wherein said method additionally includes the step of wetting said cleaning implement (1) with an appropriate solvent prior to bringing said cleaning implement into contact with said hard surface.
25. A method of cleaning a hard surface according to claim 24, wherein said appropriate solvent is water.
Patent Application
20070157948
