Abstract: An aqueous composition for cleaning surfaces, for removing coatings from surfaces, or for plasticizing or softening coatings or other surface-adhered materials prior to stripping or mechanical removal thereof from the surface, comprises a trialkyi or triaryl phosphate, a dibasic or tribasic carboxylic acid ester, and greater than 80% by weight of water. The composition is useful in removing grease, waxes, oil, resins, tar, ink, magic marker ink, paint (including spray-paint), varnish, lacquer, stains (including wood staining compositions applied to a wooden surface), dirt, mold or foodstuffs from surfaces.

Abstract: An aqueous composition for plasticizing or softening paint, varnish and similar coatings prior to stripping the coating from a surface includes a combination of the active agents, e.g., triethylphosphate and a co-agent selected from dimethyl adipate, 1,2,3-propanetriol triacetate, tri-n-butyl citrate, n-octyl acetate, methyl octanoate and 2-ethyl-l-butanol; as an emulsified hydrophobic phase in which the actives are partitioned between the hydrophobic and aqueous phases. The emulsion is stabilized using a non-ionic water-soluble block copolymer surfactant, being a copolymer of more than one alkylene oxide. The composition may be thickened using rheology control agent. Synthetic smectic clays are particularly suitable. The composition is non-toxic and consists predominantly of water, and yet exhibits effective paint, varnish and lacquer plasticizing/softening.

Abstract: An aqueous composition for softening or removing organic coatings comprises: (a) an effective amount of a mixture of (a1) at least one non-toxic compound of formula (I). Wherein R, R1 and R2 which may be the same or different, represent lower alkyl, phenyl or lower alkyl-phenyl groups (e.g. triethlyphosphate) and (a2) at least one non-toxic lower alkyl ester of a C2-20 carboxylic acid or at least one non-toxic C4-12 alkanol (e.g. diethyl succinate, diethyl succinate, diethyl adipate. 1,2,3-propanetriol triacetate, tri-n-butyl citrate, n-octyl acetate or methyl octanoate)(b) an effective amount of at least one surfactant to allow the composition to exist as a stable emulsion. The surfactant(s) being selected nonionic water-soluble block compolymers of more than one alkylene oxide (e.g.

Abstract: A predominantly aqueous composition for plasticising or softening paint, varnish and similar coatings prior to stripping the coating from a surface includes preferably a combination of the active agents triethylphosphate and a co-agent selected from dimethyl adipate, 1,2,3-propanetriol triacetate, tri-n-butyl citrate, n-octyl acetate, methyl octanoate and 2-ethyl-l-butanol, as an emulsified hydrophobic phase in which the actives are partitioned between the hydrophobic and aqueous phases. The emulsion is preferably stabilized using a non-ionic water-soluble block copolymer surfactant, being a copolymer of more than one alkaline oxide. The composition may be thickened using a rheology control agent. Synthetic smectic clays are particularly suitable. The composition is non-toxic and consists predominantly of water, and yet exhibits effective paint, varnish and lacquer plasticising/softening characteristics.