Abstract: A method for providing a ready to use cleaning composition is provided. The method includes diluting a concentrate with water of dilution. The concentrate includes an anionic surfactant, an alkanolamine and a water hardness anti-precipitant mixture. The water hardness anti-precipitant mixture includes a maleic anhydride/olefin co-polymer and an EO-PO co-polymer. The EO-PO co-polymer having the formula: (EO)x(PO)y(EO)x (PO)y(EO)x(PO)y (PO)y(EO)x(PO)y(EO)x(PO)y EO is an ethylene oxide group, PO is a propylene oxide group, x is between about 10 to about 130 and y is between about 15 to about 70.

Abstract: Zinc carbonates such as carbonic acid zinc salt, zinc carbonate hydroxide monohydrate, zinc bicarbonate, zinc tetraamine carbonate, zinc ammonium carbonate, carbamic acid zinc salt and zinc carbamate can initiate hardening of polyurethane coatings and decrease the coating tack-free time. The decreased tack-free times facilitate earlier application of additional polyurethane layers and earlier return of a coated article to service, and can provide improved floor finishes.

Abstract: A method for providing a ready to use cleaning composition is provided. The method includes diluting a concentrate with water of dilution. The concentrate includes an anionic surfactant, an alkanolamine and a water hardness anti-precipitant mixture. The water hardness anti-precipitant mixture includes a maleic anhydride/olefin co-polymer and an EO-PO co-polymer. The EO-PO co-polymer having the formula: (EO)x(PO)y(EO)x (PO)y(EO)x(PO)y (PO)y(EO)x(PO)y(EO)x(PO)y EO is an ethylene oxide group, PO is a propylene oxide group, x is between about 10 to about 130 and y is between about 15 to about 70.

Abstract: A cleaning composition including an acid component is provided, along with methods for using the composition to remove soil from hard surfaces. The concentrate cleaning composition includes between about 1 and about 70 wt % of methane sulfonic acid, about 0.1 to about 15 wt % of a surfactant component, up to about 90% of a solvent and other adjuvants.

Abstract: A cleaning composition is provided. The cleaning composition includes an anionic surfactant and a water hardness anti-precipitant mixture. The water hardness anti-precipitant mixture includes a dispersant and at least one of a sheeting agent and a humectant. The weight ratio of the dispersant to the total amount of the sheeting agent and the humectant can be at least about 1:75 and less than about 75:1. Methods for providing and using a ready to use cleaning composition are provided.

Abstract: Floor finishes can be stripped using a substantially nonchlorinated concentrate comprising a floor finish dissolver and an at least partially water-unactivated water thickener. The concentrate is diluted with water at an intended use location to activate the water thickener and noticeably increase within sixty minutes or less the viscosity of the resulting mixture, then applied to a hardened floor finish atop a floor and allowed to soften or dissolve the floor finish so that the finish may be removed from the floor.

Abstract: A concentrate and a ready-to-use or diluted formulation for an aqueous vehicle cleaner can remove a wide range of different types of traffic film using either low pressure application, hand pressure application, water jet spray apparatus, clean-in-place systems or other manual or mechanical washing systems. The compositions may comprise, for example, one or more solutions that each or collectively contain or comprises: a) at least one anionic surfactant; b) at least one poly[oxyalkylene] ammonium cationic surfactant; and c) an alkaline agent. Optional additional ingredients may comprise at least one polycarboxylic acid chelating agent (preferably an aminocarboxylic acid chelating agent), at least one non-ionic or amphoteric surfactant, at least one hydrotrope, inorganic and/or organic acids and at least one silicate. The alkaline agent may provide a pH (when the finished product is diluted to 0.5 to 5% by weight in water) will be between about 9 to 13.

Abstract: A jobsite-renewable multilayer floor finish system has an undercoat employing a first hardening system, an autohardenable (e.g., two-part) topcoat employing a second hardening system, and at least one initiator for the topcoat hardening system in at least the undercoat. The initiator increases the topcoat hardening rate while reducing the topcoat pot life to a lesser extent than would be the case if the initiator were included only in the topcoat. The increased topcoat hardening rate facilitates earlier application of additional topcoat layers, or earlier return of the floor to service.

Abstract: A concentrate and a ready-to-use or diluted formulation for an aqueous vehicle cleaner can remove a wide range of different types of traffic film using either low pressure application, hand pressure application, water jet spray apparatus, clean-in-place systems or other manual or mechanical washing systems. The compositions may comprise, for example, one or more solutions that each or collectively contain or comprises: a) at least one anionic surfactant; b) at least one poly[oxyalkylene] ammonium cationic surfactant; and c) an alkaline agent. Optional additional ingredients may comprise at least one polycarboxylic acid chelating agent (preferably an aminocarboxylic acid chelating agent), at least one non-ionic or amphoteric surfactant, at least one hydrotrope, inorganic and/or organic acids and at least one silicate. The alkaline agent may provide a pH (when the finished product is diluted to 0.5 to 5% by weight in water) will be between about 9 to 13.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a system and method for treating floors with an antimicrobial composition, where the floor finish applied to a floor is resistant to degradation by the antimicrobial composition and in particular quaternary ammonium compound.

Abstract: A method for stripping a floor using a concentrate prepared by mixing a substantially nonchlorinated concentrate containing a floor finish solvent and an at least partially unactivated water thickener. The concentrate is diluted merely with water at an intended use location to activate the water thickener and noticeably increase within ten minutes or less the viscosity of the resulting mixture, then applied to a hardened floor finish atop a floor and allowed to soften or dissolve the floor finish so that the finish may be removed from the floor.

Abstract: A pseudo-stable phase-splitting solvent composition that forms a single liquid phase when subjected to mild agitation and retains that single phase while the composition is applied to a surface, but which forms two or more laminar liquid phases promptly after being applied. A concentrated solvent film forms on the surface, under a film containing the other phase. The solvent preferably is denser than water, and the composition preferably is diluted with water. This enables the solvent to attack the surface at near full strength, and provides a water seal over the solvent film. The solvent composition can be used full strength or in diluted form for cleaning, reducing the microbial population of, or degreasing a variety of surfaces, and for stripping a variety of difficult-to-remove coatings from surfaces.

Abstract: A concentrate and a ready-to-use or diluted formulation for an aqueous vehicle cleaner can remove a wide range of different types of traffic film using either low pressure application, hand pressure application, water jet spray apparatus, clean-in-place systems or other manual or mechanical washing systems. The compositions may comprise, for example, one or more solutions that each or collectively contain or comprises: a) at least one anionic surfactant; b) at least one poly[oxyalkylene] ammonium cationic surfactant; and c) an alkaline agent. Optional additional ingredients may comprise at least one polycarboxylic acid chelating agent (preferably an aminocarboxylic acid chelating agent), at least one non-ionic or amphoteric surfactant, at least one hydrotrope, inorganic and/or organic acids and at least one silicate. The alkaline agent may provide a pH (when the finished product is diluted to 0.5 to 5% by weight in water) will be between about 9 to 13.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions, kits and processes for the brightening of metal surfaces by the application of the chemical compositions. These compositions act to release hydrofluoric acid as a brightening agent. The solutions are preferably mixed during application of the brightening composition to a metal surface by mixing the solutions immediately prior to or even during application of the solution. This can be readily accomplished by mixing two solutions, one having a fluoride source and the other having a strong acid to release hydrofluoric acid from the fluoride source, the mixing occurring immediately before spray application, during spraying, or immediately after spraying of the two solutions. Mixing may be done on-site, which means that mixing is performed at the site of use, usually on the same day of use or even within a few (less than 10) minutes of use.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to cleaning compositions for metal surfaces, including both concentrates and ready-to-use solutions. These compositions include a source of calcium ion, a source of alkalinity, a chelating agent, and a surfactant. In some embodiments, a water-soluble or water-dispersible acid-substituted polymer is also included. Additionally, in some embodiments, specific surfactants or chelating agents are used to enhance the performance of the composition.

Abstract: A coated substrate comprises a strippable intermediate coating on a substrate, and a strip agent-permeable coating or topcoat on the intermediate coating. The topcoat is less strippable and more wear-resistant than the intermediate coating. In a preferred embodiment, the substrate comprises a floor, the topcoat comprises a UV curable floor finish, the intermediate coating comprises a metal-crosslinked acrylic, and the strip agent comprises a chemical strip agent containing a phenyl alcohol.

Abstract: A coated substrate comprises a strippable intermediate coating atop the substrate and a strip agent-permeable waterborne overcoat adhered to the intermediate coating, wherein the dried overcoat is less strippable and more wear-resistant than the dried intermediate coating. When the overcoat eventually becomes worn and must be renewed, a strip agent (e.g., chemical strip agent) can be applied to the overcoat. The strip agent penetrates the overcoat and attacks the intermediate coating, thereby enabling removal of the intermediate coating and overcoat without aggressive removal techniques such as sanding.

Abstract: A coated substrate comprises a strippable intermediate coating atop the substrate and a strip agent-permeable waterborne overcoat adhered to the intermediate coating, wherein the dried overcoat is less strippable and more wear-resistant than the dried intermediate coating. When the overcoat eventually becomes worn and must be renewed, a strip agent (e.g., chemical strip agent) can be applied to the overcoat. The strip agent penetrates the overcoat and attacks the intermediate coating, thereby enabling removal of the intermediate coating and overcoat without aggressive removal techniques such as sanding.

Abstract: A coated substrate comprises a strippable intermediate coating on a substrate, and a strip agent-permeable coating or topcoat on the intermediate coating. The topcoat is less strippable and more wear-resistant than the intermediate coating. In a preferred embodiment, the substrate comprises a floor, the topcoat comprises a UV curable floor finish, the intermediate coating comprises a metal-crosslinked acrylic, and the strip agent comprises a chemical strip agent containing a phenol alcohol.

Abstract: A cleaning composition is provided. The cleaning composition includes an anionic surfactant and a water hardness anti-precipitant mixture. The water hardness anti-precipitant mixture includes a dispersant and at least one of a sheeting agent and a humectant. The weight ratio of the dispersant to the total amount of the sheeting agent and the humectant can be at least about 1:75 and less than about 75:1. Methods for providing and using a ready to use cleaning composition are provided.