Biocidal hard surface treatment with sustained effect based on use of a copolymer of hydrophilic oxyethylene/oxypropylene and hydrophobic ester chain units

摘要

The invention provides a composition suitable for application to a hard or textile surface which comprises an aqueous solution, suspension or dispersion of a biocide and a copolymer comprising chain units A1 of the formula -OC n H 2n -where n is 2 or 3 and chain ester units A2 of the formula where R is a hydrophobic group; where the mole ratio of units A1 to A2 is from 1:10 to 3000:1 and the copolymer has a molecular weight from 1000 to 100,000 and methods using a biocide and such a copolymer or using such compositions from controlling microorganisms. Such copolymers possess a hydrophobic part (A1) which will give some adherence to the surface (resisting removal on washing of the surface by water and weak surfactant solutions) and a hydrophilic part(A2) which will allow migration of the biocide through to the surface of the polymer, thus providing a sustained biocidal effect. The polymer is advantageously biodegradable by virtue of the ester linkage present in its backbone. The compositions may easily be removed from the surface to which they have been applied by the application of an alkali.