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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

© Date of publication of patent specification: 07.12.94 © Int. CI.5: C09D 9/00

© Application number: 89305825.5

@ Date of filing: 09.06.89

© Stripper composition for removal of protective coatings.

© Priority: 10.06.88 US 205143 Qj) Proprietor: HOECHST CELANESE CORPORA-

TION
@ Date of publication of application: Route 202-206 North
13.12.89 Bulletin 89/50 Somervllle, N.J. 08876 (US)

© Publication of the grant of the patent: @ Inventor: Van De Mark, Michael Roy
07.12.94 Bulletin 94/49 Route 4
Rolla Missouri (US)
© Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH DE ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL SE
© Representative: De Mlnvlelle-Devaux, Ian
© References cited: Benedict Peter et al
FR-A- 2 137 656 CARPMAELS & RANSFORD
US-A- 3 784 477 43, Bloomsbury Square
London WC1A 2RA (GB)

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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person
®
may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition
CL shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee
LU has been paid (Art. 99(1) European patent convention).
Rank Xerox (UK) Business Services
(3. 10/3.09/3.3.3)
 EP 0 346 130 B1

Description

1. Field of the Invention

5 This invention relates to compositions for removing or stripping paint, varnish, and like coatings from
wood and metal surfaces.

2. Review of the Prior Art

io Removal of protective coatings from wood and metal surfaces has long been a difficult and laborious
operation involving the use of flame, heat, and/or chipping tools. Such labor has been minimized by using
solvents to soften and/or lift a coating from a protected surface. Compositions for removing protective
coatings have generally utilized methylene chloride and other halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons.
Paint and varnish removers are of two main types according to method of use: application removers
75 and immersion removers. Application removers are usually applied by brushing or spraying and are used
for small jobs or for items that cannot be immersed. Immersion removers are used as either cold or hot
baths where it is practical and cost efficient to install equipment that can strip numerous items. Cold baths
contain solvents such as methylene chloride, and hot baths often contain caustic soda.
As disclosed in U.S. Patent 2,495,729, aliphatic alcohols or cyclic aliphatic oxides, such as
20 tetramethylene oxide, are mixed with an aliphatic acid ester, such as ethyl acetate in acetone, and a surface
active agent, such as a long chain alkylbenzene sulfonate, and are effective for vertical surfaces because a
film-forming base material, such as wax, cellulose nitrate, and cellulose acetate, is added to increase the
viscosity and form a protective film which enables the solvent and softening agents to be confined within
the film to exert maximum softening and solvent action. The composition includes methylene chloride as
25 the preferred sole active organic solvent plus a second component such as benzene, methanol, and
acetone to form preferred binary mixtures.
U.S. Patent 3,179,609 describes compositions useful for removing coatings and finishes such as paints,
varnishes, lacquers, shellac, gums, and natural and synthetic resins.
U.S. Patent 3,538,007 discloses a paint stripper comprising 54-77 parts of chlorinated liquid hydrocar-
30 bon solvent, 1-4 parts of carboxylic acid having 1-4 carbons, 1-6 parts of propargyl alcohol, 0-2 parts of
non-ionic wetting agent, 0-15 parts of liquid aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, 0-6 parts of a coupling agent,
O-30 parts of phenol or alkyl substituted phenol, 0-2 parts of a thickener, and 0-2 parts of an evaporation
retarder. The aromatic liquid hydrocarbon can be benzene, toluene, or xylene.
U.S. 3,574,123 describes a paint stripper comprising 50-90 parts of a chlorinated liquid hydrocarbon
35 solvent, 2-15 parts of a lower aliphatic alcohol or glycol ethers, 0.1-15 parts of a lower carboxylic acid, 2-30
parts of hydroxybenzenes, 2-10 parts of a fatty acids sulfonate or a salt of a fatty amine carboxylic acid,
and 0.1-10 parts of aqueous ammonium bifluoride. This composition can also contain inert organic aromatic
hydrocarbon solvents such as benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, otho-ethyltoluene, di-ethylbenzene,
and isopropyl benzene, the lower alkyl substituted benzenes boiling at 170°F and higher being preferred.
40 U.S. Patent 3,592,691 describes the removal of photo resist mask residuals from a semiconductor
substrate by immersing the substrate in a photoresist solvent and heating the solvent at 150-250 °C and at
a pressure of about 300 psig for a time period of 1/4-3 hours. The solvent composition comprises
trichloroethylene, isopropanol, and xylene with up to a few percent of methylene chloride. The isopropanol
may be replaced wholly or partially with lower boiling point aliphatic alcohols such as ethanol.
45 US. Patent 3,743,542 describes a method for removing paint from metal surfaces by boiling a solvent or
solvent mixture and contacting the painted metal surface with the vapors of the solvent mixture, preferably
while refluxing the vapors in a closed system. It is especially useful for removing durable paints such as
those based on vinyl, acrylic, or epoxy resins. The stripping composition comprises hydrogenated aromatic
solvents and aliphatic alcohols.
50 U.S. Re 27,432 is directed to a process for removing polymeric materials from processing equipment. It
teaches numerous solvents known for dissolving vinyl halides such as trimethylene oxide, tetramethyl urea,
dimethyl acetamide, tetrahydrofuran, cyclohexanone, cyclopentanone, cyclohexene oxide, diethyl acet-
amide, methyl ethyl ketone, and dioxane. It also teaches that these solvents vary in dissolution strength with
the molecular weight of the compound to be dissolved and that tetrahydrofuran successfully removes both
55 homopolymer and co-polymer contaminants having low or high molecular weights.
U.S. Patent 3,784,477 relates to removal of paints, varnishes, and similar finishes from wood and metal
objects without damage to grain or glue joints. It teaches that xylene or aromatic naphthas can be used as
an extender for dimethylformamide or dimethyl acetamide, with little change in paint removal activity, and

2
 EP 0 346 130 B1

further that xylene can be diluted or extended freely with methyl alcohol up to about 20% of its weight.
U.S. Patent 4,595,396 teaches the solubility of trioxane in methanol, absolute ethanol, and 95% ethanol
at temperatures below and above ambient. Such solutions are used for fuel transport and as fuel.
Trioxane-containing lacquer removers for alkyd resins are disclosed in German Offenlegungsschrift
5 2,118,870. They consist of 4-7:1-3 parts diol acetals, such as 1,3-dioxolane, and trioxane for retention of the
volatile acetals. They optionally contain ethyl cellulose.
Solutions comprising trioxanes and ethyl acetate for removing alkyd resin coatings are also described in
German Offenlegungsschrift 2,123,563. They optionally contain ethyl cellulose as a retention agent. An
alkyd resin coating treated with a 4:1 mixture of ethyl acetate: trioxane was removable within 0.5 minute
io after application and hardened (due to solvent evaporation) after 120 minutes, as compared to 0.5 and 50
minutes, respectively, for pure ethyl acetate.
Substantially all currently used strippers contain chlorinated hydrocarbons and particularly methylene
chloride which is a potentially harmful solvent. There is accordingly a need for a solvent having fast lifting
speed for common coatings which is also harmless to the user.
is Accordingly to the "Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology," Vol. 16, p. 763, a typical
Methylene Chloride Remover contains 70-85% methylene chloride, 5-10% alcohol, and 0-10% hydrocarbon
solvent or ketones, the remainder being paraffin wax, methylcellulose, an amine, and surfactants or
emulsifiers.
Because immersion stripping has many practical advantages, there is also a need for a stripper
20 composition for use in hot baths that is less volatile than one based on methylene chloride (b.p. = 42 ° C),
less toxic, and less painful upon skin contact.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

25 It has surprisingly been discovered that trioxane is a very fast and effective solvent for lifting common
coatings and that its solubility parameters can be modified by admixing an aromatic hydrocarbon and an
aliphatic alcohol.
The invention provides a composition for stripping coatings from surfaces comprising trioxane, said
trioxane being present in an amount of at least 33% by weight of the total composition, an aromatic
30 hydrocarbon, and an aliphatic alcohol, selected from methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, and
butanol, the solubility of trioxane being progressively less in this series. Methanol is the preferred solvent.
The invention also provides a method of stripping a coating from a surface, complying applying to the
surface a stripping composition as defined above.
Suitable aromatic hydrocarbons include benzene, toluene, xylenes, and ethylbenzene, a xylene or a
35 mixture of xylenes being the preferred aromatic solvent. Other alkylbenzenes, such as di-ethylbenzene,
isopropyl benzene, otho-ethyltoluene, trimethylbenzenes, and cumene are reasonably satisfactory, if the
alkane end is not more than a C5 hydrocarbon, to form a liquid composition which is an effective coatings
stripper.
In commercial use, the composition is suitably further modified by adding waxes or oils to reduce
40 evaporation and by adding thickeners to reduce flow so that it can be used for vertical surface stripping.
The preferred composition for use at ambient temperatures is 33% methanol, 33% xylene, and 33%
trioxane. At ambient temperatures, the solubility of trioxane is about 35% by weight. However, to provide a
margin of safety in the event that the temperature drops, 33% is preferred. This coatings stripper is less
dense than the methylene chloride strippers and is 66% water soluble.
45 Trioxane is more like methylene chloride in structure than is dioxane, dimethyformamide,
tetrahydrofuran, or tetramethylene oxide. Methylene chloride, however, is very low on hydrogen bonding as
compared to trioxane. In the solvent composition of this invention, more aromatics are consequently needed
to counterbalance the hydrogen bonding of trioxane. The wetting ability of the alcohol is needed to add a
proton donor for hydrogen bonding.
50 This paint stripper composition is useful for removing or stripping a wide variety of coatings such as
paints, varnishes, enamels, lacquers, and the like, and more particularly neoprenes, polyesters, polycar-
bonates, silicon elastomers, phenolics, vinyl halide polymers and copolymers, acrylates, and polyvinyl
alcohol coatings at ambient temperatures. It is particularly suitable for alkyd, latex, and urethane paints and
for varnishes.
55 The compound, 1,3,5,-trioxane, is commonly referred to as trioxane or trioxymethylene. Trioxane as
used herein is a cyclic trimer of formaldehyde having the structural formula below:

3
 EP 0 346 130 B1

When trioxane is dissolved in methanol and other solvents, heat is absorbed so that the solubility of
io trioxane in methanol and similar solvents increases with increasing temperature. The solubility of trioxane in
methanol is shown in the following table:

TABLE I

SOLUBILITY OF TRIOXANE IN METHANOL

Temperature, ° C. Wt. % Trioxane in Liquid Phase
0.1 14
10.2 21
18.9 31
25.0 37
30.0 44
40.0 60
64.0 (melting point) 100

The solubilities of chemically pure trioxane in absolute ethanol and in 95% ethanol at various
temperatures are approximately as follows:

30 TABLE II

SOLUBILITY OF TRIOXANE IN ABSOLUTE ETHANOL

Temperature, ° C. Wt. % Trioxane in Liquid Phase
10 12
15 15
20 19
25 25
30 32
35 42
40 52
45 (too high to determine accurately)

45

50

55

4
 EP 0 346 130 B1

TABLE III

SOLUBILITY OF TRIOXANE IN 95% ETHANOL, 5%

H20
Temperature, ° C. Wt. % Trioxane in Liquid Phase
10 16
15 18
20 23
25 28
30 37
35 50
40 (too high to determine accurately)

These data indicate that the solubility of trioxane in absolute or 95 percent ethanol is slightly less at a
given temperature than the solubility of trioxane in methanol. However, both ethanol and water can be used
as major or minor portions of the solvent in trioxane-methanol compositions. The addition of water to
ethanol increases the solubility of trioxane at a given temperature, i.e., water increases the solubility of
trioxane in ethanol at a given temperature and reduces the temperature at which a solution of a given
concentration can be maintained without crystallization of the trioxane. Water can also be expected to have
the same effect when it is a portion of a methanol-trioxane solution.
Stripper compositions based on trioxane can be useful for warm-to-hot baths (35°-60°C) that offer
many of the advantages of conventional immersion-type removers without the disadvantages of volatility
and/or causticity. Moreover, mixtures of alcohols can be utilized in such baths to provide low volatility and
adequate solvency.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention may be more clearly understood by reference to the following examples which are given
on a weight basis.
The compositions described in Examples 2-4, 9, 12 and 15 are compositions according to the invention.
The compositions described in Examples 6-8, 10 and 11 are comparative compositions.

Example 1

Using a modification of the Crowley method to determine the hydrogen bonding capability of trioxane,
solutions of trioxane were prepared with 8% and 20% trioxane. This solvent system was used to prepare
0.1 M EtOd solutions for FT-IR.
Solution of trioxane in CH2CI2 were also prepared at 5%, 10, 15%, and 20% levels and used as the
solvent for 0.1 M EtOd solutions for FT-IR.
The FT-IR results from between 2750 and 2550cm-1 showed a modest H-bond value, calculated to a
Crowley value of about 7.

Principal Component Hildebrand Crowley Values Dielectric Dipole

Moment
Trioxane -20 7 8 2
CH2CI2 19.8 1.5 9 5
Tetrahydrofuran 20
Dioxane 20.5

Based on these data and numbers in "Solubility Parameters" of the Chemical Rubber Co., trioxane is
55 similar to esters and methylene chloride.

5
 EP 0 346 130 B1

Example 2

A stripper composition was prepared to determine the similarity of trioxane to CH2CI2 and its usefulness
as a stippper. The composition contained 100 grams trioxane, 100 grams toluene, and 100 grams n-butanol.
5 These materials, were mixed and filtered. Endothermic behavior was noted. The solution was then applied
to a sample of white paint of unknown composition which was more than 2 years old. The white paint lifted.

Example 3

10 The composition of Example 2 was tested on a varnish and also resulted in lifting the coating.

Example 4

The composition of Example 2 was additionally applied to an epoxy paint and similarly resulted in
15 lifting.

Example 5

Neat methylene chloride was applied to the paint, varnish, and epoxy coatings of Examples 2, 3, and 4
20 and also caused lifting but did so more quickly.

Examples 6-12

Six paint stripper solutions, weighing 500 grams, were made up by weight. The trioxane caused a
25 strong endotherm. In addition, the formulation in Example No. 11 was prepared according to German
Offenlegungsschrift 2,123,563, using ethyl acetate. These formulations are as follows:

EXAMPLES COMPOSITIONS
30 6 20% methanol, 80% methylene chloride
7 50% xylene, 50% methanol
8 50% xylene, 50% n-butanol
9 33.3% xylene, 33.3% n-butanol, 33.3% trioxane
10 methanol at saturation with trioxane
35 11 80% ethyl acetate, 20% trioxane
12 33.3% xylene, 33.3% methanol, 33.3% trioxane

In example 10, a 50% solution of trioxane in methanol was attempted, but the trioxane was only partially
soluble, so that it was considered to be a saturated solution. In Example 9, the trioxane was also not totally
soluble and was similarly used as a saturated solution.
Four coatings test samples were prepared on glass panels, as a first set of 48 panels, by using a six mil
drawdown blade with commercial paints. The panels were 6 inches by 8 inches. The coatings were allowed
to dry for 48 hours and then tested at ambient temperatures. A second set was also dried for 48 hours and
then cured in an oven at 120°F for 7 days before testing at ambient temperature (24-25 °C). These
coatings were an alkyd, a latex, a urethane, and a varnish; they were purchased at a retail outlet.
The alkyd coating was made with Rust Preventative Ace Quick Drying Exterior Enamel Alkyd #197-23
Dutch Orange.
The latex coating was made with Ace-Tone Acrylic Latex Semi-Gloss Enamel #186-114 Sea Green
Interior.
The varnish was prepared with McCloskey Heirloom Clear Varnish High Gloss #0092.
The urethane coating was made with Deftane Clear Gloss #1 , Polyurethane Finish Interior/Exterior.
When conducting the test for stripping effectiveness, a 2-ml sample of a stripper composition was
placed on one of the 12 coated glass panels for each coating and covered with a watch glass while a timer
was started. When the film lifted across the drawdown, the timer was stopped, and a time to strip was
recorded. The results of the tests on the four coatings in each set are as follows:

6
 P 0 346 130 B1

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Example 13

A test of an epoxy paint was made by coating two steel panels with a very hard-to-strip epoxy of
proprietary formulation. After curing, the panels were exposed to the solvent compositions of Examples
 EP 0 346 130 B1

and 12. Neither composition touched the coating in 5 minutes (300 seconds). After 30 minutes, the
composition of Example 12 released the coating in part, and the composition of Example 6 loosened the
film slightly.

5 Example 14

A stripper composition is made of 33% xylene, 33% n-butanol, and 33% trioxane, as in Example 9, and
is heated to 35 °C. All of the trioxane appears to be in solution. A piece of wood, coated with an obviously
old alkyd paint, is dipped into the warm stripper. Lifting activity is noted promptly.
10
Example 15

Another stripper composition is prepared with 25% of xylene, 25% of a 95% ethanol/5% water solution,
and 50% of trioxane. At 25 ° C, trioxane should dissolve in a 95.5% ethanol/water solvent to the extent of 28
is parts to 100. Assuming that the same solubility holds in this composition, it is 32% xylene, 32%
ethanol/H20, and 36% trioxane. A piece of the same wood coated with the same alkyd paint of unknown
age is dipped into the stripper at ambient temperature and lift off is observed within a short time.

Example 16
20
The composition of Example 15 is heated to 35 °C, and a piece of the same painted wood is dipped
therein. Lifting of the coating is observed quickly.

Example 17
25
The composition of Examples 15 and 16 is heated to 45 °C, and a piece of the same wood coated with
the same alkyd paint is dipped thereinto. Lift off is observed very quickly.

Example 18
30
The stripper composition of Examples 15-17 is heated to 60 °C, and a piece of the same painted wood
is dipped thereinto, with lift off being observed immediately.
These crude tests appear to indicate that trioxane can be formulated as a slurry which then can be
used at an elevated temperature at which it is in solution. These compositions should therefore be suitable
35 for hot dip usage in a stripper tank.

Claims

1. A composition for stripping coatings from surfaces, comprising trioxane, said trioxane being present in
40 an amount of at least 33% by weight of the total composition, and an aromatic hydrocarbon,
characterised in that the composition comprises an aliphatic alcohol selected from methanol, ethanol,
isopropanol, n-propanol, and butanol.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein said aromatic hydrocarbon is selected from benzene, toluene,
45 xylenes, ethylbenzene, and alkylbenzenes having an alkane end which is not more than a C5
hydrocarbon.

3. The composition of claim 2, wherein said aromatic hydrocarbon is a xylene or mixtures of xylenes
selected from the group consisting of o-xylene, m-xylene, and p-xylene.
50
4. The composition of any of claims 1-3, wherein said alcohol is 95% ethanol and 5% water.

5. The composition of any of claims 1-3, wherein said hydrocarbon is xylene and said alcohol is methanol,
and wherein said trioxane, said xylene, and said methanol are each 33% by weight of said composition.
55
6. The composition of any of claims 1-5, wherein said trioxane is in solution at ambient temperatures.

8
 EP 0 346 130 B1

7. The composition of any of claims 1-5, wherein said trioxane is partially undissolved at ambient
temperatures, whereby said composition is in the form of a slurry.

8. A method of stripping a coating from a surface, comprising applying to the surface a stripping
5 composition comprising trioxane, said trioxane being present in an amount of at least 33% by weight of
the total composition, and an aromatic hydrocarbon, characterised in that the composition comprises an
aliphatic alcohol selected from methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, and butanol.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said composition complies with the requirements of any of claims 2-7.
10
10. The method of claim 8 or 9 for hot stripping of resistant coatings, wherein said composition is heated to
a temperature at which said trioxane is in solution and the heated composition is applied to the surface.

Patentanspruche
15
1. Zusammensetzung zum Abstreifen von Beschichtungen von Oberflachen, die Trioxan und einen
aromatischen Kohlenwasserstoff umfasst, wobei Trioxan mit einem Anteil von wenigstens 33 Gew.-% an
der gesamten Zusammensetzung vorhanden ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dal3 die Zusammensetzung
einen aliphatischen Alkohol ausgewahlt aus Methanol, Ethanol, Isopropanol, n-Propanol und Butanol
20 umfasst.

2. Zusammensetzung nach Anspruch 1, wobei der aromatische Kohlenwasserstoff aus Benzol, Toluol,
Xylolen, Ethylbenzol und Alkylbenzolen mit einem Alkanende, das nicht mehr als ein C5-Kohlenwasser-
stoff ist, ausgewahlt ist.
25
3. Zusammensetzung nach Anspruch 2, wobei der aromatische Kohlenwasserstoff ein Xylol oder eine
Mischung von Xylolen, ausgewahlt aus der aus O-Xylol, m-Xylol und p-Xylol bestehenden Gruppe, ist.

4. Zusammensetzung nach einem der Anspruche 1 - 3, wobei der Alkohol 95 % Ethanol und 5 % Wasser
30 ist.

5. Zusammensetzung nach einem der Anspruche 1 - 3, wobei der Kohlenwasserstoff Xylol und der
Alkohol Methanol ist, und wobei das Trioxan, das Xylol und das Methanol jeweils 33 Gew.-% der
Zusammensetzung darstellen.
35
6. Zusammensetzung nach einem der Anspruche 1 - 5, wobei das Trioxan bei Umgebungstempertur in
Losung vorliegt.

7. Zusammensetzung nach einem der Anspruche 1 - 5, wobei das Trioxan bei Umgebungstemperaturen
40 teilweise ungelost ist, wobei die Zusammensetzung in Form einer Aufschlammung vorliegt.

8. Verfahren zum Abstreifen einer Beschichtung von einer Oberflache, das das Auftragen einer abstreifen-
den Zusammensetzung umfassend Trioxan und einen aromatischen Kohlenwasserstoff auf eine Ober-
flache umfasst, wobei das Trioxan mit einem Anteil von wenigstens 33 Gew.-% in der gesamten
45 Zusammensetzung vorhanden ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dal3 die Zusammensetzung einen aliphati-
schen Alkohol umfasst, der aus Methanol, Ethanol, Isopropanol, n-Propanol und Butanol ausgewahlt ist.

9. Verfahren nach Anspruch 8, wobei die Zusammensetzung den Anforderungen der Anspruche 2 - 7
entspricht.
50
10. Verfahren nach den Anspruchen 8 oder 9 zum HeiB-Abziehen von bestandigen Beschichtungen, wobei
die Zusammensetzung auf eine Temperatur erwarmt wird, bei der das Trioxan in Losung vorliegt und
die erwarmte Zusammensetzung auf die Oberflache aufgetragen wird.

55 Revendicatlons

1. Composition pour eliminer des revetements de surfaces, comprenant du trioxanne, ledit trioxanne etant
present en une quantite d'au moins 33 % en poids de la composition totale, et un hydrocarbure

9
 EP 0 346 130 B1

aromatique, ladite composition etant caracterisee en ce qu'elle comprend un alcool aliphatique choisi
entre le methanol, I'ethanol, I'isopropanol, le n-propanol et le butanol.

Composition suivant la revendication 1, dans laquelle I'hydrocarbure aromatique est choisi entre le
benzene, le toluene, les xylenes, I'ethylbenzene et des alkylbenzenes ayant un groupe terminal alcane
qui est un hydrocarbure n'ayant pas plus de 5 atomes de carbone.

Composition suivant la revendication 2, dans laquelle I'hydrocarbure aromatique est un xylene ou un

melange dc xylenes choisie dans le groupe consistant en o-xylene, m-xylene et p-xylene.

Composition suivant I'une quelconque des revendications 1 a 3, dans laquelle I'alcool consiste en 95 %
d'ethanol et 5 % d'eau.

Composition suivant I'une quelconque des revendications 1 a 3, dans laquelle I'hydrocarbure est le
xylene et I'alcool est le methanol, et dans laquelle le trioxanne, le xylene et le methanol sont presents
chacun en une quantite de 33 % en poids de ladite composition.

Composition suivant I'une quelconque des revendications 1 a 5, dans laquelle le trioxanne est en
solution aux temperatures ambiantes.

Composition suivant I'une quelconque des revendications 1 a 5, dans laquelle le trioxanne est
partiellement non dissous aux temperatures ambiantes, ladite composition etant ainsi sous forme d'une
suspension.

Procede pour eliminer un revetement d'une surface, comprenant I'application a la surface d'une
composition de decapage comprenant du trioxanne, ledit trioxanne etant present en une quantite d'au
moins 33 % en poids de la composition totale, et un hydrocarbure aromatique, caracterise en ce que la
composition comprend un alcool aliphatique choisi entre le methanol, I'ethanol, I'isopropanol, le n-
propanol et le butanol.

Procede suivant la revendication 8, dans lequel la composition repond aux conditions suivant I'une
quelconque des revendications 2 a 7.

. Procede suivant la revendication 8 ou 9, pour le decapage a chaud de revetements resistants dans

lequel la composition est chauffee a une temperature a laquelle le trioxanne est en solution et la
composition chauffee est appliquee a la surface.

10