Dishwasher detergent paste

• US 4,801,396 A
• Filed: 07/20/1987
• Issued: 01/31/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Henkel KGaA (Henkel AG & Co KGaA)
• Original Assignee: Henkel KGaA (Henkel AG & Co KGaA)
• Inventors: Christophliemk, Peter, Altenschopfer, Theodor, Schumann, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Wax, Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US07/075,284
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 252/99, 252/103, 252/140, 252/160, 252/173, 252/174.25, 252/DIG. 14, 134/93, 134/94, 134/100, 134/101
• US Class Current: 134/25.2
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/003 Colloidal solutions, e.g. gels; Thixotropic solutions or pastes
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/1266 in liquid compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/395 Bleaching agents
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3956 Liquid compositions

Abstract

This invention is directed to an aqueous, thixotropic dishwater detergent composition which is at room temperature a paste having a viscosity of at least about 30 Pa.s as measured at 20° C. with a rotational viscometer at 5 spindle revolutions per minute, the dishwasher detergent composition comprising:

(a) at least one compound with cleaning action or binding capacity for ions causing hardness selected from the group consisting of polyphosphates, aluminosilicates, silicates, hydroxides, and carbonates of sodium or potassium in an amount sufficient to effect cleaning or binding;

(b) an active chlorine compound in an amount sufficient to provide active chlorine to the detergent composition; and

(c) a thickener compatible with components (a) and (b) in an amount sufficient to give the desired viscosity.

Claims

1. In a process for washing dishes in an automatic dishwashing machine comprising subjecting dirty dishes and utensils to the action of a wash forcefully projecting an aqueous solution containing a detergent composition on the surface of said dirty dishes and utensils, said detergent composition being released into said wash only, the improvement comprising employing as said detergent composition an aqueous, thixotropic dishwasher detergent composition which at room temperature is a paste having a viscosity of at least about 30 Pa.s. as measured at 20°

C. with a rotational viscometer at 5 spindle revolutions per minute, is completely dissolved or suspended within about 2 to about 5 minutes after being released into said wash, and which consists essentially of;

(a) from about 3 to 40 percent by weight of sodium or potassium tripolyphosphate;

from about 5 to 30 percent by weight of sodium or potassium silicate containing a mixture of metasilicate having a Me₂ O;

SiO₂ molar ratio of about 1;

1 and disilicate or waterglass having a Me₂ O;

SiO₂ molar ratio of from about 1;

2 to 1;

3.5 in a weight ratio of from about 1;

1 to 1;

5 wherein Me is sodium or potassium;

from 0 to about 25 percent by weight of powdered, sodium aluminosilicate that binds calcium salts; and

from 0 to about 20 percent by weight of sodium or potassium carbonate or hydroxide;

(b) an alkali metal hypchlorite in an amount sufficient to provide an active chlorine content of the composition of from about 0.1 to 3.0 percent by weight; and

(c) from about 1 to 10 percent by weight of a swellable silicate that is resistant to alkalies and active chlorine and is capable of forming a thixotropic gel in water, said silicate consisting essentially of a hectorite selected from a trioctadhedral foliated magnesium silicate having the general formula

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">[(Li.sub.x Mg.sub.6-x)Si.sub.8 O.sub.20 (OH).sub.4-y F.sub.y ].sup.x(-) ·

(x/n)M.sup.n(+)

wherein x represents a number of from 0 to about 6, y represents a number of from 0 to about 4, n represents an integer of from 1 to 3, and M represents a cation, all weights being based on the total weight of the detergent composition.

2. In a process as in claim 1 wherein the viscosity of said detergent composition is from about 70 to about 200 Pa.s.

3. In a process as in claim 1 wherein the viscosity of said detergent composition is from about 80 to about 150 Pa.s.

4. In a process as in claim 1 wherein said composition contains;

from about 5 to about 30 percent by weight of said sodium or potassium tripolyphosphate, from about 5 to about 30 percent by weight of said sodium or potassium silicate, from 0 to about 10 percent by weight of said sodium aluminosilicate, and from about 0 to about 5 percent by weight of said sodium or potassium hydroxide.

5. In a process as in claim 1 wherein said alkali metal hypochlorite is selected from sodium hypochlorite, potassium hypochlorite, or lithium hypochlorite.

6. In a process as in claim 1 wherein said weight ratio of metasilicate and disilicate is from about 1:

1 to 1;

15.

7. In a process for washing dishes in an automatic dishwashing machine comprising subjecting dirty dishes and utensils to the action of a wash forcefully projecting an aqueous solution containing a detergent composition on the surface of said dirty dishes and utensils, said detergent composition being released into said wash only, said detergent composition consisting essentially of:

(a) from about 3 to 40 percent by weight of sodium or potassium tripolyphosphate; and

(b) an alkali metal hypochlorite in an amount sufficient to provide an active chlorine content of the composition of from about 0.1 to 3.0 percent by weight;

the improvement comprising employing as said detergent composition an aqueous, thixotropic dishwasher detergent composition which at room temperature is a paste having a viscosity of at least about 30 Pa.s as measured at 20°

C. with a rotational viscometer at 5 spindle revolutions per minute, is completely dissolved or suspended within about 2 to about 5 minutes after being released into said wash, and which contains;

(c) from about 5 to about 30 percent by weight of sodium or potassium silicate containing a mixture of metasilicate having a Me₂ O;

SiO₂ molar ratio of about 1;

1 and disilicate or waterglass having a Me₂ O;

SiO₂ molar ratio of from about 1;

2 to 1;

3.5 in a weight ratio of from about 1;

1 to 1;

5 wherein Me is sodium or potassium;

(d) from 0 to about 25 percent by weight of powdered, sodium aluminosilicate that binds calcium salts;

(e) from 0 to about 20 percent by weight of sodium or potassium carbonate or hydroxide; and

(f) from about 1 to about 10 percent by weight of a swellable silicate that is resistant to alkalies and active chlorine and is capable of forming a thixotropic gel in water, said silicate consisting essentially of a hectorite selected from a trioctadhedral foliated magnesium silicate having the general formula

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">[(Li.sub.x Mg.sub.6-x)Si.sub.8 O.sub.20 (OH).sub.4-y F.sub.y ].sup.x(-) ·

(x/n)M.sup.n(+)

wherein x represents a number of from 0 to about 6, y represents a number of from 0 to about 4, n represents an integer of from 1 to 3, and M represents a cation, all weights being based on the total weight of the detergent composition.

8. In a process as in claim 7 wherein the viscosity of said detergent composition is from about 70 to about 200 Pa.s.

9. In a process as in claim 7 wherein the viscosity of said detergent composition is from about 80 to about 150 Pa.s.

10. In a process as in claim 7 wherein said composition contains;

from about 5 to about 30 percent by weight of said sodium or potassium tripolyphosphate,

from about 5 to about 30 percent by weight of said sodium or potassium silicate,

from 0 to about 10 percent by weight of said sodium aluminosilicate, and

from 0 to about 5 percent by weight of said sodium or potassium hydroxide.

11. In a process as in claim 7 wherein said alkali metal hypochlorite is selected from sodium hypochlorite, potassium hypochlorite, or lithium hypochlorite.

12. In a process as in claim 7 wherein said weight ratio of metasilicate and disilicate is from about 1:

1 to 1;

15.