Abstract: A composition comprising a liquid portion comprising at least one surfactant, at least one suspending agent, and at least one viscosity control agent, wherein the composition has an apparent viscosity under a shear stress of 0.5 Pa of at least about 1,000 Pa·s; and the composition has an apparent viscosity under a shear stress of 100 Pa of less than about 10 Pa·s. The composition is capable of suspending materials, but it still has desired rheological properties.

Abstract: A composition comprising a liquid portion comprising at least one surfactant, at least one suspending agent, and at least one viscosity control agent, wherein the composition has an apparent viscosity under a shear stress of 0.5 Pa of at least about 1,000 Pa·s; and the composition has an apparent viscosity under a shear stress of 100 Pa of less than about 10 Pa·s. The composition is capable of suspending materials, but it still has desired rheological properties.

Abstract: A composition comprising a liquid portion comprising at least one surfactant and at least one material chosen from at least one suspending agent and at least one viscosity control agent, wherein the composition has an apparent viscosity under a shear stress of 0.5 Pa of at least about 1,000 Pa·s; and the composition has an apparent viscosity under a shear stress of 100 Pa of less than about 10 Pa·s. The composition is capable of suspending materials, but it still has desired rheological properties.

Abstract: The physical stability and rheological properties variations of liquid gel-like compositions based on montmorillonite, attapulgite, hectorite or other inorganic colloid-forming clay or other thixotropic thickener are greatly improved by incorporating in the composition small amounts, such as about 1.0 weight percent, of polyacrylic acid polymers or copolymers and their salts and small amounts, such as 0.2 or 0.4 weight percent, of calcium, magnesium, aluminum or zinc stearate or other polyvalent metal salt of long chain fatty acid. The aqueous compositions containing inorganic builder salts and other functional inorganic salts, chlorine bleach, bleach-stable detergent, thixotropic thickener, and polyacrylic acid polymers and copolymers and their salts and polyvalent metal salt of a fatty acid as physical stabilizers remain stable against rheological properties variations with time and phase separation for periods in excess of twelve weeks under a wide range of temperatures.

Abstract: The physical stability of liquid gel-like compositions based on montmorillonite, attapulgite, hectorite or other inorganic colloid-forming clay or other thixotropic thickener is greatly improved by incorporating in the composition small amounts, such as 0.1 to 0.2 weight percent of long chain fatty acids. The aqueous compositions containing inorganic builder salts and other functional inorganic salts, chlorine bleach, bleach-stable detergent, thixotropic thickener and a fatty acid as a physical stabilizer exhibit a significant increase in apparent viscosity and remain stable against phase separation for an extended period of time. The thixotropic properties can be retained or improved using smaller levels of the clay thixotropic thickener than in the absence of the physical stabilizer. Use as liquid gel-like automatic dishwasher compositions are described.

Abstract: The physical stability of liquid gel-like compositions based on montmorillonite, attapulgite, hectorite or other inorganic colloid-forming clay or other thixotropic thickener is greatly improved by incorporating in the composition small amounts, such as 0.1 or 0.2 weight percent, of calcium, magnesium, aluminum or zinc stearate or other polyvalent metal salt of long chain fatty acid. The aqueous compositions containing inorganic builder salts and other functional inorganic salts, chlorine bleach, bleach-stable detergent, thixotropic thickener and polyvalent metal salt of a fatty acid as a physical stabilizer remain stable against phase separation for periods in excess of twelve weeks under a wide range of temperatures. The thixotropic properties can be retained or improved using smaller levels of the clay thixotropic thickener than in the absence of the physical stabilizer. Use as liquid gel-like automatic dishwasher compositions are described.

Abstract: A liquid heavy duty laundry detergent composition comprising a suspension of builder salt in liquid nonionic surfactant in which the stability of the composition is improved by the addition of small amounts of an aluminum salt of higher fatty acid, especially aluminum tristearate. The yield stress of the compositions can be improved with the same or lower plastic viscosity, especially at low concentrations of the aluminum salt. The aluminum salts also exhibit an antifoaming effect and can be used to boost softening.