Abstract: Copolymers containing(a) from 5 to 90 mol % of vinyl formate units,(b) from 10 to 95 mol % of units of monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids,(c) from 0 to 70 mol % of units of monoethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acids, and(d) from 0 to 30 mol % of units of other monoethylenically unsaturated monomersin copolymerized form and having K values of at least 8 (determined by the method of H. Fikentscher in 1% strength by weight aqueous solution on the sodium salt of the copolymers at pH 7 and 25.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for preparing finely divided mixtures of amphiphilic polymers and polycarboxylates, which comprises mixing(a) aqueous dispersions or colloidal aqueous solutions with at least one amphiphilic polymer, and(b) an aqueous solution of a polycarboxylatein a weight ratio of (a):(b) of from 1:1 to 1:20, each based on the solids, or dispersing at least one amphiphilic polymer in an aqueous solution of a polycarboxylate, and spray-drying the dispersions thus obtainable to form finely divided polymer mixtures, use of the finely divided polymer mixtures as ingredient of detergent and as laundry aftertreatment, and finely divided polymer mixtures having a particle size from 20 .mu.m to 3 mm prepared by the above-indicated process.

Abstract: Process for preparing polycondensates of citric acid and/or isocitric acid, by converting(a) citric acid, isocitric acid or mixtures thereof in an organic solvent in the presence of a water-withdrawing agent at least partially into the anhydride form and then condensing the reaction mixture, if desired after addition of two cocondensable compounds selected from the group consisting of(b) other hydroxycarboxylic acids and/or(c) amino acids, alcohols, amines and/or at least dibasic carboxylic acids other than carboxylic acids (a) and (b), at temperatures of at least 80.degree. C. to form polycarboxylates which have an average molecular weight of at least 500, polycondensates of citric acid and/or isocitric acid obtainable thereby, anduse of said polycondensates as ingredients in phosphate-free and reduced-phosphate detergents and cleaners, and also detergents and cleaners which contain at least one surfactant and optionally builders and other customary constituents with from 0.

Abstract: Reaction products of polybasic acids and amino-containing compounds, which are obtainable by heating a mixture of (a) a polybasic carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of citric acid, isocitric acid, aconitic acid, itaconic acid and/or tartaric acid and (b) an amino-containing compound in a molar ratio of (a) to (b) of from 1:0.1 to 1:10 to at least 80.degree. C. are used as additives in low-phosphate and phosphate-free detergents and cleaning agents.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of products of the reaction of polyaspartimides and amino acids by reaction of amino acids with polyaspartimides in aqueous medium at pH values at which at least 5% of the amino groups in the amino acids are in non-protonated form in equilibrium with the protonated form, and use of the reaction products obtainable in this way and of products of the reaction of polyaspartimides with alkanolamines or aminated C.sub.1 -C.sub.30 -fatty alcohol alkoxylates which contain as copolymerized units up to 50 mol % of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide per mol of fatty alcohol, as additive to detergents and cleaners, as scale inhibitor and as dispersant.

Abstract: Low viscosity mixtures of(I) from 40 to 97.5% by weight of amphiphilic nonionic graft copolymers comprising, in copolymerized form,(a) at least 20% by weight of polyalkylene oxide units or polyvinylpyrrolidone units as hydrophilic part of the molecule and(b) at least 40% by weight of vinyl ester and/or (meth)acrylic ester units as hydrophobic part of the molecule, and(II) from 2.5 to 60% by weight of at least one viscosity-reducing additive selected from the group consisting of polyalkylene glycols, alkoxylated alcohols, alkoxylated alkylphenols, alkoxylated amines and hydroxy compounds having from 1 to 4 OH groups and from 2 to 10 carbon atoms, the molecular mass M.sub.

Abstract: Polyvinylpyridine N-oxides are prepared by oxidizing polyvinyl-pyridines with aqueous solutions of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of acids and oxides or acids of elements of Groups 5b, 6b, 7b and 8 of the Periodic Table or of salts of these acids as catalyst, it also being possible for the oxidation to take place in the absence of the catalysts when from 40 to 80% strength aqueous solutions of at least dibasic carboxylic acids or of polymers of monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids are used as solvent.

Abstract: Esters of citric acid or acetylcitric anhydride with compounds of at least 3 OH groups selected from the group consisting of polyglycerol, sugarcarboxylic acids, alkyl glucosides, derivatives of oligosaccharides, aminosorbitol, aminodisorbitol, glucosamine, triethanolamine and trishydroxyethylmelamine, each OH group of the alcohol component of the esters being esterified on average with from 0.15 to 1 molecule of citric acid or acetylcitric anhydride, are useful as additives in low-phosphate or phosphate-free detergents.

Abstract: Condensation products that contain N,O-acetal or carboxamide structures and are useful as detergent and cleaner additives are obtainable by condensation of(a) compounds that contain at least one unit of the structural elements ##STR1## where X is OH or NHR and R is C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl or --CH.sub.2 --COOH, with(b) aldehydes, ketones or aldehyde- or keto-carboxylic acids to form acetal-lactones, and subsequent cleavage of the acetal-lactones with(c) aminocarboxylic acids, primary or secondary amines and/or polyethyleneimines.

Abstract: Copolymers useful in amounts of from 0.1 to 15% by weight as grayness inhibiting and primary detergency boosting additives in pulverulent liquid detergents have K values of from 10 to 80 (determined by Fikentscher in dimethylformamide at 25.degree. C. with a polymer concentration of 2% by weight) and are obtainable by copolymerizing monomer mixtures of(a) from 10 to 60% by weight of water-soluble monomers obtainable from (A) water-soluble polyalkylene glycols or (B) water-soluble alkoxylated C.sub.1 -C.sub.25 -alcohols, for example by esterification with C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -carboxylic acids, by vinylation with acetylene or by allylation with alkenyl ethers, or by reaction with ammonia to give the corresponding end group aminated compounds (A) or (B) and by reaction with monoethylenically unsaturated C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -carboxylic acids to form the amides, and(b) from 40 to 90% by weight of vinyl esters of saturated monocarboxylic acids and/or alkyl esters of monoethylenically unsaturated C.sub.3 -C.sub.

Abstract: Water-soluble or water-dispersible polyesters obtainable by condensation of tartaric acid or derivatives thereof alone or by condensation of mixtures of tartaric acid or derivatives thereof and citric acid with or without alcohols, water-soluble polyalkylene glycols or water-soluble polyaddition products of alkylene oxides with alcohols, fatty acids, alkylphenols or alkylamines and with or without at least dibasic carboxylic acids are suitable for use as detergent additives.

Abstract: Polyesters obtainable by condensation of(a) an at least dicarboxylic acid, or an ester or anhydride or a mixture thereof,(b) an at least dihydric alcohol or an addition product of from 1 to 5 mol of at least one alkylene oxide of 2 or 3 carbon atoms with 1 mol of an at least dihydric alcohol, or a mixture thereof, and(c) a water-soluble addition product of from 5 to 80 mol of at least one alkylene oxide with 1 mol of a C.sub.8 -C.sub.24 -alcohol, a C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 -alkylphenol or a C.sub.8 -C.sub.24 -alkylaminein a molar ratio of (a):(b):(c) of 100:(25-2500):(5-110) at not less than 120.degree. C. up to a weight average molecular weight of from 2000 to 50000, are used in amounts of from 0.05 to 15% by weight as grayness inhibitors and soil release promoters in detergents.

Abstract: Water-soluble polymers having K values of from 5 to 100 (determined on the Na salt of the polymers according to H. Fikentscher in aqueous solution at 25.degree. C., a pH of 7 and a concentration of 1% by weight of the Na salt of the polymer) are prepared by polymerizing a monomer mixture of(a) monethylenically unsaturated C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 -monocarboxylic acids and(b) more than 20-100 mol % of monomers which have two or more ethylenically unsaturated double bonds linked via one or more ester or amide functions and which contain one or more --CO--OX groups, where X is one hydrogen equivalent, one alkali metal equivalent or one alkaline earth metal equivalent or an ammonium group,in aqueous solution in the presence of a polymerization initiator, and the polymers are used in amounts of from 0.5 to 25% by weight in detergents and cleaners.

Abstract: A stable liquid detergent composition having improved clay soil detergency, clay soil anti-redeposition, oily soil anti-redeposition and soil release properties is disclosed. The detergent composition is comprised of an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, a hydrotrope, a graft copolymer of polyalkylene oxide and an ester monomer, and a nonionic cellulosic anti-redeposition agent. The graft copolymer is comprised of (a) a polyalkylene oxide based upon an alkylene oxide having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms having a molecular weight of 300 to 100,000 and, (b) at least one vinyl ester derived from a saturated monocarboxylic acid containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and/or methyl or ethyl ester of acrylic or meth-acrylic acid in a weight ratio of (a):(b) of from 1:0.2 to 1:10. The nonionic cellulosic anti-redeposition agent is preferably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose.

Abstract: Pulverulent and liquid detergents contain (1) one or more anionic surfactants, one or more nonionic surfactants or mixtures thereof and (2) copolymers in amounts of from 0.1 to 15% by weight preparable by copolymerization of(a) from 10 to 55 mol % of a 1,2-di-C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxyethylene,(b) from 10 to 60 mol % of a monoethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic anhydride of from 4 to 8 carbon atoms,(c) from 0 to 60 mol % of a monoethylenically unsaturated C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 -monocarboxylic acid and(d) from 0 to 20 mol % of another monoethylenically unsaturated monomerand subsequent hydrolysis of the anhydride groups of the copolymerized monomer (b) or reaction of these groups with an alcohol or an amine.Preferred copolymers contain 1,2 dimethoxyethylene as the (a) monomer, maleic acid as the (b) monomer, and acrylic acid as the (c) monomer.

Abstract: Water-soluble copolymers having a K value of from 15 to 120 (determined on the sodium salt according to H. Fikentscher in aqueous solution at 25.degree. C., a pH of 7 and a polymer concentration of the Na salt of 1% by weight) contain, in the polymerized form,(a) from 99.5 to 80 mol % of one or more monoethylenically unsaturated C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -monocarboxylic acids and(b) from 0.5 to 20 mol % of one or more comonomers which possess two or more ethylenically unsaturated, non-conjugated double bonds, are derived from esters and are obtainable by esterification of(b1) monoethylenically unsaturated C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -monocarboxylic acids with(b2) polyhydric alcohols of 2 to 6 carbon atoms, polyalkylene glycols, polyglycerols, polyvinyl alcohol and monohydric, monoethylenically unsaturated C.sub.3 -C.sub.

Abstract: Water-soluble copolymers having a K value of from 8 to 100 (determined on the Na salt of the copolymers according to H. Fikentscher in aqueous solution at 25.degree. C., at a pH of 7 and at a concentration of the Na salt of the polymer of 1% by weight) are prepared by copolymerization of monomer mixtures of(a) from 98.5 to 18.5 mol % of one or more monoethylenically unsaturated C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -monocarboxylic acids,(b) from 1.5 to 20 mol % of one or more comonomers which contain two or more ethylenically unsaturated, nonconjugated double bonds which are separated from one another by one or more ester bonds,(c) from 0 to 80 mol % of one or more monoethylenically unsaturated C.sub.4 -C.sub.

Abstract: Water-soluble copolymers having a K value of from 8 to 100 (determined according to H. Fikentscher on sodium salt in aqueous solution at 25.degree. C., a pH of 7 and a polymer concentration of the Na salt of 1% by weight) contain, in polymerized form,(a) not less than 15 mol % of one or more monoethylenically unsaturated C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -monocarboxylic acids,(b) from 0.5 to 84.5 mol % of one or more ethylenically unsaturated C.sub.4 -C.sub.6 -dicarboxylic acids,(c) from 0 to 20 mol % of one or more hydroxyalkyl esters, where hydroxyalkyl is of 2 to 6 carbon atoms, of monoethylenically unsaturated C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -carboxylic acids,(d) from 0 to 30 mol % of other water-soluble, monoethylenically unsaturated monomers copolymerizable with (a), (b) and (c),(e) from 0.

Abstract: A surfactant-based detergent contains water-soluble copolymers which contain(a) from 99.5 to 15 mol % of one or more monoethylenically unsaturated C.sub.3 - to C.sub.6 -monocarboxylic acids,(b) from 0.5 to 20 mol % or one or more comonomers which have two or more ethylenically unsaturated nonconjugated double bonds and are derived from esters,(c) from 0 to 84.5 mol % of one or more monoethylenically unsaturated C.sub.4 - to C.sub.6 -dicarboxylic acids,(d) from 0 to 20 mol % of one or more hydroxyalkyl esters of monoethlenically unsaturated C.sub.3 - to C.sub.6 -carboxlic acids and(e) from 0 to 30 mol % of other water-soluble monoethylenically unsaturated monomers copolymerizable with (a) to (d)as copolymerized units, with the proviso that the sum of the mol % ages (a) to (e) is always 100 and which have a Fikentscher K value of from 8 to 120.

Abstract: A surfactant-based detergent contains water-soluble copolymers which contain(a) from 99.5 to 15 mol % of one or more monoethylenically unsaturated C.sub.3 - to C.sub.6 -monocarboxylic acids,(b) from 0.5 to 20 mol % of one or more comonomers which contain two or more ethylenically unsaturated nonconjugated double bonds and have one or more --CO--OX groups where X is hydrogen, an alkali metal, one equivalent of an alkaline earth metal or ammonium,(c) from 0 to 84.5 mol % of one or more monoethylenically unsaturated C.sub.4 - to C.sub.6 -dicarboxylic acids,(d) from 0 to 20 mol % of one or more hydroxyalkyl esters of monoethylenically unsaturated C.sub.3 - to C.sub.6 -carboxylic acids and(e) from 0 to 30 mol % of other water-soluble monoethylenically unsaturated monomers copolymerizable with (a) to (d)as copolymerized units, with the proviso that the sum of the mol % ages (a) to (e) is always 100 and which have a Finkentscher K value of from 8 to 120.