Abstract: A process for the production of pourable foam inhibitor granules comprising forming an aqueous solution of a mixture of an alkali metal carboxymethyl cellulose and a nonionic cellulose ether and maintaining the aqueous solution at slightly elevated temperature until the viscosity is at least 60% of the viscosity obtained by complete swelling of the solution, adding a water insoluble foam inhibitor and a phosphate-free mixture of at least two of an alkali metal silicate, an alkali metal carbonate and an alkali metal sulfate into the aqueous mixture which is then spray-dried to form the pourable foam inhibitor granules.The invention also relates to the pourable foam inhibitor granules produced by the above process.

Abstract: A foam regulator consisting essentially of a mixture, applied to a particulate support material, of (a) 5 to 60% of a paraffin wax, (b) 20 to 90% of a microcrystalline paraffin wax which shows defined melting behavior as a function of temperature and (c) 5% to 20% of a diamide derived from C.sub.2 -C.sub.7 diamines and C.sub.12 -C.sub.22 fatty acids which is present in the paraffin mixture in very finely divided form. The mixture is preferably prepared by reaction of the diamines with the fatty acids in a molten mixture of components (a) and (b) in the presence of an acidic catalyst.

Abstract: Free-flowing, particulate foam inhibitor concentrates, which suffer no loss of activity in admixture with surfactants or strong alkalis, are prepared by compacting a mixture of from 1 to 20% by weight of the foam inhibitor with 80 to 99% by weight of a water-soluble salt or salt mixture optionally containing blending aids and having a pH value in the form of a 1% aqueous solution of from 6 to 9.5 under elevated pressure and subsequently size-reducing the compactate to an average particle size of from 0.1 to 2 mm. The presssure applied to the mixture should not significantly exceed the pressure limit at which no further compaction occurs. In addition, the particle porosity, as measured by mercury porosimetry, should be below 10%. The foam inhibitors used are preferably paraffin hydrocarbons, organopolysiloxanes and mixtures thereof with finely-divided hydrophobic solids, particularly finely-divided silica.

Abstract: Foam regulators particularly suitable for use in surfactant-containing compositions, comprising a mixture of paraffin hydrocarbons and hydrophobic silica, preferably admixed with a carrier.

Abstract: A detergent composition for fabrics containing at least one synthetic surfactant from the group comprising anionic and nonionic surfactants and at least one builder from the group comprising condensed phosphates and phosphate substitutes, wherein at least one acylcyanamide salt anionic surfactant is present.

Abstract: A free-flowing, substantially silicone-free, powdery antifoaming composition for use in aqueous systems comprised of:(a) a liquid homogeneous mixture of a branched-chain primary C.sub.16 -C.sub.30 alcohol and hydrophobic-reacting colloidal silicic acid with a ratio by weight of alcohol:silicic acid of 100:2 to 100:20, as obtained by heating to 100.degree. to 240.degree. C. with agitation for a time sufficient to obtain a homogeneous mixture,(b) a water-insoluble wax in a ratio by weight of (a):(b) of from 3:1 to 1:3, and(c) a water-soluble powdered carrier where the components (a) and (b) are present on the carrier in homogeneous distribution, the powdered carrier being present in such an amount that a free-flowing product results.The primary alcohol of component (a) is preferably a Guerbet alcohol of the formula: ##STR1## A natural or synthetic paraffin wax or mixture of waxes with a congealing point in the range of 40.degree. to 120.degree. C. is used preferably as the wax (b).

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of preparing block copolymers useful as foam inhibitors, which method comprises the steps of:(1) mixing (a) from 100 parts by weight of a polydimethylsiloxane that is liquid at 20.degree. C., and (b) from about 2 to 20 parts by weight of a spatially cross-linked polysiloxane resin with a molecular weight of from about 1000 to 10,000;(2) heating said mixture in the presence of a catalyst until the viscosity is at least 200 mPa.s, as measured at 20.degree. C., to form a block polymer;(3) mixing said block polymer with (c) from about 0.5 to 15 parts by weight of a silicon dioxide aerogel; and(4) heating the mixture from step (3).

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method for preparing foam inhibitors for aqueous systems, which comprises the steps of:(a) mixing a higher-molecular branched-chain primary alcohol or from about 18 to 30 carbon atoms with hydrophobic colloidal silica in an alcohol to silica ratio of from about 100:2 to 100:20;(b) heating the mixture from step (a) under stirring to temperatures of from about 100.degree. to 240.degree. C.; and(c) allowing the heated mixture from step (b) to cool to room temperature.This invention is also directed to the suds regulators prepared and their use in aqueous detergent systems.

Abstract: Foam inhibitor compositions comprising a mixture of(A) at least one monoester of a saturated fatty acid having 18 to 26 carbon atoms with an alkanediol having 16 to 20 carbon atoms, and(B) at least one carboxylic acid amide of the formula ##STR1## WHEREIN R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are saturated, linear or branched hydrocarbon radicals having 10 to 26 carbon atoms, and m and n are integers from 0 to 2 with the sum of m + n being an integer from 1 to 4, the weight ratio of component A to component B being from 5:1 to 1:5; as well as low-foaming washing agent compositions containing at least 0.2% by weight of said foam inhibitor composition together with at least one surface-active compound and at least one inorganic or organic builder salt.

Abstract: Washing agent compositions and washing assistant compositions containing from 0.5% to 70% by weight of a phosphonopolycarboxylate having the formula ##EQU1## WHEREIN Me is H, alkali metal, or H.NR.sub.3, R.sub.1 is H or CH.sub.3, R.sub.2 is H, alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or --CH.sub.2 --CHR--COOMe, R.sub.3 is H, alkyl or alkylol having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and X is a direct bond or the groups ##EQU2## from 0 to 96.5% of other sequestering and non-sequestering, preferably phosphorus-free builders, and from 3% to 45% by weight of at least one surface-active compound of an anionic or non-ionic nature, whereby a 1% aqueous solution thereof has a pH of between 6 and 11.5. Preferably said phosphonopolycarboxylate sequestering agents are present as water-soluble salts capable of complex formation with alkaline earth metal ions. The invention also resides in the process of sequestering alkaline earth metal ions using aqueous solutions of the washing agent composition.

Abstract: Process for washing textiles in which the washing treatment is carried out in the presence of a cation exchanger containing carboxyl groups in the form of alkali salts and capable of removing calcium and magnesium ions from the washing liquor, and a washing agent for use in said process.