Abstract: The speed of disintegration of tablets containing a water-softening agent, especially water-insoluble, water-softening agent intended as detergency builder for fabric washing is enhanced by incorporating spray-dried partially hydrated sodium acetate alone or jointly with sodium citrate dihydrate and/or crystallized sodium acetate trihydrate.

Abstract: Solid block alkaline detergent compositions are disclosed comprising a source of alkalinity, and other detergent additives including sequestrants. The solid block detergents of the invention used a mixed inorganic and organic sequestrant composition that successfully softens service water used in manufacturing aqueous detergents from the composition, but also obtains substantially improved organic soil removal on dishware or flatware. The solid block detergents of the invention comprise large masses of the chemical ingredients having a weight of greater than about 500 grams in a solid block product format that is typically dispensed using a spray on water dispenser that creates an aqueous concentrate that is used in a washing machine.

Abstract: Disclosed are detergent compositions with improved solubility having a bulk density of at least 600 g/l, comprising a branched surfactant and from about 1% to about 3% a particulate acid source which is citric acid and an alkaline source, wherein said acid source and alkaline source are capable of reacting together to produce a gas, and wherein about 80% or more of the acid source has a particle size in the range of from about 150 microns to about 710 microns, with at least 37% by weight of the acid source having a particle size of about 350 microns or less.

Abstract: The speed of disintegration of tablets containing a water-softening agent, especially water-insoluble, water-softening agent intended as detergency builder for fabric washing is enhanced by incorporating sodium acetate trihydrate, potassium acetate or a mixture thereof. To inhibit caking and facilitate handling during manufacture, smaller particles of another substance are preferably provided at the surface of the crystals of the acetate or citrate.

Abstract: Tablets comprise a core and a coating, the core being formed by compressing a particulate material, the particulate material comprising surfactant and detergent builder, and the coating comprising dicarboxylic acid. The tablets are provided with effervescent agents, in the core or water-swellable desintegrant in the coating which aid in their disintegration in wash liquors. The invention also relates to processes for making the tablets.

Abstract: A tabletted detergent composition comprises from 45% to 80% by weight of a builder system which is not fully hydrated and from 5% to 30% total water content, wherein the total water content comprises water derived from the builder system, optional ingredients and from added water, wherein the ratio of the total water content to added water content is from 100:1 to 5:4. The tablet exhibits improved hardness and strength.

Abstract: A tablet of compacted particulate detergent composition has an indentation (39) around a periphery of the face (37) of the tablet. The surface circumscribed by the indentation preferably has higher permeability and is rougher than the surface of the indentation (39) itself. Such a tablet can be made by a process in which a detergent composition is compacted in a mould by at least one die with an elastomeric surface layer (36) on an area which contacts the composition, which layer (36) is surrounded by a rigid rim (30) which forms the indentation (39).

Abstract: This is provided a detergent composition in compacted solid form containing(a) an organo diphosphonate crystal growth inhibitor; and(b) an alkalinity system comprising alkaline salts selected from the group consisting of alkali and alkaline earth carbonates, bicarbonates, hydroxides and silicateswherein at least part of the alkalinity system comprises particulate alkaline salts coated with an organic binder and the weight ratio of organic binder to alkalinity system in the detergent composition is from 1:100 to 1:1. A making process is also provided.

Abstract: A process for preparing a homogeneous, solid cleaning composition that comprises a cleaning agent, and optionally an additive agent and a hardening agent. The compositions are processed in a continuous mixing system at high shear, at or below the melting temperature of the ingredients. Preferably, the ingredients are processed in an extruder, and the mixture is extruded directly into a mold or other packaging system for dispensing the cleaning composition. The consistency of the composition ranges from that of a fused block solid to a malleable article. The cleaning compositions are useful for warewashing and cleaning hard surfaces, rinsing, sanitizing, deodorizing, laundry detergents, conveyor lubricants, and the like.

Abstract: A tableted household cleaning composition for cleaning glass and other hard surfaces and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. The cleaning composition is in tablet form and includes an acidic component selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids, their salts and mixtures thereof; a basic component selected from the group consisting of alkali metal carbonates, alkali metal bicarbonates and mixtures thereof; and polyvinyl alcohol.

Abstract: Cleaning compositions in the form of tablets containing surfactant and detergency builder, especially for use in fabric washing, also contain a water-insoluble, water-swellable polymeric material which has an average particle dimension of at least 400 micrometers. Such material may be cellulosic in nature and promotes disintegration of the tablets in water at the time of use.

Abstract: A dry cleaning and freshening system is provided including a containment bag, a single unit dispenser having dispensing means, a container, and absorbing means. The container is adapted to contain a quantity of liquid cleaning composition. The single unit dispenser and absorber means includes a dispensing part with absorbent material and a container for holding liquid cleaning composition and a retaining part of absorbent material capable of entraining loose particles and/or absorbing excess liquid cleaning composition. The liquid cleaning composition may include a fragrance composition. In a preferred embodiment the single unit dispenser and absorber means may be in the form of a ball with two hemispheres that split and may be screwed together. The single unit dispenser and absorber means may be used in a home clothes dryer for dry cleaning.

Abstract: A chemical dispensing device comprising a dissolvable, multi-layered, laundry tablet for insertion in a washing machine at the initiation of the laundry washing process. The laundry tablet includes a dissolvable first or outer layer which includes an alkaline substance for raising the pH level of the wash water upon dissolving, and a dissolvable second or inner layer which includes an acidic substance for subsequently lowering or neutralizing the pH level of the wash water. The laundry tablet thus provides an effective device for automatically varying the pH level of the laundry wash water, which automatic variation is effected by the single step of depositing the tablet in the laundry wash water at the initiation of the wash cycle.

Abstract: A solid cast detergent product containing an active chlorine source is disclosed. Methods of of manufacture and of use are also disclosed for the solid cast detergent product containing an active chlorine source.

Abstract: In a process for making detergent tablets comprising spraying a coating of a water-soluble organic polymeric binder onto the exterior of particles of detergent composition containing detergent active and detergency builder and compacting the composition, the improvement comprises spraying an external coating of a film-forming water-soluble organic polymer onto the tablets. The coating on the tablet exterior reduces friability and abrasion and provides extra enhancement of strength while permitting disintegration/dissolution in a wash liquor.

Abstract: A tablet composition containing 2% to 100% by weight of amorphous crystalline or partly crystalline layer-form sodium silicates corresponding to the formula Na.sub.2 Si.sub.x --O.sub.2x+1.yH.sub.2 O wherein x is a number of 1.9 to 4 and y is a number of 0 to 20, with the proviso that the tablet composition only contains water in a quantity such that the maximum theoretical water-binding capacity of the components of the composition is not exceeded.

Abstract: A dryer dry cleaning and freshening system is provided with a containment bag, a dispenser means formed of an absorbent polymeric material usually impregnated with liquid cleaning composition, and optionally means for absorbing loose particles and excess cleaning composition. A process for cleaning a garment is also provided. The system and process may be used in a home clothes dryer for dry cleaning.

Abstract: A pack contains a dry alkaline solid (1), which produces in an aqueous media a pH value exceeding 10, which consists of at least a one-layer packaging and which contains at least one polymer film (3) soluble in aqueous alkaline media. The polymer film contains two phases, whereby the continuous phase is made of a copolymer or terpolymer of .alpha.-.beta. unsaturated monocarboxylic acid which has a COOH group and the discontinuous phase is formed by a polymer which has an epoxy group, whereby both polymers are bonded in the boundary layer through esterification between COOH groups of the copolymer or terpolymer and epoxy groups of the discontinuous phase polymer.

Abstract: A bed of particulate solids including some hydrated materials can be converted by controlled irradiation with subinfrared electromagnetic radiation into a unitary porous solid that is mechanically strong enough for easy handling. When the particulate solids include typical acid to alkaline cleaner materials, a block or tablet especially suitable for automatic cleaning machinery, with a very fast dissolution rate in water, can readily be obtained.

Abstract: Compositions and methods useful for disinfecting a contact lens are disclosed. The present methods comprise contacting a contact lens with a liquid medium containing an effective amount of an oxidative disinfectant component at conditions to effectively disinfect the contact lens. The contacting occurs in the presence of a color indicator component which is soluble in the liquid medium and is adapted to provide a color indication of the presence of the oxidative disinfectant component in the liquid medium. The color indicator component comprises an effective amount of a transition metal component which is redox active, has an oxidized state of a first color and a reduced state of a different second color and a polyanionic component in an amount effective to inhibit the staining of the contact lens by the transition metal component.

Abstract: There is provided an environmentally stable detergent article. Normally, hygroscopic caustic detergent materials can be made resistant to absorption of ambient humidity or water by introducing a barrier coating onto the caustic detergent. The barrier also renders the highly active alkaline material safe for human handling. The coated detergent article can further be enclosed in a film enclosure or wrapping which provides further protection for handling during production, shipment, storage and final end use. The coated article can be removed from any packaging material, inserted into a water spray-on dispenser and used to create a concentrated aqueous detergent for use in ware washing machines. In order to obtain control over dispensing, hydrophobic coatings can be nicked, split, peeled or partially removed using other means to provide an initial surface of caustic detergent exposed to the water spray.

Abstract: Novel bleaches, a method for bleaching substrates using these materials and detergent compositions containing same are reported. The bleaches are thiadiazole dioxides. Substrates such as fabrics may be bleached in an aqueous solution containing the thiadiazole and a peroxygen compound.

Abstract: Detergent tablets, compacted from detergent powder containing detergent active and detergency builder, contain a polymer which acts as binder and as a disintegrant when the tablets are added to water. Preferably the binder is sprayed into the powder before compaction. The strength of such tablets is improved, without detriment to other properties, by tabletting at a temperature above ambient but below melting point of the polymeric binder. Preferably the temperature is only 5.degree. C. to 10.degree. C. below the melting point of the binder.

Abstract: Free-flowing and storable granular compacts containing ingredients of detergent or cleaning compositions in concentrated form are prepared by(1) preparing an adhesively bound dry premix containing(a) fine-particle detergent ingredients substantially free of binding or adhesive properties, and(b) fine-particle detergent ingredients having binding or adhesive properties, and optionally, detergent ingredients which are liquid at room temperature, to form a substantially homogeneous premix, and(2) press-molding the premix at a temperature of from about 40.degree. C. to 80.degree. C. in the substantial absence of shear forces whereby air is microdispersed in the resultant compacts.