CA2306724A1

CA2306724A1 - Detergent tablets containing solid binders

Info

Publication number: CA2306724A1
Application number: CA 2306724
Authority: CA
Inventors: Peter Schmiedel; Ute Krupp; Monika Boecker; Fred Schambil
Original assignee: Henkel AG and Co KGaA
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-04-29
Filing date: 2000-04-27
Publication date: 2000-10-29
Also published as: AR023622A1; AU4402000A; DE19919445A1; WO2000066698A1

Abstract

Detergent tablets containing 0.1 to 10% by weight of one or more paraffins solid at room temperature have advantageous performance properties, such as relatively high abrasion resistance and strength. The paraffins used preferably have particle sizes below 400 µm.

Description

Detergent Tablets Containing Solid Binders Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to compact shaped bodies having detersive properties. Detersive shaped bodies include, for example, laundry detergent tablets, tablets for dishwashing machines or for cleaning hard surfaces, bleach tablets for use in washing or dishwashing machines, water softening tablets or stain remover tablets. More particularly, the present invention relates to laundry detergent tablets which are used for washing laundry in domestic washing machines and which are referred to in short as detergent tablets.
Background of the Invention Detergent tablets are widely described in the prior-art literature and are enjoying increasing popularity among consumers because they are easy to dose. Tabletted detergents have a number of advantages over powder-form detergents: they are easier to dose and handle and, by virtue of their compact structure, have advantages in regard to storage and transportation. As a result, detergent shaped bodies are also comprehensively described in the patent literature. One problem which repeatedly arises in the use of detergent tablets is the inadequate disintegrating and dissolving rate of the tablets under in-use conditions.
Since sufficiently stable, i.e. dimensionally stable and fracture-resistant, tablets can only be produced by applying relatively high pressures, the ingredients of the tablet are heavily compacted so that disintegration of the tablet in the wash liquor is delayed which results in excessively slow release of the active substances in the washing process. The delayed disintegration of the tablets has the further disadvantage that typical detergent tablets cannot be flushed into the washing process from the dispensing compartment of domestic washing machines because the tablets do not disintegrate sufficiently quickly into secondary particles which are small enough to be flushed from the dispensing compartment into the drum of the washing machine. Another problem which occurs with detergent tablets in particular lies in the friability of the tablets and their often inadequate resistance to abrasion. Thus, although sufficiently fracture-resistant, i.e. hard, detergent tablets can be produced, they are often not strong enough to withstand the loads encountered during packaging, transportation and handling, i.e. impact and friction effects, so that broken edges and signs of abrasion spoil the appearance of the tablet or even lead to the complete destruction of its structure.
Many solutions have been developed in the prior art to overcome the dichotomy between hardness, i.e. transportation and handling stability, and easy disintegration of the tablets. One solution known in particular from the field of pharmacy and extended to detergent tablets is to incorporate certain disintegration aids which facilitate the access of water and which swell on contact with water and effervesce or otherwise disintegrate. Other solutions proposed in the patent literature are based on the compression of premixes of certain particle sizes, the separation of individual ingredients from certain other ingredients and the coating of individual ingredients or the entire tablet with binders.
Thus, EP 687 464 (Allphamed Arzneimittel-Gesellschaft) describes effervescent tablets which consist of at least one active principle or a combination of active principles, at least one binder, optionally carriers such as flavors, dyes, perfumes, plasticizers, bleaching agents and effervescent additives, the binders) used being propylene glycol or glycerol, preferably in quantities of 0.004 to 2.5% by weight. Processes for producing these effervescent tablets are also claimed. According to the disclosure of this document, it is also possible through the teaching of the invention to produce an effervescent detergent tablet without the binder used leading to a loss of carbon dioxide from the effervescent additives.
European patent application EP 711 828 (Unilever) describes detergent tablets containing surfactant(s), builders) and a polymer which acts as a binder and disintegration aid. The binders disclosed in this document are said to be solid at room temperature and to be added to the premix to be compressed in the form of a melt. Preferred binders are relatively high molecular weight polyethylene glycols.
The use of solid polyethylene glycols is also described in German patent application DE 197 09 411.2 (Henkel). This document teaches synergistic effects between the polyethylene glycols and overdried amorphous silicates.
Paraffin as a constituent of detergent tablets is described in the prior art either as a coating material (paraffin waxes) or as a mold release agent and tabletting aid (paraffin oil). Thus, EP 255 779 (Unilever) describes laundry aftertreatment compositions in tablet form which contain an aftertreatment agent and a substance for the delayed release of that agent.
Paraffin waxes, (a)cyclic mono- and polyhydric alcohols and esters are preferably used for this purpose.
The production of fracture-resistant dishwasher tablets is disclosed in International patent application WO 96123053 (Henkel). In this process, 15 to 60% by weight of pentaalkali metal triphosphate, 35 to 80% by weight of alkali metal silicate and other optional constituents and up to 20% by weight of sodium carbonate, up to 18% by weight of a bleaching agent, up to 3% by weight of paraffin oil and/or up to 3% by weight of a low-foaming nonionic surfactant are mixed together and the resulting mixture is tabletted under pressures of more than 7 Mpa.
The use of solid paraffins for improving the abrasion resistance of detergent tablets has not hitherto been mentioned in the prior art.
Now, the problem addressed by the present invention was to provide tablets which, for predetermined hardness, would be distinguished by short disintegration times which and, accordingly, could even be flushed into the washing process from the dispensing compartment of commercially available washing machines. In addition to meeting these requirements, the tablets would have increased resistance to impact and friction, i.e.
would show improved, i.e. reduced, friability and would exhibit reduced abrasion behavior.
Description of the Invention It has now been found that the addition of solid paraffins to premixes for detergent tablets leads to tablets which are far more abrasion-resistant and considerably less friable than the hitherto known tablets. The use of the additives mentioned has little effect, if any, on the fracture resistance of the detergent tablets.
The present invention relates to detergent tablets of compacted particulate detergent containing surfactant(s), builders) and optionally other typical detergent ingredients, characterized in that they contain from 0.1 to 10% by weight, based on tablet weight, of one or more paraffins solid at room temperature.
In the context of the present invention, the expression "paraffin solid at room temperature" characterizes paraffins which melt above 20°C. The limit of 20°C is not a fixed melting point above which the paraffins usable in accordance with the invention are immediately present in the form of solid particles. Instead there is a temperature range for the melting points within which semisolid or wax-like paraffins exist. Semisolid paraffins with melting points of 45-65°C are known by such names as soft paraffin while those with densities of 0.82 to 0.88 gcrri 3 and melting points of 38 to 60°C
and boiling points of >300°C are known by such names as petrolatum; a well-known trade mark for paraffins of this type is Vaseline. Hard paraffin (Paraffinum solidum) - a solid crystalline mass with a solidification temperature of 50 to 62°C - is also known.
Any paraffins solid (i.e. not liquid) at room temperature may be used in accordance with the present invention, paraffins which are present in particle form at room temperature and which may be used like loose materials being used with particular advantage.
Preferred quantities in which paraffins are present in the detergent tablets in accordance with the invention lie within relatively narrow ranges, so that preferred detergent tablets are characterized in that the content of 5 paraffins solid at room temperature in the tablets is between 0.25 and 7.5%
by weight, preferably between 0.3 and 5% by weight and more preferably between 0.5 and 3% by weight, based on tablet weight.
As mentioned above, paraffins in particle form are used with particular advantage. Within this preferred group of hard paraffins, paraf fins with certain particle sizes are preferred. Preferred detergent tablets are characterized in that at least 60% by weight, preferably at least 75% by weight and more preferably at least 90% by weight of the paraffins solid at room temperature present in them have particle sizes below 400 Nm.
The particle size distribution is preferably displaced even further towards small particles, so that particularly preferred detergent tablets are characterized in that all the paraffins solid at room temperature present in them have particle sizes below 400 Nm, preferably at least 30% by weight, more preferably at least 40% by weight and most preferably at least 50%
by weight of the paraffin particles having particle sizes below 200 Nm.
The hard paraffins used with particular advantage within certain particle size ranges preferably relatively high melting or solidification ranges. The melting point of the paraffins solid at room temperature present in the detergent tablets is preferably above 30°C, more preferably above 40°C and most preferably above 50°C.
Hard paraffins which have a solidification point above the temperatures mentioned are particularly preferred. The solidification point of paraffins may be determined by standard methods, for example DIN-ISO
2207. According to the invention, preferred detergent tablets contain paraffins solid at room temperature with a solidification point according to DIN-ISO 2207 of 40 to 80°C, preferably 50 to 70°C and more preferably 50 to 60°C.
The paraffins preferably used in accordance with the invention may be characterized by a number of other parameters. For example, the paraffins used in accordance with the invention advantageously have a low oil content (as determined to DIN-ISO 2908). Oil contents below 2% by weight are preferred, oil contents below 1 % by weight being particularly preferred and oil contents around 0.5% by weight, based on the weight of the paraffin, being most particularly preferred. Providing no visual effects are to be obtained, it is also of advantage for the paraffin used in accordance with the invention to be pure white in color so that it does not stand out from the matrix of the other ingredients. Other physical parameters by which the paraffins used in the detergents according to the invention may preferably be characterized include their viscosity at elevated temperature and their penetration value.
Thus, the paraffins used in the detergent tablets according to the invention advantageously have a viscosity at 100°C of 1 to 10 mm2sec', preferably 2 to 6 mm2sec' and more preferably 3.5 to 4.5 mmZsec', as measured by the method disclosed in DIN 51 562. The penetration value of the paraffins used in the detergent tablets according to the invention as determined to DIN 51 579 is preferably below 5 mm, preferably below 4 mm and more preferably below 2 mm.
Besides the paraffins solid at room temperature present in them, the detergent tablets according to the invention contain other detergent ingredients, more particularly builders, surfactants, bleaching agents, bleach activators, enzymes, etc. The substances are described in detail hereinafter.
In order to facilitate the disintegration of heavily compacted tablets, disintegration aids, so-called tablet disintegrators, may be incorporated in them to shorten their disintegration times. According to Rompp (9th Edition, Vol. 6, page 4440) and Voigt "Lehrbuch der pharmazeutischen Technologie" (6th Edition, 1987, pages 182-184), tablet disintegrators or disintegration accelerators are auxiliaries which promote the rapid disintegration of tablets in water or gastric juices and the release of the pharmaceuticals in an absorbable form.
These substances, which are also known as "disintegrators" by virtue of their effect, are capable of undergoing an increase in volume on contact with water so that, on the one hand, their own volume is increased (swelling) and, on the other hand, a pressure can be generated through the release of gases which causes the tablet to disintegrate into relatively small particles. Well-known disintegrators are, for example, carbonate/citric acid systems, although other organic acids may also be used. Swelling disintegration aids are, for example, synthetic polymers, such as polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), or natural polymers and modified natural substances, such as cellulose and starch and derivatives thereof, alginates or casein derivatives.
Preferred detergent tablets contain 0.5 to 10% by weight, preferably 3 to 7% by weight and more preferably 4 to 6% by weight of one or more disintegration aids, based on the weight of the tablet.
According to the invention, preferred disintegrators are cellulose-based disintegrators, so that preferred detergent tablets contain a cellulose-based disintegrator in quantities of 0.5 to 10% by weight, preferably 3 to 7% by weight and more preferably 4 to 6% by weight. Pure cellulose has the formal empirical composition (CsH~o05)~ and, formally, is a ~i-1,4-polyacetal of cellobiose which, in turn, is made up of 2 molecules of glucose. Suitable celluloses consist of ca. 500 to 5000 glucose units and, accordingly, have average molecular weights of 50,000 to 500,000.
According to the invention, cellulose derivatives obtainable from cellulose by polymer-analog reactions may also be used as cellulose-based disintegrators. These chemically modified celluloses include, for example, products of esterification or etherification reactions in which hydroxy hydrogen atoms have been substituted. However, celluloses in which the hydroxy groups have been replaced by functional groups that are not attached by an oxygen atom may also be used as cellulose derivatives.
The group of cellulose derivatives includes, for example, alkali metal celluloses, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), cellulose esters and ethers and aminocelluloses. The cellulose derivatives mentioned are preferably not used on their own, but rather in the form of a mixture with cellulose as cellulose-based disintegrators. The content of cellulose derivatives in mixtures such as these is preferably below 50% by weight and more preferably below 20% by weight, based on the cellulose-based disintegrator. In one particularly preferred embodiment, pure cellulose free from cellulose derivatives is used as the cellulose-based disintegrator.
The cellulose used as disintegration aid is preferably not used in fine-particle form, but is converted into a coarser form, for example by granulation or compacting, before it is added to and mixed with the premixes to be tabletted. Detergent tablets which contain granular or optionally co-granulated disintegrators are described in German patent applications DE 197 09 991 (Stefan Herzog) and DE 197 10 254 (Henkel) and in International patent application WO 98140463 (Henkel). Further particulars of the production of granulated, compacted or co-granulated cellulose disintegrators can also be found in these patent applications. The particle sizes of such disintegration aids is mostly above 200 Nm, at least 90% by weight of the particles being between 300 and 1600 Nm in size and, more particularly, between 400 and 1200 Nm in size. According to the invention, the above-described relatively coarse-particle cellulose-based disintegrators described in detail in the cited patent applications are preferably used as disintegration aids and are commercially obtainable, for example under the name of Arbocel~ TF-30-HG from Rettenmaier.
Microcrystalline cellulose may be used as another cellulose-based disintegration aid or as part of such a component. This microcrystalline cellulose is obtained by partial hydrolysis of the celluloses under conditions which only attack and completely dissolve the amorphous regions (ca. 30%
of the total cellulose mass) of the celluloses, but leave the crystalline regions (ca. 70%) undamaged. Subsequent de-aggregation of the microfine celluloses formed by hydrolysis provides the microcrystalline celluloses which have primary particle sizes of ca. 5 Nm and which can be compacted, for example, to granules with a mean particle size of 200 Nm.
According to the invention, preferred detergent tablets aditionally contain a disintegration aid, preferably a cellulose-based disintegration aid, preferably in granular, co-granulated or compacted form, in quantities of 0.5 to 10% by weight, preferably in quantities of 3 to 7% by weight and more preferably in quantities of 4 to 6% by weight, based on tablet weight.
Any of the builders normally used in detergents may be present in the detergent tablets according to the invention, including in particular zeolites, silicates, carbonates, organic co-builders and also - providing there are no ecological objections to their use - phosphates.
Suitable crystalline layer-form sodium silicates correspond to the general formula NaMSiX02X+~A y H20, where M is sodium or hydrogen, x is a number of 1.9 to 4 and y is a number of 0 to 20, preferred values for x being 2, 3 or 4. Crystalline layer silicates such as these are described, for example, in European patent application EP-A-0 164 514. Preferred crystalline layer silicates corresponding to the above formula are those in which M is sodium and x assumes the value 2 or 3. Both Vii- and 8-sodium disilicates Na2Si205A y H20 are particularly preferred, ~i-sodium disilicate being obtainable, for example, by the process described in International patent application WO-A- 91108171.
Other useful builders are amorphous sodium silicates with a modulus (Na20:Si02 ratio) of 1:2 to 1:3.3, preferably 1:2 to 1:2.8 and more preferably 1:2 to 1:2.6 which dissolve with delay and exhibit multiple wash cycle properties. The delay in dissolution in relation to conventional amorphous sodium silicates can have been obtained in various ways, for example by surface treatment, compounding, compacting or by overdrying.
In the context of the invention, the term "amorphous" is also understood to 5 encompass "X-ray amorphous". In other words, the silicates do not produce any of the sharp X-ray reflexes typical of crystalline substances in X-ray diffraction experiments, but at best one or more maxima of the scattered X-radiation which have a width of several degrees of the diffraction angle. However, particularly good builder properties may even 10 be achieved where the silicate particles produce crooked or even sharp diffraction maxima in electron diffraction experiments. This may be interpreted to mean that the products have microcrystalline regions between 10 and a few hundred nm in size, values of up to at most 50 nm and, more particularly, up to at most 20 nm being preferred. So-called X-ray amorphous silicates such as these, which also dissolve with delay in relation to conventional waterglasses, are described for example in German patent application DE-A-44 00 024. Compacted amorphous silicates, compounded amorphous silicates and overdried X-ray-amorphous silicates are particularly preferred.
The finely crystalline, synthetic zeolite containing bound water used in accordance with the invention is preferably zeolite A and/or zeolite P.
Zeolite MAP~ (Crosfield) is a particularly preferred P-type zeolite.
However, zeolite X and mixtures of A, X and/or P are also suitable.
According to the invention, it is also preferred to use, for example, a co-crystallizate of zeolite X and zeolite A (ca. 80% by weight zeolite X) which is marketed by CONDEA Augusta S.p.A. under the name of VEGOBOND
AX~ and which may be described by the following formula:
nNa20 - (1-n)K20 ~ AI203 ~ (2 - 2.5)Si02 ~ (3.5 - 5.5) H20.

The zeolite may be used both as a builder in a granular compound and as a kind of "powder" to be applied to the entire mixture to be tabletted, both routes normally being used to incorporate the zeolite in the premix.
Suitable zeolites have a mean particle size of less than 10 ~m (volume distribution, as measured by the Coulter Counter Method) and contain preferably 18 to 22% by weight and more preferably 20 to 22% by weight of bound water.
The generally known phosphates may of course also be used as builders providing their use should not be avoided on ecological grounds.
Among the large number of commercially available phosphates, alkali metal phosphates have the greatest importance in the detergent industry, pentasodium triphosphate and pentapotassium triphosphate (sodium and potassium tripolyphosphate) being particularly preferred.
"Alkali metal phosphates" is the collective term for the alkali metal (more particularly sodium and potassium) salts of the various phosphoric acids, including metaphosphoric acids (HP03)~ and orthophosphoric acid (H3P04) and representatives of higher molecular weight. The phosphates combine several advantages: they act as alkalinity sources, prevent lime deposits on machine parts and lime incrustations in fabrics and, in addition, contribute towards the cleaning effect.
Sodium dihydrogen phosphate (NaH2P04) exists as the dehydrate (density 1.91 gcm3, melting point 60°) and as the monohydrate (density 2.04 gcm3). Both salts are white readily water-soluble powders which, on heating, lose the water of crystallization and, at 200°, are converted into the weakly acidic diphosphate (disodium hydrogen diphosphate, Na2HZP207) and, at higher temperatures, into sodium trimetaphosphate (Na3P309) and Maddrell's salt (see below). NaH2P04 shows an acidic reaction. It is formed by adjusting phosphoric acid with sodium hydroxide to a pH value of 4.5 and spraying the resulting "mash". Potassium dihydrogen phosphate (primary or monobasic potassium phosphate, potassium biphosphate, KDP), KH2P04, is a white salt with a density of 2.33 gcm3, has a melting point of 253° [decomposition with formation of potassium polyphosphate (KP03)xJ and is readily soluble in water.
Disodium hydrogen phosphate (secondary sodium phosphate), Na2HP04, is a colorless, readily water-soluble crystalline salt. It exists in water-free form and with 2 moles (density 2.066 gcm3, water loss at 95°), 7 moles (density 1.68 gcm3, melting point 48° with loss of 5 H20) and 12 moles of water (density 1.52 gcm3, melting point 35° with loss of 5 H20), becomes water-free at 100° and, on fairly intensive heating, is converted into the diphosphate Na4P207. Disodium hydrogen phosphate is prepared by neutralization of phosphoric acid with soda solution using phenol-phthalein as indicator. Dipotassium hydrogen phosphate (secondary or dibasic potassium phosphate), K2HP04, is an amorphous white salt which is readily soluble in water.
Trisodium phosphate, tertiary sodium phosphate, Na3P04, consists of colorless crystals which have a density of 1.62 gcm3 and a melting point of 73-76° (decomposition) as the dodecahydrate, a melting point of 100° as the decahydrate (corresponding to 19-20% P205) and a density of 2.536 gcm3 in water-free form (corresponding to 39-40% P205). Trisodium phosphate is readily soluble in water through an alkaline reaction and is prepared by concentrating a solution of exactly 1 mole of disodium phosphate and 1 mole of NaOH by evaporation. Tripotassium phosphate (tertiary or tribasic potassium phosphate), K3P04, is a white deliquescent granular powder with a density of 2.56 gcm3, has a melting of 1340° and is readily soluble in water through an alkaline reaction. It is formed, for example, when Thomas slag is heated with coal and potassium sulfate.
Despite their higher price, the more readily soluble and therefore highly effective potassium phosphates are often preferred to corresponding sodium compounds in the detergent industry.
Tetrasodium diphosphate (sodium pyrophosphate), Na4P207, exists in water-free form (density 2.534 gcm3, melting point 988°, a figure of 880°
has also been mentioned) and as the decahydrate (density 1.815 - 1.836 gcm3, melting point 94° with loss of water). Both substances are colorless crystals which dissolve in water through an alkaline reaction. Na4P207 is formed when disodium phosphate is heated to >200° or by reacting phosphoric acid with soda in a stoichiometric ratio and spray-drying the solution. The decahydrate complexes heavy metal salts and hardness salts and, hence, reduces the hardness of water. Potassium diphosphate (potassium pyrophosphate), K4P207, exists in the form of the trihydrate and is a colorless hygroscopic powder with a density of 2.33 gcm3 which is soluble in water, the pH value of a 1 % solution at 25° being 10.4.
Relatively high molecular weight sodium and potassium phosphates are formed by condensation of NaHZP04 or KH2P04. They may be divided into cyclic types, namely the sodium and potassium metaphosphates, and chain types, the sodium and potassium polyphosphates. The chain types in particular are known by various different names: fused or calcined phosphates, Graham's salt, Kurrol's salt and Maddrell's salt. All higher sodium and potassium phosphates are known collectively as condensed phosphates.
The industrially important pentasodium triphosphate, Na5P30~o (sodium tripolyphosphate), is a non-hygroscopic white water-soluble salt which crystallizes without water or with 6 H20 and which has the general formula Na0-[P(O)(ONa)-O]~-Na where n = 3. Around 17 g of the salt free from water of crystallization dissolve in 100 g of water at room temperature, around 20 g at 60° and around 32 g at 100°. After heating of the solution for 2 hours to 100°, around 8% orthophosphate and 15% diphosphate are formed by hydrolysis. In the preparation of pentasodium triphosphate, phosphoric acid is reacted with soda solution or sodium hydroxide in a stoichiometric ratio and the solution is spray-dried. Similarly to Graham's salt and sodium diphosphate, pentasodium triphosphate dissolves many insoluble metal compounds (including lime soaps, etc.). Pentapotassium triphosphate, K5P30~o (potassium tripolyphosphate), is marketed for example in the form of a 50% by weight solution (> 23% P205, 25% K20).
The potassium polyphosphates are widely used in the detergent industry.
Sodium potassium tripolyphosphates, which may also be used in accordance with the invention, also exist. They are formed for example when sodium trimetaphosphate is hydrolyzed with KOH:
(NaP03)3 + 2 KOH -~ Na3K2P30~o + H20 According to the invention, they may be used in exactly the same way as sodium tripolyphosphate, potassium tripolyphosphate or mixtures thereof. Mixtures of sodium tripolyphosphate and sodium potassium tripolyphosphate or mixtures of potassium tripolyphosphate and sodium potassium tripolyphosphate or mixtures of sodium tripolyphosphate and potassium tripolyphosphate and sodium potassium tripolyphosphate may also be used in accordance with the invention.
Organic cobuilders suitable for use in the detergent tablets according to the invention are, in particular, polycarboxylates/polycarboxylic acids, polymeric polycarboxylates, aspartic acid, polyacetals, dextrins, other organic cobuilders (see below) and phosphonates. These classes of substances are described in the following.
Useful organic builders are, for example, the polycarboxylic acids usable, for example, in the form of their sodium salts, polycarboxylic acids in this context being understood to be carboxylic acids which bear more than one acid function. Examples of such carboxylic acids are citric acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, malefic acid, fumaric acid, sugar acids, aminocarboxylic acids, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), providing their use is not ecologically unsafe, and mixtures thereof.
Preferred salts are the salts of the polycarboxylic acids, such as citric acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, tartaric acid, sugar acids and mixtures thereof.
The acids per se may also be used. Besides their builder effect, the acids also typically have the property of an acidifying component and, 5 hence, also serve to establish a relatively low and mild pH value in detergents. Citric acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, gluconic acid and mixtures thereof are particularly mentioned in this regard.
Other suitable builders are polymeric polycarboxylates such as, for example, the alkali metal salts of polyacrylic or polymethacrylic acid, for 10 example those with a relative molecular weight of 500 to 70,000 g/mole.
The molecular weights mentioned in this specification for polymeric polycarboxylates are weight-average molecular weights MW of the particular acid form which, basically, were determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) using a UV detector. The measurement was 15 carried out against an external polyacrylic acid standard which provides realistic molecular weight values by virtue of its structural similarity to the polymers investigated. These values differ distinctly from the molecular weights measured against polystyrene sulfonic acids as standard. The molecular weights measured against polystyrene sulfonic acids are generally higher than the molecular weights mentioned in this specification.
Particularly suitable polymers are polyacrylates which preferably have a molecular weight of 2,000 to 20,000 g/mole. By virtue of their superior solubility, preferred representatives of this group are the short-chain polyacrylates which have molecular weights of 2,000 to 10,000 g/mole and, more particularly, 3,000 to 5,000 g/mole.
Also suitable are copolymeric polycarboxylates, particularly those of acrylic acid with methacrylic acid and those of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid with malefic acid. Acrylic acid/maleic acid copolymers containing 50 to 90% by weight of acrylic acid and 50 to 10% by weight of malefic acid have proved to be particularly suitable. Their relative molecular weights, based on the free acids, are generally in the range from 2,000 to 70,000 g/mole, preferably in the range from 20,000 to 50,000 g/mole and more preferably in the range from 30,000 to 40,000 g/mole.
The (co)polymeric polycarboxylates may be used either in powder form or in the form of an aqueous solution. The content of (co)polymeric polycarboxylates in the detergent is preferably from 0.5 to 20% by weight and more preferably from 3 to 10% by weight.
In order to improve solubility in water, the polymers may also contain allyl sulfonic acids, such as allyloxybenzene sulfonic acid and methallyl sulfonic acid, as monomer.
Other particularly preferred polymers are biodegradable polymers of more than two different monomer units, for example those which contain salts of acrylic acid and malefic acid and vinyl alcohol or vinyl alcohol derivatives as monomers or those which contain salts of acrylic acid and 2-alkylallyl sulfonic acid and sugar derivatives as monomers.
Other preferred copolymers are those which are described in German patent applications DE-A-43 03 320 and DE-A-44 17 734 and which preferably contain acrolein and acrylic acid/acrylic acid salts or acrolein and vinyl acetate as monomers.
Other preferred builders are polymeric aminodicarboxylic acids, salts or precursors thereof. Particular preference is attributed to polyaspartic acids or salts and derivatives thereof which, according to German patent application DE-A-195 40 086, are also said to have a bleach-stabilizing effect in addition to their co-builder properties.
Other suitable builders are polyacetals which may be obtained by reaction of dialdehydes with polyol carboxylic acids containing 5 to 7 carbon atoms and at least three hydroxyl groups. Preferred polyacetals are obtained from dialdehydes, such as glyoxal, glutaraldehyde, terephthal-aldehyde and mixtures thereof and from polyol carboxylic acids, such as gluconic acid and/or glucoheptonic acid.

Other suitable organic builders are dextrins, for example oligomers or polymers of carbohydrates which may be obtained by partial hydrolysis of starches. The hydrolysis may be carried out by standard methods, for example acid- or enzyme-catalyzed methods. The end products are preferably hydrolysis products with average molecular weights of 400 to 500,000 g/mole. A polysaccharide with a dextrose equivalent (DE) of 0.5 to 40 and, more particularly, 2 to 30 is preferred, the DE being an accepted measure of the reducing effect of a polysaccharide by comparison with dextrose which has a DE of 100. Both maltodextrins with a DE of 3 to 20 and dry glucose sirups with a DE of 20 to 37 and also so-called yellow dextrins and white dextrins with relatively high molecular weights of 2,000 to 30,000 g/mole may be used.
The oxidized derivatives of such dextrins are their reaction products with oxidizing agents which are capable of oxidizing at least one alcohol function of the saccharide ring to the carboxylic acid function. Dextrins thus oxidized and processes for their production are known, for example, from European patent applications EP-A-0 232 202, EP-A-0 427 349, EP-A-0 472 042 and EP-A-0 542 496 and from International patent applications WO 92118542, WO 93/08251, WO 93/16110, WO 94/28030, WO 95107303, WO 95112619 and WO 95120608. An oxidized oligosaccharide corresponding to German patent application DE-A-196 00 018 is also suitable. A product oxidized at Cs of the saccharide ring can be particularly advantageous.
Other suitable co-builders are oxydisuccinates and other derivatives of disuccinates, preferably ethylenediamine disuccinate. Ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinate (EDDS) is preferably used in the form of its sodium or magnesium salts. Glycerol disuccinates and glycerol trisuccinates are also preferred in this connection. The quantities used in zeolite-containing and/or silicate-containing formulations are from 3 to 15% by weight.
Other useful organic co-builders are, for example, acetylated hydroxycarboxylic acids and salts thereof which may optionally be present in lactone form and which contain at least 4 carbon atoms, at least one hydroxy group and at most two acid groups. Co-builders such as these are described, for example, in International patent application WO 95120029.
Another class of substances with co-builder properties are the phosphonates, more particularly hydroxyalkane and aminoalkane phos-phonates. Among the hydroxyalkane phosphonates, 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonate (HEDP) is particularly important as a co-builder. It is preferably used in the form of the sodium salt, the disodium salt showing a neutral reaction and the tetrasodium salt an alkaline reaction (pH 9).
Preferred aminoalkane phosphonates are ethylenediamine tetramethylene phosphonate (EDTMP), diethylenetriamine pentamethylenephosphonate (DTPMP) and higher homologs thereof. They are preferably used in the form of the neutrally reacting sodium salts, for example as the hexasodium salt of EDTMP or as the hepta- and octasodium salts of DTPMP. Of the phosphonates, HEDP is preferably used as a builder. In addition, the aminoalkane phosphonates have a pronounced heavy metal binding capacity. Accordingly, it can be of advantage, particularly where the detergents also contain bleach, to use aminoalkane phosphonates, more particularly DTPMP, or mixtures of the phosphonates mentioned.
In addition, any compounds capable of forming complexes with alkaline earth metal ions may be used as co-builders.
The quantity of builder used is normally between 10 and 70% by weight, preferably between 15 and 60% by weight and more preferably between 20 and 50% by weight. The quantity of builder used is again dependent upon the particular application envisaged, so that bleach tablets can contain larger quantities of builders (for example between 20 and 70%
by weight, preferably between 25 and 65% by weight and more preferably between 30 and 55% by weight) than, for example, laundry detergent tablets (normally 10 to 50% by weight, preferably 12.5 to 45% by weight and more preferably 17.5 to 37.5% by weight).
Preferred detergent tablets additionally contain one or more surfactant(s). Anionic, nonionic, cationic and/or amphoteric surfactants or mixtures thereof may be used in the detergent tablets according to the invention. Mixtures of anionic and nonionic surfactants are preferred from the performance point of view. The total surfactant content of the tablets is between 5 and 60% by weight, based on tablet weight, surfactant contents above 15% by weight being preferred.
The anionic surfactants used are, for example, those of the sulfonate and sulfate type. Preferred surfactants of the sulfonate type are C9_~3 alkyl benzenesulfonates, olefin sulfonates, i.e. mixtures of alkene and hydroxy-alkane sulfonates, and the disulfonates obtained, for example, from C~2_~$
monoolefins with an internal or terminal double bond by sulfonation with gaseous sulfur trioxide and subsequent alkaline or acidic hydrolysis of the sulfonation products. Other suitable surfactants of the sulfonate type are the alkane sulfonates obtained from C~2_~$ alkanes, for example by sulfochlorination or sulfoxidation and subsequent hydrolysis or neutralization. The esters of a-sulfofatty acids (ester sulfonates), for example the a-sulfonated methyl esters of hydrogenated coconut, palm kernel or tallow acids, are also suitable.
Other suitable anionic surfactants are sulfonated fatty acid glycerol esters, i.e. the monoesters, diesters and triesters and mixtures thereof which are obtained where production is carried out by esterification by a monoglycerol with 1 to 3 moles of fatty acid or in the transesterification of triglycerides with 0.3 to 2 moles of glycerol. Preferred sulfonated fatty acid glycerol esters are the sulfonation products of saturated C6_22 fatty acids, for example caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, myristic acid, lauric acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid or behenic acid.
Preferred alk(en)yl sulfates are the alkali metal salts and, in particular, the sodium salts of the sulfuric acid semiesters of C~2_~$ fatty alcohols, for example coconut alcohol, tallow alcohol, lauryl, myristyl, cetyl or stearyl alcohol, or C~o_zo oxoalcohols and the corresponding semiesters of secondary alcohols with the same chain length. Other preferred alk(en)yl sulfates are those with the chain length mentioned which contain 5 a synthetic, linear alkyl chain based on a petrochemical and which are similar in their degradation behavior to the corresponding compounds based on oleochemical raw materials. C~z_~6 alkyl sulfates and C~z_~5 alkyl sulfates and also C~4_~5 alkyl sulfates are particularly preferred from the washing performance point of view. Other suitable anionic surfactants are 10 2,3-alkyl sulfates which may be produced, for example, in accordance with US 3,234,258 or US 5,075,041 and which are commercially obtainable as products of the Shell Oil Company under the name of DAN~.
The sulfuric acid monoesters of linear or branched C~_z~ alcohols ethoxylated with 1 to 6 moles of ethylene oxide, such as 2-methyl-branched 15 C9_~ ~ alcohols containing on average 3.5 moles of ethylene oxide (EO) or C~z_~a fatty alcohols containing 1 to 4 EO, are also suitable. In view of their high foaming capacity, they are normally used in only relatively small quantities, for example in quantities of 1 to 5% by weight, in dishwashing detergents.
20 Other suitable anionic surfactants are the salts of alkyl sulfosuccinic acid which are also known as sulfosuccinates or as sulfosuccinic acid esters and which represent monoesters and/or diesters of sulfosuccinic acid with alcohols, preferably fatty alcohols and, more particularly, ethoxylated fatty alcohols. Preferred sulfosuccinates contain C$_~$ fatty alcohol molecules or mixtures thereof. Particularly preferred sulfosuccinates contain a fatty alcohol molecule derived from ethoxylated fatty alcohols which, considered in isolation, represent nonionic surfactants (for a description, see below). Of these sulfosuccinates, those of which the fatty alcohol molecules are derived from narrow-range ethoxylated fatty alcohols are particularly preferred. Alk(en)yl succinic acid preferably containing 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the alk(en)yl chain or salts thereof may also be used.
Other suitable anionic surfactants are, in particular, soaps. Suitable soaps are, in particular, saturated fatty acid soaps, such as the salts of lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, hydrogenated erucic acid and behenic acid, and soap mixtures derived in particular from natural fatty acids, for example coconut, palm kernel or tallow acids.
The anionic surfactants, including the soaps, may be present in the form of their sodium, potassium or ammonium salts and as soluble salts of organic bases, such as mono-, di- or triethanolamine. The anionic surfactants are preferably present in the form of their sodium or potassium salts and, more preferably, in the form of their sodium salts.
Preferred nonionic surfactants are alkoxylated, advantageously ethoxylated, more especially primary alcohols preferably containing 8 to 18 carbon atoms and, on average, 1 to 12 moles of ethylene oxide (EO) per mole of alcohol, in which the alcohol group may be linear or, preferably, methyl-branched in the 2-position or may contain linear and methyl-branched groups in the form of the mixtures typically present in oxoalcohol groups. However, alcohol ethoxylates containing linear groups of alcohols of native origin with 12 to 18 carbon atoms, for example coconut, palm, tallow or oleyl alcohol, and on average 2 to 8 EO per mole of alcohol are particularly preferred. Preferred ethoxylated alcohols include, for example, C~2_~4 alcohols containing 3 EO or 4 EO, C9_~~ alcohol containing 7 EO, C»~5 alcohols containing 3 EO, 5 EO, 7 EO or 8 EO, C,2_~$ alcohols containing 3 EO, 5 EO or 7 EO and mixtures thereof, such as mixtures of C~2_~4 alcohol containing 3 EO and C~2_~$ alcohol containing 5 EO. The degrees of ethoxylation mentioned represent statistical mean values which, for a special product, can be a whole number or a broken number.
Preferred alcohol ethoxylates have a narrow homolog distribution (narrow range ethoxylates, NRE). In addition to these nonionic surfactants, fatty alcohols containing more than 12 EO may also be used, examples including tallow fatty alcohol containing 14 EO, 25 EO, 30 EO or 40 EO.
Suitable other nonionic surfactants are alkyl glycosides with the general formula RO(G)X where R is a primary, linear or methyl-branched, more particularly 2-methyl-branched, aliphatic radical containing 8 to 22 and preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms and G stands for a glycose unit containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms, preferably glucose. The degree of oligomerization x, which indicates the distribution of monoglycosides and oligoglycosides, is a number of 1 to 10 and preferably 1.2 to 1.4.
Another class of preferred nonionic surfactants which may be used either as sole nonionic surfactant or in combination with other nonionic surfactants are alkoxylated, preferably ethoxylated or ethoxylated and propoxylated, fatty acid alkyl esters preferably containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, more especially the fatty acid methyl esters which are described, for example, in Japanese patent application JP 58/217598 or which are preferably produced by the process described in International patent application WO-A-90113533.
Nonionic surfactants of the amine oxide type, for example N-coconutalkyl-N,N-dimethylamine oxide and N-tallowalkyl-N,N-dihydroxy-ethylamine oxide, and the fatty acid alkanolamide type are also suitable.
The quantity in which these nonionic surfactants are used is preferably no more than the quantity in which the ethoxylated fatty alcohols are used and, more preferably, no more than half that quantity.
Other suitable surfactants are polyhydroxyfatty acid amides corresponding to formula (I):
R' R-CO-N-[Z) (I) in which RCO is an aliphatic acyl group containing 6 to 22 carbon atoms, R' is hydrogen, an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms and [Zj is a linear or branched polyhydroxyalkyl group containing 3 to 10 carbon atoms and 3 to 10 hydroxyl groups. The polyhydroxyfatty acid amides are known substances which may normally be obtained by reductive amination of a reducing sugar with ammonia, an alkylamine or an alkanolamine and subsequent acylation with a fatty acid, a fatty acid alkyl ester or a fatty acid chloride.
The group of polyhydroxyfatty acid amides also includes compounds corresponding to formula (II):
R'-O-R2 R-CO-N-[Zj (I I) in which R is a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group containing 7 to 12 carbon atoms, R' is a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group or an aryl group containing 2 to 8 carbon atoms and R2 is a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group or an aryl group or an oxyalkyl group containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms, C» alkyl or phenyl groups being preferred, and [Zj is a linear polyhydroxy-alkyl group, of which the alkyl chain is substituted by at least two hydroxyl groups, or alkoxylated, preferably ethoxylated or propoxylated, derivatives of that group.
[Zj is preferably obtained by reductive amination of a reduced sugar, for example glucose, fructose, maltose, lactose, galactose, mannose or xylose. The N-alkoxy- or N-aryloxy-substituted compounds may then be converted into the required polyhydroxyfatty acid amides by reaction with fatty acid methyl esters in the presence of an alkoxide as catalyst, for example in accordance with the teaching of International patent application WO-A-95107331.
According to the invention, preferred detergent tablets contain anionic and nonionic surfactant(s). Performance-related advantages can arise out of certain quantity ratios in which the individual classes of surfactants are used. Particularly preferred detergent tablets contain anionic and/or nonionic surfactants) and have total surfactant contents above 2.5% by weight, preferably above 5% by weight and more preferably above 10% by weight, based on tablet weight.
For example, particularly preferred detergent tablets are charac-terized in that the ratio of anionic surfactants) to nonionic surfactants) is from 10:1 to 1:10, preferably from 7.5:1 to 1:5 and more preferably from 5:1 to 1:2. Other preferred detergent tablets are characterized in that they contain surfactant(s), preferably anionic and/or nonionic surfactant(s), in quantities of 5 to 40% by weight, preferably 7.5 to 35% by weight, more preferably 10 to 30% by weight and most preferably 12.5 to 25% by weight, based on the weight of the tablet.
It can be of advantage from the performance point of view if certain classes of surfactants are missing from certain phases of the detergent tablets or from the entire tablet, i.e. from every phase. In another important embodiment of the present invention, therefore, at least one phase of the tablets is free from nonionic surfactants.
Conversely, a positive effect can also be obtained through the presence of certain surfactants in individual phases or in the tablet as a whole, i.e. in every phase. Introducing the alkyl polyglycosides described above has proved to be of particular advantage, so that detergent tablets in which at least one phase of the tablet contains alkyl polyglycosides are preferred.
As with the nonionic surfactants, the omission of anionic surfactants from individual phases or from all phases can result in detergent tablets which are more suitable for certain applications. Accordingly, detergent tablets where at least one phase of the tablet is free from anionic surfactants are also possible in accordance with the present invention.
Besides the ingredients mentioned thus far (surfactant, builder and disintegration aid) and in addition to the paraffin present in the tablets in accordance with the invention, the detergent tablets according to the invention may contain other substances from the group of bleaching agents, bleach activators, enzymes, pH regulators, perfumes, perfume carriers, fluorescers, dyes, foam inhibitors, silicone oils, redeposition inhibitors, optical brighteners, discoloration inhibitors, dye transfer inhibitors 5 and corrosion inhibitors.
Among the compounds yielding H202 in water which serve as bleaching agents, sodium perborate tetrahydrate and sodium perborate monohydrate are particularly important. Other useful bleaching agents are, for example, sodium percarbonate, peroxypyrophosphates, citrate perhy-10 drates and H202-yielding peracidic salts or peracids, such as perbenzoates, peroxophthalates, diperazelaic acid, phthaloiminoperacid or diperdodecane dioic acid. Where bleaching agents are used, it is again possible to leave out surfactants and/or builders so that pure bleach tablets can be produced. If such bleach tablets are to be added to laundry, a 15 combination of sodium percarbonate with sodium sesquicarbonate is preferably used irrespective of what other ingredients the tablets contain. If detergent or bleach tablets for dishwashing machines are being produced, bleaching agents from the group of organic bleaches may also be used.
Typical organic bleaching agents are diacyl peroxides, such as dibenzoyl 20 peroxide for example. Other typical organic bleaching agents are the peroxy acids, of which alkyl peroxy acids and aryl peroxy acids are particularly mentioned as examples. Preferred representatives are (a) peroxybenzoic acid and ring-substituted derivatives thereof, such as alkyl peroxybenzoic acids, but also peroxy-a-naphthoic acid and magnesium 25 monoperphthalate, (b) aliphatic or substituted aliphatic peroxy acids, such as peroxylauric acid, peroxystearic acid, E-phthalimidoperoxycaproic acid [phthaloiminoperoxyhexanoic acid (PAP)], o-carboxybenzamidoperoxy-caproic acid, N-nonenylamidoperadipic acid and N-nonenylamido-persuccinates, and (c) aliphatic and araliphatic peroxydicarboxylic acids, such as 1,12-diperoxycarboxylic acid, 1,9-diperoxyazelaic acid, diperoxysebacic acid, diperoxybrassylic acid, diperoxyphthalic acids, 2-decyldiperoxybutane-1,4-dioic acid, N,N-terephthaloyl-di(6-amino-percaproic acid).
Other suitable bleaching agents in dishwasher tablets are chlorine-and bromine-releasing substances. Suitable chlorine- or bromine-releasing materials are, for example, heterocyclic N-bromamides and N-chloramides, for example trichloroisocyanuric acid, tribromoisocyanuric acid, dibromo-isocyanuric acid and/or dichloroisocyanuric acid (DICA) and/or salts thereof with cations, such as potassium and sodium. Hydantoin compounds, such as 1,3-dichloro-5,5-dimethyl hydantoin, are also suitable.
In order to obtain an improved bleaching effect at washing temperatures of 60°C or lower, bleach activators may be incorporated as a sole constituent or as an ingredient of component b). According to the invention, compounds which form aliphatic peroxocarboxylic acids preferably containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms and more preferably 2 to 4 carbon atoms and/or optionally substituted perbenzoic acid under perhydrolysis conditions may be used as bleach activators. Suitable bleach activators are substances which contain O- and/or N-acyl groups with the number of carbon atoms indicated and/or optionally substituted benzoyl groups. Preferred bleach activators are polyacylated alkylenediamines, more especially tetraacetyl ethylenediamine (TAED), acylated triazine derivatives, more particularly 1,5-diacetyl-2,4-dioxohexahydro-1,3,5-triazine (DADHT), acylated glycol urils, more particularly tetraacetyl glycol uril (TAGU), N-acylimides, more particularly N-nonanoyl succinimide (NOSI), acylated phenol sulfonates, more particularly n-nonanoyl- or isononanoyl-oxybenzenesulfonate (n- or iso-NOBS), carboxylic anhydrides, more especially phthalic anhydride, acylated polyhydric alcohols, more especially triacetin, ethylene glycol diacetate and 2,5-diacetoxy-2,5-dihydrofuran.
In addition to or instead of the conventional bleach activators, so-called bleach catalysts may also be incorporated in the tablets. Bleach catalysts are bleach-boosting transition metal salts or transition metal complexes such as, for example, Mn-, Fe-, Co-, Ru- or Mo-salen complexes or carbonyl complexes. Mn-, Fe-, Co-, Ru-, Mo-, Ti-, V- and Cu-complexes with N-containing tripod ligands and Co-, Fe-, Cu- and Ru-ammine complexes may also be used as bleach catalysts.
Suitable enzymes are, in particular, those from the classes of hydrolases, such as proteases, esterases, lipases or lipolytic enzymes, amylases, cellulases or other glycosyl hydrolases and mixtures thereof. All these hydrolases contribute to the removal of stains, such as protein-containing, fat-containing or starch-containing stains, and discoloration in the washing process. Cellulases and other glycosyl hydrolases can contribute towards color retention and towards increasing fabric softness by removing pilling and microfibrils. Oxidoreductases may also be used for bleaching and for inhibiting dye transfer. Enzymes obtained from bacterial strains or fungi, such as Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Streptomyces griseus, Coprinus cinereus and Humicola insolens and from genetically modified variants are particularly suitable. Proteases of the subtilisin type are preferably used, proteases obtained from Bacillus lentus being particularly preferred. Of particular interest in this regard are enzyme mixtures, for example of protease and amylase or protease and lipase or lipolytic enzymes or protease and cellulase or of cellulase and lipase or lipolytic enzymes or of protease, amylase and lipase or lipolytic enzymes or protease, lipase or lipolytic enzymes and cellulase, but especially protease-and/or lipase-containing mixtures or mixtures with lipolytic enzymes.
Examples of such lipolytic enzymes are the known cutinases. Peroxidases or oxidases have also been successfully used in some cases. Suitable amylases include in particular a-amylases, isoamylases, pullanases and pectinases. Preferred cellulases are cellobiohydrolases, endoglucanases and ~i-glucosidases, which are also known as cellobiases, and mixtures thereof. Since the various cellulase types differ in their CMCase and avicelase activities, the desired activities can be established by mixing the cellulases in the appropriate ratios.
The enzymes may be adsorbed to supports and/or encapsulated in shell-forming substances to protect them against premature decomposition.
The percentage content of the enzymes, enzyme mixtures or enzyme granules may be, for example, from about 0.1 to 5% by weight and is preferably from 0.5 to about 4.5% by weight.
In addition, the detergent tablets may also contain components with a positive effect on the removability of oil and fats from textiles by washing (so-called soil repellents). This effect becomes particularly clear when a textile which has already been repeatedly washed with a detergent according to the invention containing this oil- and fat-dissolving component is soiled. Preferred oil- and fat-dissolving components include, for example, nonionic cellulose ethers, such as methyl cellulose and methyl hydroxypropyl cellulose containing 15 to 30% by weight of methoxyl groups and 1 to 15% by weight of hydroxypropoxyl groups, based on the nonionic cellulose ether, and the polymers of phthalic acid and/or terephthalic acid known from the prior art or derivatives thereof, more particularly polymers of ethylene terephthalates and/or polyethylene glycol terephthalates or anionically and/or nonionically modified derivatives thereof. Of these, the sulfonated derivatives of phthalic acid and terephthalic acid polymers are particularly preferred.
The tablets may contain derivatives of diaminostilbenedisulfonic acid or alkali metal salts thereof as optical brighteners. Suitable optical brighteners are, for example, salts of 4,4'-bis-(2-anilino-4-morpholino-1,3,5-triazinyl-6-amino)-stilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid or compounds of similar composition which contain a diethanolamino group, a methylamino group, an anilino group or a 2-methoxyethylamino group instead of the morpholino group. Brighteners of the substituted diphenyl styryl type, for example alkali metal salts of 4,4'-bis-(2-sulfostyryl)-diphenyl, 4,4'-bis-(4-chloro-3-sulfostyryl)-diphenyl or 4-(4-chlorostyryl)-4'-(2-sulfostyryl)-diphenyl, may also be present. Mixtures of the brighteners mentioned above may also be used.
Dyes and perfumes are added to the detergent tablets according to the invention to improve the aesthetic impression created by the products and to provide the consumer not only with the required washing performance but also with a visually and sensorially "typical and unmistakable" product. Suitable perfume oils or perfumes include individual perfume compounds, for example synthetic products of the ester, ether, aldehyde, ketone, alcohol and hydrocarbon type. Perfume com-pounds of the ester type are, for example, benzyl acetate, phenoxyethyl isobutyrate, p-tert.butyl cyclohexyl acetate, linalyl acetate, dimethyl benzyl carbinyl acetate, phenyl ethyl acetate, linalyl benzoate, benzyl formate, ethyl methyl phenyl glycinate, allyl cyclohexyl propionate, styrallyl propionate and benzyl salicylate. The ethers include, for example, benzyl ethyl ether; the aldehydes include, for example, the linear alkanals containing 8 to 18 carbon atoms, citral, citronellal, citronellyloxy-acetaldehyde, cyclamen aldehyde, hydroxycitronellal, lilial and bourgeonal;
the ketones include, for example, the ionones, a-isomethyl ionone and methyl cedryl ketone; the alcohols include anethol, citronellol, eugenol, geraniol, linalool, phenyl ethyl alcohol and terpineol and the hydrocarbons include, above all, the terpenes, such as limonene and pinene. However, mixtures of various perfumes which together produce an attractive perfume note are preferably used. Perfume oils such as these may also contain natural perfume mixtures obtainable from vegetable sources, for example pine, citrus, jasmine, patchouli, rose or ylang-ylang oil. Also suitable are clary oil, camomile oil, clove oil, melissa oil, mint oil, cinnamon leaf oil, lime blossom oil, juniper berry oil, vetiver oil, olibanum oil, galbanum oil and labdanum oil and orange blossom oil, neroli oil, orange peel oil and sandalwood oil.
The detergent tablets according to the invention normally contain less than 0.01 % by weight of dyes whereas perfumes/fragrances can make up as much as 2% by weight of the formulation as a whole.
5 The perfumes may be directly incorporated in the detergents according to the invention, although it can also be of advantage to apply the perfumes to supports which strengthen the adherence of the perfume to the washing and which provide the textiles with a long-lasting fragrance through a slower release of the perfume. Suitable support materials are, 10 for example, cyclodextrins, the cyclodextrin/perfume complexes optionally being coated with other auxiliaries.
In order to improve their aesthetic impression, the detergents according to the invention may be colored with suitable dyes. Preferred dyes, which are not difficult for the expert to choose, have high stability in 15 storage, are not affected by the other ingredients of the detergents or by light and do not have any pronounced substantivity for textile fibers so as not to color them.
Detergent tablets are produced by applying pressure to a mixture to be tabletted which is accommodated in the cavity of a press. In the most 20 simple form of tabletting, the mixture to be tabletted is tabletted directly, i.e.
without preliminary granulation. The advantages of this so-called direct tabletting lie in its simple and inexpensive application because no other process steps and hence no other items of equipment are required.
However, these advantages are often offset by disadvantages. Thus, a 25 powder mixture which is to be directly tabletted must show adequate plasticity and good flow properties and should not have any tendency to separate during storage, transportation and filling of the die. With many mixtures, these three requirements are very difficult to satisfy with the result that direct tabletting is often not applied, particularly in the production of 30 detergent tablets. Accordingly, the normal method of producing detergent tablets starts out from powder-form components ("primary particles") which are agglomerated or granulated by suitable methods to form secondary particles with a larger particle diameter. These granules or mixtures of different granules are then mixed with individual powder-form additives and tabletted.
Accordingly, the present invention also relates to a process for the production of detergent tablets by tabletting a particulate premix in known manner, characterized in that the premix contains paraffins solid at room temperature in quantities of 0.1 to 10% by weight, based on the premix.
So far as preferred embodiments of the process according to the invention are concerned, reference may be made here to the foregoing observations. What was said in reference to the detergent tablets according to the invention applies to the process. For example, preferred processes according to the invention are characterized in that at least 60%
by weight, preferably at least 75% by weight and more preferably at least 90% by weight of the paraffins solid at room temperature present in the premix have particle sizes below 400 Nm. In one particularly preferred embodiment, all the paraffins solid at room temperature present in the premix have particle sizes below 400 Nm and at least 30% by weight, preferably at least 40% by weight and more preferably at least 50% by weight of the paraffin particles have particle sizes below 200 Nm.
The foregoing observations on the melting or softening temperatures again apply. Accordingly, preferred processes according to the invention are characterized in that the paraffins solid at room temperature present in the premix have a melting point above 30°C, preferably above 40°C and more preferably above 50°C, the paraffins solid at room temperature present in the premix preferably having a solidification range according to DIN-ISO 2207 of 40 to 80°C, more preferably in the range from 50 to 70°C
and most preferably in the range from 50 to 60°C.
According to the invention, preferred detergent tablets are produced by tabletting a particulate premix of surfactant-containing granules of at least one type and at least one powder-form component subsequently added. The surfactant-containing granules may be produced by conventional industrial granulation processes, such as compacting, extrusion, mixer granulation, pelleting or fluidized bed granulation. It is of advantage so far as the subsequent detergent tablets are concerned if the premix to be tabletted has a bulk density approaching that of typical compact detergents. In one particularly preferred embodiment, the premix to be tabletted has a bulk density of at least 500 g/I, preferably of at least 600 g/I and more preferably of at least 700 g/I.
In preferred variants of the process, the surfactant-containing granules also satisfy certain particle size criteria. Thus, preferred processes according to the invention are characterized in that the surfactant-containing granules have particle sizes of 100 to 2000 pm, preferably 200 to 1800 Nm, more preferably 400 to 1600 Nm and most preferably 600 to 1400 Nm.
Besides the active substances (anionic and/or nonionic and/or cationic and/or amphoteric surfactants), the surfactant granules preferably contain carrier materials which, in one particularly preferred embodiment, emanate from the group of builders. Accordingly, particularly advantageous processes are characterized in that the surfactant-containing granules contain anionic and/or nonionic surfactants and builders and have total surfactant contents of at least 10% by weight, preferably at least 20%
by weight and more preferably at least 25% by weight.
Before the particulate premix is compressed to form detergent tablets, it may be "powdered" with fine-particle surface treatment materials.
This can be of advantage to the quality and physical properties of both the premix (storage, tabletting) and the final detergent tablets. Fine-particle powdering materials have been known for some time in the art, zeolites, silicates and other inorganic salts generally being used. However, the premix is preferably "powdered" with fine-particle zeolite, zeolites of the faujasite type being preferred. In the context of the present invention, the expression "zeolite of the faujasite type" encompasses all three zeolites which form the faujasite subgroup of zeolite structural group 4 (cf. Donald W. Breck: "Zeolite Molecular Sieves" John Wiley & Sons, New York/London/Sydney/Toronto, 1974, page 92). Besides zeolite X, there-fore, zeolite Y and faujasite and mixtures of these compounds may also be used, pure zeolite X being preferred. Mixtures or co-crystallizates of faujasite zeolites with other zeolites which need not necessarily belong to zeolite structure group 4 may also be used as powdering materials, in which case at least 50% by weight of the powdering material advantageously consists of a faujasite zeolite.
According to the invention, preferred detergent tablets consist of a particulate premix containing granular components and powder-form substances subsequently added, the - or one of the - powder-form components subsequently incorporated being a faujasite zeolite with particle sizes below 100 Nm, preferably below 10 Nm and more preferably below 5 Nm and making up at least 0.2% by weight, preferably at least 0.5% by weight and more preferably more than 1 % by weight of the premix to be tabletted.
Besides the components mentioned (surfactant, builder and disintegration aid), the premixes to be tabletted may additionally contain one or more substances from the group of bleaching agents, bleach activators, enzymes, pH regulators, perfumes, perfume carriers, fluorescers, dyes, foam inhibitors, silicone oils, redeposition inhibitors, optical brighteners, discoloration inhibitors, dye transfer inhibitors and corrosion inhibitors. These substances are described in the foregoing.
The tablets according to the invention are produced by first dry-mixing the ingredients - which may be completely or partly pregranulated -and then shaping/forming, more particularly tabletting, the resulting mixture using conventional processes. To produce the tablets according to the invention, the premix is compacted between two punches in a die to form a solid compactate. This process, which is referred to in short hereinafter as tabletting, comprises four phases, namely metering, compacting (elastic deformation), plastic deformation and ejection.
The premix is first introduced into the die, the filling level and hence the weight and shape of the tablet formed being determined by the position of the lower punch and the shape of the die. Uniform dosing, even at high tablet throughputs, is preferably achieved by volumetric dosing of the premix. As the tabletting process continues, the top punch comes into contact with the premix and continues descending towards the bottom punch. During this compaction phase, the particles of the premix are pressed closer together, the void volume in the filling between the punches continuously diminishing. The plastic deformation phase in which the particles coalesce and form the tablet begins from a certain position of the top punch (and hence from a certain pressure on the premix). Depending on the physical properties of the premix, its constituent particles are also partly crushed, the premix sintering at even higher pressures. As the tabletting rate increases, i.e. at high throughputs, the elastic deformation phase becomes increasingly shorter so that the tablets formed can have more or less large voids. In the final step of the tabletting process, the tablet is forced from the die by the bottom punch and carried away by following conveyors. At this stage, only the weight of the tablet is definitively established because the tablets can still change shape and size as a result of physical processes (re-elongation, crystallographic effects, cooling, etc.).
The tabletting process is carried out in commercially available tablet presses which, in principle, may be equipped with single or double punches. In the latter case, not only is the top punch used to build up pressure, the bottom punch also moves towards the top punch during the tabletting process while the top punch presses downwards. For small production volumes, it is preferred to use eccentric tablet presses in which the punches) is/are fixed to an eccentric disc which, in turn, is mounted on a shaft rotating at a certain speed. The movement of these punches is 5 comparable with the operation of a conventional four-stroke engine.
Tabletting can be carried out with a top punch and a bottom punch, although several punches can also be fixed to a single eccentric disc, in which case the number of die bores is correspondingly increased. The throughputs of eccentric presses vary according to type from a few hundred 10 to at most 3,000 tablets per hour.
For larger throughputs, rotary tablet presses are generally used. In rotary tablet presses, a relatively large number of dies is arranged in a circle on a so-called die table. The number of dies varies - according to model - between 6 and 55, although even larger dies are commercially 15 available. Top and bottom punches are associated with each die on the die table, the tabletting pressures again being actively built up not only by the top punch or bottom punch, but also by both punches. The die table and the punches move about a common vertical axis, the punches being brought into the filling, compaction, plastic deformation and ejection 20 positions by means of curved guide rails. At those places where the punches have to be raised or lowered to a particularly significant extent (filling, compaction, ejection), these curved guide rails are supported by additional push-down members, pull-down rails and ejection paths. The die is filled from a rigidly arranged feed unit, the so-called filling shoe, which is 25 connected to a storage container for the premix. The pressure applied to the premix can be individually adjusted through the tools for the top and bottom punches, pressure being built up by the rolling of the punch shank heads past adjustable pressure rollers.
To increase throughput, rotary presses can also be equipped with 30 two filling shoes so that only half a circle has to be negotiated to produce a tablet. To produce two-layer or multiple-layer tablets, several filling shoes are arranged one behind the other without the lightly compacted first layer being ejected before further filling. Given suitable process control, shell and bull's-eye tablets - which have a structure resembling an onion skin -can also be produced in this way. In the case of bull's-eye tablets, the upper surface of the core or rather the core layers is not covered and thus remains visible. Rotary tablet presses can also be equipped with single or multiple punches so that, for example, an outer circle with 50 bores and an inner circle with 35 bores can be simultaneously used for tabletting.
Modern rotary tablet presses have throughputs of more than one million tablets per hour.
Where rotary presses are used for tabletting, it has proved to be of advantage to carry out the tabletting process with minimal variations in the weight of the tablets. Variations in tablet hardness can also be reduced in this way. Minimal variations in weight can be achieved as follows:
- using plastic inserts with minimal thickness tolerances - low rotor speed - large filling shoe - adapting the rotational speed of the filling shoe blade to the rotor speed - filling shoe with constant powder height - decoupling the filling shoe from the powder supply.
Any of the nonstick coatings known in the art may be used to reduce caking on the punch. Plastic coatings, plastic inserts or plastic punches are particularly advantageous. Rotating punches have also proved to be of advantage; if possible, the upper and lower punches should be designed for rotation. If rotating punches are used, there will generally be no need for a plastic insert. In that case, the surfaces of the punch should be electropolished.
It has also been found that long tabletting times are advantageous.
These can be achieved by using pressure rails, several pressure rollers or low rotor speeds. Since variations in tablet hardness are caused by variations in the pressures applied, systems which limit the tabletting pressure should be used. Elastic punches, pneumatic compensators or spring elements in the force path may be used. The pressure roller can also be spring-mounted.
Tabletting machines suitable for the purposes of the invention can be obtained, for example, from the following companies: Apparatebau Holzwarth GbR, Asperg; Wilhelm Fette GmbH, Schwarzenbek; Hofer GmbH, Weil; Horn & Noack Pharmatechnik GmbH, Worms; IMA
Verpackungssysteme GmbH Viersen; KILIAN, Cologne; KOMAGE, Kell am See, KORSCH Pressen GmbH, Berlin; and Romaco GmbH, Worms. Other suppliers are, for example Dr. Herbert Pete, Vienna (AU); Mapag Maschinenbau AG, Bern (Switzerland); BWI Manesty, Liverpool (GB); I.
Holand Ltd., Nottingham (GB); and Courtoy N.V., Halle (BE/LU) and Medicopharm, Kamnik (SI). One example of a particularly suitable tabletting machine is the model HPF 630 hydraulic double-pressure press manufactured by LAEIS, D. Tabletting tools are obtainable, for example, from Adams Tablettierwerkzeuge Dresden; Wilhelm Fett GmbH, Schwarzenbek; Klaus Hammer, Solingen; Herber & Sohne GmbH, Hamburg; Hofer GmbH, Weil; Horn & Noack, Pharmatechnik GmbH, Worms; Ritter Pharmatechnik GmbH, Hamburg; Romaco GmbH, Worms and Notter Werkzeugbau, Tamm. Other suppliers are, for example, Senss AG, Reinach (CH) and Medicopharm, Kamnik (SI).
The tablets can be made in certain shapes and certain sizes.
Suitable shapes are virtually any easy-to-handle shapes, for example slabs, bars, cubes, squares and corresponding shapes with flat sides and, in particular, cylindrical forms of circular or oval cross-section. This last embodiment encompasses shapes from tablets to compact cylinders with a height-to-diameter ratio of more than 1.
The portioned pressings may be formed as separate individual elements which correspond to a predetermined dose of the detergent.
However, it is also possible to form pressings which combine several such units in a single pressing, smaller portioned units being easy to break off in particular through the provision of predetermined weak spots. For the use of laundry detergents in machines of the standard European type with horizontally arranged mechanics, it can be of advantage to produce the portioned pressings as cylindrical or square tablets, preferably with a diameter-to-height ratio of about 0.5:2 to 2:0.5. Commercially available hydraulic presses, eccentric presses and rotary presses are particularly suitable for the production of pressings such as these.
The three-dimensional form of another embodiment of the tablets according to the invention is adapted in its dimensions to the dispensing compartment of commercially available domestic washing machines, so that the tablets can be introduced directly, i.e. without a dosing aid, into the dispensing compartment where they dissolve on contact with water.
However, it is of course readily possible - and preferred in accordance with the present invention - to use the detergent tablets in conjunction with a dosing aid.
Another preferred tablet which can be produced has a plate-like or slab-like structure with alternately thick long segments and thin short segments, so that individual segments can be broken off from this "bar" at the predetermined weak spots, which the short thin segments represent, and introduced into the machine. This "bar" principle can also be embodied in other geometric forms, for example vertical triangles which are only joined to one another at one of their longitudinal sides.
In another possible embodiment, however, the various components are not compressed to form a single tablet, instead the tablets obtained comprise several layers, i.e. at least two layers. These various layers may have different dissolving rates. This can provide the tablets with favorable performance properties. If, for example, the tablets contain components which adversely affect one another, one component may be integrated in the more quickly dissolving layer while the other component may be incorporated in a more slowly dissolving layer so that the first component can already have reacted off by the time the second component dissolves.
The various layers of the tablets can be arranged in the form of a stack, in which case the inner layers) dissolve at the edges of the tablet before the outer layers have completely dissolved. Alternatively, however, the inner layers) may also be completely surrounded by the layers lying further to the outside which prevents constituents of the inner layers) from dissolving prematurely.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, a tablet consists of at least three layers, i.e. two outer layers and at least one inner layer, a peroxy bleaching agent being present in at least one of the inner layers whereas, in the case of the stack-like tablet, the two cover layers and, in the case of the envelope-like tablet, the outermost layers are free from peroxy bleaching agent. In another possible embodiment, peroxy bleaching agent and any bleach activators or bleach catalysts present and/or enzymes may be spatially separated from one another in one and the same tablet. Multilayer tablets such as these have the advantage that they can be used not only via a dispensing compartment or via a dosing unit which is added to the wash liquor, instead it is also possible in cases such as these to introduce the tablet into the machine in direct contact with the fabrics without any danger of spotting by bleaching agent or the like.
Similar effects can also be obtained by coating individual constituents of the detergent composition to be compressed or the tablet as a whole. To this end, the tablets to be coated may be sprayed, for example, with aqueous solutions or emulsions or a coating may be obtained by the process known as melt coating.
After pressing, the detergent tablets have high stability. The fracture resistance of cylindrical tablets can be determined via the diametral fracture stress. This in turn can be determined in accordance with the following equation:

5 B Dt where ~ represents the diametral fracture stress (DFS) in Pa, P is the force in N which leads to the pressure applied to the tablet that results in fracture thereof, D is the diameter of the tablet in meters and t is its height.
10 The present invention also relates to the use of paraffins solid at room temperature for improving the abrasion resistance of detergent tablets. This use according to the invention of paraffins solid at room temperature leads to tablets with advantageous properties, as the following non-limiting Examples show. The foregoing observations on the process 15 according to the invention apply equally to preferred embodiments of the use according to the invention (particle sizes, other ingredients, composition of the premix, etc.).
Examples 20 Surfactant-containing granules (for composition, see Table 1), which were used as the basis for a particulate premix, were produced by granulation in a 50 liter Lodige plowshare mixer. After granulation, the granules were dried for 30 minutes in a Glatt fluidized bed dryer at an inflowing air temperature of 60°C. After drying, fine particles (< 0.6 mm) 25 and coarse particles (> 1.6 mm) were removed by sieving.
This premix was produced by mixing the surfactant-containing granules with bleaching agent, bleach activator and other additive components. 2% by weight of paraffin (DAB 10, 90% by weight < 400 Nm, melting point 58-60°C) were added in the production of the premix so that 30 the percentage amounts of the other components differ from those of Comparison Example C which contained no paraffin. Premixes E and C

were tabletted in a Korsch eccentric press (tablet diameter 44 mm, tablet height 22 mm, tablet weight 37.5 g). The composition of the premixes to be tabletted (and hence of the tablets) is shown in Table 2.
Table 1:
Composition of the surfactant granules [% by weight]
C9_~3 alkyl benzenesulfonate 18.6 C~2_~g fatty alcohol + 7 EO 5.7 C~Z_~$ fatty alcohol sulfate 5.4 Soap 1.6 Optical brightener 0.3 Sodium carbonate 16.6 Sodium silicate 5.4 Acrylic acid/maleic acid copolymer5.4 Zeolite A (water-free active 29.9 substance) Na hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonate0.8 Water, salts Balance Table 2:
Composition of the premixes [% by weight]
E C

Surfactant granules (Table 65.5 66.8 1 ) Sodium perborate monohydrate 15.0 15.3 TAED 5.0 5.1 Foam inhibitor 3.0 3.1 Polyacrylate 1.0 1.0 Enzymes 2.0 2.1 Perfume 0.5 0.5 Wessalith~ P (zeolite A) 1.0 1.0 Disintegration aid (cellulose)5.0 5.1 Paraffin DAB 10, Mp. 58-60C 2.0 -In order to determine friability or abrasion behavior and brittle fracture behavior, tablets E according to the invention and comparison tablets C were introduced into a friabilator (rotating glass drum - diameter 180 mm, width 40 mm - which was provided with three triangular obstacle ribs - height 20 mm, base width 15 mm - extending transversely of the direction of rotation and arranged at equal intervals apart). At a rotational speed of 20 r.p.m., the time required for a tablet to break into several large parts was determined. The results of the measurements are shown in Table 3:
Table 3:
Results of the brittle fracture and friability measurements [s]
Fracture hardness36 N 43 N 55 N

The data in Table 3 show that the effect of adding the paraffin solid at room temperature is that, under mechanical load, the detergent tablets only break up into several parts much later, i.e. are more stable. In addition, the abrasion tendency of the tablets is distinctly reduced and their brittle fracture behavior improved.

Claims

1. Detergent tablets of compacted particulate detergent containing surfactant(s), builder(s) and optionally other typical detergent ingredients, wherein said tablets contain 0.1 to 10% by weight, based on tablet weight, of one or more paraffins solid at room temperature.

2. Detergent tablets as claimed in claim 1, wherein the content of paraffins solid at room temperature in the tablets is from 0.25 to 7.5% by weight based on tablet weight.

3. Detergent tablets as claimed in claim 2, wherein the content of paraffins solid at room temperature in the tablets is from 0.3 to 5% by weight based on tablet weight.

4. Detergent tablets as claimed in claim 3, wherein the content of paraffins solid at room temperature in the tablets is from 0.5 to 3% by weight based on tablet weight.

5. Detergent tablets as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least 60% by weight of the paraffins solid at room temperature have particle sizes below 400 µm.

6. Detergent tablets as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least 75% by weight of the paraffins solid at room temperature have particle sizes below 400 µm.

7. Detergent tablets as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least 90% by weight of the paraffins solid at room temperature have particle sizes below 400 µm.

8. Detergent tablets as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein all the paraffins solid at room temperature have particle sizes below 400 µm.

9. Detergent tablets as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least 30% by weight of the paraffin particles have particle sizes below 200 µm.

10. Detergent tablets as claimed in 9, wherein at least 40% by weight of the paraffin particles have particle sizes below 200 µm.

11. Detergent tablets as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least 50% by weight of the paraffin particles have particle sizes below 200 µm.

12. Detergent tablets as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the paraffins solid at room temperature have a melting point above 30°C.

13. Detergent tablets as claimed in claim 12, wherein the paraffins solid at room temperature have a melting point above 40°C.

14. Detergent tablets as claimed in claim 13, wherein the paraffins solid at room temperature have a melting point above 50°C.

15. Detergent tablets as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the paraffins solid at room temperature have a solidification point as measured to DIN-ISO 2207 of 40 to 80°C.

16. Detergent tablets as claimed in claim 15, wherein said paraffins have a solidification point as measure to DIN-ISO 2207 of 50 to 70°C.

17. Detergent tablets as claimed in claim 16, wherein said paraffins have a solidification point as measure to DIN-ISO 2207 of 50 to 60°C.

18. Detergent tablets as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17, additionally containing a disintegration aid in quantities of 0.5 to 10% by weight based on tablet weight.

19. Detergent tablets as claimed in claim 18, wherein said disintegration aid is present in quantities of 3 to 7% by weight based on tablet weight.

20. Detergent tablets as claimed in claim 18, wherein said disintegration aid is present in quantities of 4 to 6% by weight based on tablet weight.

21. Detergent tablets as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein said disintegration aid is cellulose-based.

22. Detergent tablets as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein said disintegration aid is in granular, co-granulated or compacted form.

23. Detergent tablets as claimed in any of claims 1 to 22, containing anionic and/or nonionic surfactant(s) and having total surfactant contents above 2.5% by weight based on tablet weight.

24. Detergent tablets as claimed in claim 23, having total surfactant contents above 5% by weight.

25. Detergent tablets as claimed in claim 24, having total surfactant contents above 10% by weight.

26. A process for the production of detergent tablets by tabletting a particulate premix in known manner, wherein the premix contains paraffins solid at room temperature in quantities of 0.1 to 10% by weight, based on the premix.

27. A process as claimed in claim 26, wherein at least 60% by weight of the paraffins solid at room temperature present in the premix have particle sizes below 400 µm.

28. A process as claimed in claim 27, wherein all of said paraffins have a particle size below 400 µm.

29. A process as claimed in claim 28, wherein at least 30% by weight of said paraffin particles have particle sizes below 200 µm.

30. A process as claimed in claim 29, wherein at least 40% by weight of said paraffin particles have particle sizes below 200 µm.

31. A process as claimed in claim 30, wherein at least 50% by weight of said paraffin particles have particle sizes below 200 µm.

32. A process as claimed in any one of claims 26 to 31, wherein the paraffins solid at room temperature present in the pemix have a melting point above 30°C.

33. A process as claimed in claim 32, wherein said paraffins have a melting point above 40°C.

34. A process as claimed in claim 33, wherein said paraffins have a melting point above 50°C.

35. A process as claimed in any one of claims 32 to 34, wherein said paraffins have a solidification point as measure to DIN-ISO 2207 of 40 to 80°C.

36. A process as claimed in claim 35, wherein said paraffins have a solidification point as measure to DIN-ISO 2207 of 50 to 70°C.

37. A process as claimed in claim 36, wherein said paraffins have a solidification point as measure to DIN-ISO 2207 of 50 to 60°C.

38. A process as claimed in any of claims 26 to 37, wherein the particulate premix additionally contains surfactant-containing granule(s) and has a bulk density of at least 500 g/l.

39. A process as claimed in claim 38, wherein said premix has a bulk density of at least 600 g/l.

40. A process as claimed in claim 39, wherein said premix has a bulk density of at least 700 g/l.

41. A process as claimed in any one of claims 38 to 40, wherein the surfactant-containing granules have particle sizes of 100 to 2000 µm.

42. A process as claimed in claim 41, wherein the surfactant-containing granules have particle sizes of 200 to 1800 µm.

43. A process as claimed in claim 42, wherein the surfactant-containing granules have particle sizes of 400 to 1600 µm.

44. A process as claimed in claim 43, wherein the surfactant-containing granules have particle sizes of 600 to 1400 µm.

45. A process as claimed in any one of claims 38 to 44, wherein the surfactant-containing granules contain anionic and/or nonionic surfactants and builders and have total surfactant contents of at least 10% by weight.

46. A process as claimed in claim 45, wherein the surfactant-containing granules have total surfactant contents of at least 20% by weight.

47. A process as claimed in claim 46, wherein the surfactant-containing granules have total surfactant contents of at least 25% by weight.

48. A process as claimed in any of claims 26 to 47, wherein the particulate premix additionally contains one or more substances selected from the group consisting of bleaching agents, bleach activators, enzymes, pH regulators, perfumes, perfume carriers, fluorescers, dyes, foam inhibitors, silicone oils, redeposition inhibitors, optical brighteners, discoloration inhibitors, dye transfer inhibitors and corrosion inhibitors.

49. The use of paraffins solid at room temperature for improving the abrasion resistance of detergent tablets.