ES2523029T3 - Polymer coated detergent tablet - Google Patents

Abstract

A unit coated detergent composition, in which the detergent composition is coated with a water soluble or dispersible coating comprising from at least 1% to 99% polyvinyl alcohol-polyethylene glycol graft copolymer and a low molecular weight compound selected from sugars comprising 1 to 10 units of sugar or any amino acid, preferably natural amino acids or a mixture of sugars, a mixture of amino acids or a mixture of sugars and amino acids.

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Polymer coated detergent tablet

Description

The present invention relates to a coated detergent and / or additive composition, for example, for dishwashing or washing machines or water softening tablets coated with a polymeric material soluble in water or temperature and a process of manufacturing it.

The traditional form of detergent and / or additive compositions for use in dishwashing or dishwashing machines is in granules or non-particulate solids such as bars or tablets or briquettes. Next, the term "pill" will refer to any form of non-particulate solid. For automatic dishwashing or washing machines, said detergent and / or additive tablets or granules are placed or poured, respectively, in the dispenser located in said machine or in a suitable dispensing device which is then placed in said machine.

A common embodiment is to provide detergent tablets in the form of packaged parts, either in a package that has to be opened before the tablet is introduced the dishwashing machine or washing machine, or packaged in a remaining water-soluble container. around the tablet when placed in the machine. Water soluble packages comprising an agent to be dispensed in an aqueous medium are well known.

In order to simplify the dosage of detergents for a washing cycle in a machine and to avoid waste by pouring during the dosing action, EP-A 700 989 describes a unit-packed detergent. Said unitary packaged detergent is a detergent packaged in a water-soluble polymeric film or sheet in a form that is suitable for washing. This unit packed detergent is placed in the machine detergent dispenser without unwrapping the detergent contained in the package.

Preventing the detergent from unwrapping from the container has several advantages. First, said unit packaged detergent prevents the packaged detergent from being wasted through the pouring of the detergent and / or additive composition. Second, said unitary packaged detergent eliminates the need for the user to calculate the dosage of said composition and ensures that the user uses the correct dosage of said composition per wash cycle. Third, the user's fingers do not come into contact with the wrapped detergent composition.

Unwrapped tablets having a coating are provided primarily for dishwashing and laundry compositions, in particular to increase the mechanical strength of the tablet and to stabilize them. WO00 / 66701 describes shaped detergent tablets coated with various types of water soluble polymers, especially with (co) polymers comprising acidic monomers and / or unsaturated monomers.

US 6,576,599 discloses dishes for washing dishes that have a water insoluble coating to improve the mechanical stability of the tablets.

WO 04/20569 A1 describes a detergent particle having a base layer of a fine powder dispersed in a binder on the surface of the particle, said base layer is coated with a surface modifier.

EP 1 903 099 A1 describes coated tablets, in particular tablets for automatic washing of dishes coated with proteins, sugars or shellac.

DE 10050958 A1 and WO 62/32780 A2 both describe detergent tablets coated or packaged with a polyethylene glycol graft copolymer. DE 10207427 A1 describes an easily dissolvable coating composition based on graft copolymers of polyether vinyl polyol and an additional compound having a hydroxy, amide or ester function.

The object of the present invention was to provide a safe and easy handling detergent composition for the user and good dissolution properties of the tablet.

This object is achieved by means of a unit coated detergent composition, in which the detergent composition is coated with a water soluble or dispersible coating comprising at least 1% to 99% polyvinyl alcohol graft copolymer - polyethylene glycol and a low molecular weight compound selected from sugars comprising 1 to 10 units of sugar or any amino acid, preferably

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natural amino acids or a mixture of sugars, a mixture of amino acids or a mixture of sugars and amino acids.

Next, any detergent and / or additive composition will be encompassed by the term "detergent". This detergent composition may be in the form of granules or any non-particulate solid such as bars.

or pills or briquettes. The word "tablet" then encompasses any form of non-particulate solid, for example, compositions of compressed detergents or tablets comprising a compressed as well as a non-compressed fraction. Said tablet may have any form, including so-called "mold tablets" that have a cavity for filling with detergent ingredients not contained in the compressed fraction. Such mold tablets are well known in the art. Even the compressed tablet fraction may comprise several phases such as different layers comprising different compositions of detergent ingredients. Preferably, said detergent tablet is formed in a manner that ensures uniform or stepwise dissolution of the tablet in the washing liquid. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the detergent and / or additive composition may comprise any ingredient known in the art of dishwashing, casting or water softening. Such ingredients may include, for example, surfactants, foam suppressants, bleaching systems, chelating agents, adjuvants, enzymes, fillers and perfumes, however, they are not limited thereto.

A particular preferred embodiment of the present invention is a body formed for automatic dishwashing formed by a particulate detergent composition, in the detergent composition comprises any of the ingredients that are typical for such compositions. Such ingredients are not limiting of the invention, however, examples of suitable ingredients are mentioned below.

In accordance with the present invention, a pre-dosed amount of detergent is coated on at least one surface face with a water soluble or water soluble polymer material and a low molecular weight compound as defined in claim 1 to provide a body in shape. of coated detergent as a "unit coated detergent". The term "unit coated detergent" means an amount of detergent composition suitable for washing. However, two or more unit coated detergents in accordance with the present invention can be used in a single wash to achieve different wash conditions, such as wash dirt, wash amount, wash machine volume, water hardness, water temperature Water and type of detergent. Said coating is made of a water soluble or water soluble material and temperature. The unit coated detergent according to the present invention may contain between 5 grams and 60 grams of detergent.

This unit coated detergent of the present invention is placed in the machine without any additional handling step. This is possible, since said coating is made of a soluble, dissoluble or water dispersible material. Providing the detergent in coated form has several advantages. First, said unitary coated detergent avoids waste by pouring the detergent and / or additive composition. Pouring can occur during measurement and / or dispensing in the washing machine dispenser or in a dispensing device. Second, said unit coated detergent eliminates the need for the user to calculate the dose that said composition requires and ensures that the user uses the correct dosage of said composition per wash cycle. Therefore, the measuring and / or dosing devices separately are superfluous. Third, the user's fingers do not come into contact with the detergent composition, which means that the user avoids getting his fingers and / or hands dirty. Or in the case of water-soluble films wrapped around detergent units, they can confuse people when trying to open that wrap.

As a feature of the present invention, the coating of the unit coated detergent is made of a material that is water soluble or dissolves in water or is dispersible in water, is harmless to the user and can be processed at high speed during manufacturing of the coating of the detergent compositions and allows quick and free dissolution of the tablet.

The coating is provided on at least one surface face of the shaped body, preferably on at least two surface faces, for example on both "upper surfaces", which means the upper and lower surface of the detergent tablet, including or excluding any Uncompressed fraction of the tablet, which means that either the compressed fraction is coated, the uncompressed fraction is not, or both portions are coated. It is further preferred that the coating be applied on all surfaces of the detergent tablet.

According to the invention, said coating material comprises at least 1% to 99% of a polyvinyl alcohol-polyethylene glycol graft copolymer and a low molecular compound selected from sugars comprising 1 to 10 of sugar units or any amino acid or a mixture of sugars, a mixture of amino acids or a mixture of amino acids or a mixture of sugars and amino acids. A copolymer of

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Particularly preferred polyvinyl alcohol-polyethylene glycol graft according to the invention is the Kollicoat® IR polymer from BASF Germany.

The polymeric ingredient fraction of the coating may consist essentially of said polymer and a low molecular weight compound selected from sugars comprising from 1 to 10 sugar units or any amino acid or a mixture of sugars, a mixture of amino acids or a mixture of amino acids or a mixture of sugars and amino acids or it may be a combination of said polymer with

(A) at least one additional polymer selected from a1) polyvinyl alcohol or quaternized polyvinyl alcohol a2) vinyl alcohol-maleic acid copolymer a3) ethoxylated polyvinyl alcohol, for example the copolymer described in detail in the

EP 1 326 787 A1 a4) polyethylene glycol (PEG) a5) polyvinylpyrrolidone (s) a6) vinyl pyrrolidone / vinyl ester copolymers as a vinyl pyrrolidone copolymer -acetate

vinyl a7) ethyl acrylate-methyl methacrylate copolymer a8) (co) poly (meth) acrylic polymers such as (co) polymers of methacrylic acid -ethyl acrylate a9) polyvinyl acetate a10) vinylpyrrolidone -vinylimidazole copolymer a11) non-surfactant ionic based on alkoxylation, in particular fatty acids or fatty alcohols

that understand

EO, EO-PO, PO, BuO units or any combination thereof

a11) or derivatives thereof.

C.)

a) water-soluble non-ionic polymers of the group of

a2) starch

a3) cellulose ethers

b) water-soluble amphoteric polymers of the group of

b1) alkyl acrylamide / acrylic acid copolymers,

b2) alkyl acrylamide / methacrylic acid copolymers,

b3) alkyl acrylamide / methyl methacrylic acid copolymers,

b4) alkyl acrylamide / acrylic acid / (meth) acrylic alkylaminoalkyl acid copolymers,

b5) alkyl acrylamide / methacrylic acid / (meth) acrylic alkylaminoalkyl acid copolymers, b6) alkyl acrylamide / methyl methacrylic acid / (meth) acrylic alkylaminoalkyl acid copolymers,

b7) alkyl acrylamide / alkyl methacrylate / alkyl / alkylaminoethyl methacrylate / alkyl methacrylate copolymers, b8) b8i copolymers) unsaturated carboxylic acids,

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b8ii) cationically derived unsaturated carboxylic acids,

b8iii) optionally other ionic or non-ionic monomers,

c) water-soluble hybrid ion polymers of the group of

c1) copolymers of trialkylammonium acrylamidoalkyl chloride /

acrylic acid and alkali metal and ammonium salts thereof, c2) copolymers of trialkylammonium acrylamidoalkyl chloride / methacrylic acid and alkali metal and

ammonium salts thereof,

c3) methacryl ethyl betaine / methacrylate copolymers,

d) water-soluble anionic polymers of the group of

d1) vinyl acetate / crotonic acid copolymers,

d2) vinyl pyrrolidone / vinyl acrylate copolymers,

d3) acrylic acid / ethyl acrylate / N-tert-butyl acrylamide terpolymers,

d4) graft polymers of vinyl esters, esters of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid

copolymerized individually or in admixture with crotonic acid, acrylic acid or methacrylic acid

with polyalkylene oxides and / or polyalkylene glycols,

d5) grafted and crosslinked copolymers of the copolymerization of

d5i) at least one non-ionic type monomer,

d5ii) at least one ionic type monomer,

d5iii) polyethylene glycol and

d5iv) a crosslinking agent, d6) copolymers obtained by copolymerizing at least one monomer of each of the following three groups:

6i) esters of unsaturated alcohols and saturated short chain carboxylic acids and / or esters of

saturated short chain alcohols and unsaturated carboxylic acids, d6ii) unsaturated carboxylic acids, d6iii) long chain carboxylic acid esters and unsaturated alcohols and / or esters of the carboxylic acids of group d6ii) with saturated or unsaturated, linear C8-18 alcohols or branched,

d7) terpolymers of crotonic acid, vinyl acetate and an allyl or metalyl ester,

d8) tetrapolymers and pentapolymers of

d8i) crotonic acid or allyloxyacetic acid,

d8ii) vinyl acetate or vinyl propionate,

d8iii) branched allyl or metalyl esters,

d8iv) vinyl ethers, vinyl esters or straight chain allyl or metalyl esters,

d9) copolymers of crotonic acid with one or more monomers of the group consisting of

ethylene, vinyl benzene, vinyl methyl ether, acrylamide and water soluble salts thereof,

d10) terpolymers of vinyl acetate, crotonic acid and vinyl esters of a saturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acid branched in the α position, e) water-soluble cationic polymers of the group of e1) quaternized cellulose derivatives,

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e2) polysiloxanes containing quaternary groups,

e3) guar cationic derivatives,

e4) polymeric dimethyl diallylammonium salts and copolymers thereof with esters and amides of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid,

e5) vinyl pyrrolidone copolymers with quaternized derivatives of dialkylaminoacrylate and methacrylate,

e6) vinyl pyrrolidone / methoimidazolinium chloride copolymers,

e7) quaternized polyvinyl alcohol,

e8) polymers known by the INCI designations of polyquaternium 2, polyquaternium 17, polyquaternium 18 and polyquaternium 27.

All compounds of C.) are described in detail in EP 1 173 539 B1.

The compositions mentioned in sections A.) and C) may optionally comprise a binder material.

The coating comprises at least 1% by weight or at least 5% by weight, preferably at least 15% by weight, more preferably at least 35% by weight, more preferably at least 50% by weight and up to 99% by weight, up to 95% by weight, up to 90% by weight or perhaps up to 75% by weight graft copolymer polyvinyl alcohol-polyethylene glycol. In addition, the coating may comprise any of the materials mentioned in A.) and C), materials mentioned in A.) or B.) are preferred, materials mentioned in A. are particularly preferred. Materials mentioned in A. ) are mostly preferred for the reason that the materials easily provide a coating, are clearly non-toxic, are not expensive and can be dissolved easily and quickly in water or in a wash load, in particular in hot water / load washing as in an automatic dishwashing machine.

The coating composition comprises at least 1% by weight or at least 5% by weight, preferably at least 15% by weight, more preferably at least 35% by weight, more preferably at least 50% by weight of the low molecular weight compound as defined in claim 1, and up to 99%, or up to 95%, preferably up to 75%, more preferably up to 50% by weight of said low molecular weight compounds.

In case the coating additionally comprises any of the materials of A) or C), said compounds are also added at these weight ranges.

The coating may consist of the aforementioned ingredients or may contain as additional ingredients any of those mentioned below.

The water soluble low molecular weight compound is any type of sugar, amino acid or other low molecular weight acids, for example citric acid. A particular advantage of these materials is, on the one hand, the solubility / dispersibility in water, on the other hand the non-toxicity of the compounds.

When reference is made to the material, "soluble / dissoluble / water dispersible" is defined herein when more than 99% of a coating (layer) of such materials dissolves in 15 minutes, preferably in 5 minutes in a glass of precipitates containing 1 l of deionized water at 40 ° C, which is stirred with a stirrer that rotates at 200 r. p.m. It should be noted that the materials can be used as ingredients for the coating which in itself can be non-soluble, but for example dispersible, as long as the coating comprising said material dissolves in water.

Preferred water soluble / soluble / dispersible additional materials are cellulose, particularly preferred microcrystalline cellulose or cellulose fibers with an average particle size in the dry state below 1000 μm, preferably below 500 μm, more preferably 250 μm or smaller and particularly preferred between 20 and 150 μm; starch or derivatives of starch, pectin as glycogen or - more preferred - proteins or peptides (at least 10 mer), particularly gelatin or derivatives or peptide fragments thereof.

Other suitable compounds are "low molecular weight compounds" such as C3-C6 sugars in aldose or ketose form such as alose, altrose, glucose, mannose, gulose, idosa, galactose, talose, psychosa, fructose, sorbose, tagatose, xylulose, ribulose, ribose, arabinose, xylose, lyxose, threose, erythrose, erythrulose, dihydroxyacetone or aldehyde

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glycerol or disaccharides such as sucrose, lactose, maltose or Isomalt or oligosaccharides comprising 3 to 10 units of sugar or amino acids, preferably natural amino acids (commonly contained in natural proteins) without being limited to the examples mentioned. A particularly preferred low molecular weight compound is Isomalt ST sugar, which comprises 6-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl-D-sorbitol and 1-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl-D-manite dihydrate units. More information on this sugar is available at www.chemistryworld. from / preise / prs-html / analysen / 2444-snz.htm.

As an additional ingredient, for example, to reduce the adhesion of the coating, polymorphic SiO2 (for example of the Aerosil type from Degussa, Germany) can be added to the coating.

The water soluble / soluble / dispersible compounds mentioned above may be used in combination with an additional water soluble or dispersible polymer. In case the water soluble / dispersible polymer is used, it will be appreciated that the water soluble polymer may comprise a homopolymer or a copolymer. In case the water soluble polymer comprises a copolymer, the copolymer can be a random or block copolymer.

A suitable additional water soluble polymer may comprise a cellulose derivative such as a cellulose ether, for example, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, or the polymer comprises polyvinyl alcohol monomers, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl acetate, modified acrylic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, itaconic acid, aconitic acid, mesaconic acid, citraconic acid and methylenemalonic acid or its salts, maleic anhydride, acrylamide, alkylene, vinyl methyl ether or styrene. Said polymers can be homo- or copolymers of the monomer units mentioned. Preferred are polyvinylpyrrolidone homopolymers or polyvinyl alcohol copolymers, preferably polyvinyl alcohol and polycarboxylate copolymers, most preferred are polyvinyl alcohol copolymers with maleic acid or (meth) acrylic acid.

The water soluble polymer preferably has dispersant, anti-redeposition, soil release and other detergency properties.

The additional water soluble polymer may also be a polymer comprising sulfonic acid groups such as the polymers described in EP-A 1 299 513, EP-A 1 363 986, WO 95/12654 or EP-A 0 877 002 .

The water soluble polymer system may comprise a dirt release agent.

Examples of polymeric dirt release agents include those that have: (a) one or more non-ionic hydrophilic components that are essentially constituted by (i) polyoxyethylene segments with a polymerization degree of at least 2, or (ii) segments of oxypropylene or polyoxypropylene with a degree of polymerization between 2 and 10, wherein said hydrophilic segment does not encompass any unit of oxypropylene unless it is attached to adjacent moieties at each end by ether bonds or (iii) a mixture of units of oxyalkylene comprising oxyethylene and between 1 and 30 units of oxypropylene, said hydrophilic segments preferably comprising at least 25% oxyethylene units and more preferably, especially for said components having 20 to 30 units of oxypropylene, at least the 50% oxyethylene units; or

(b) one or more hydrophobic components comprising (i) C3 oxyalkylene terephthalate segments, in which, if said hydrophobic components also comprise oxyethylene terephthalate, the ratio of oxyethylene terephthalate: C3 oxyalkylene terephthalate is 2: 1 or less, ( ii) C4-C6 alkylene or C4-C6 oxyalkylene segments, or mixtures thereof, (iii) poly (vinyl ester) segments, preferably polyvinyl acetate, having a polymerization degree of at least 2, or (iv) C1-C4 alkyl ether or C4 hydroxyalkyl ether substituents, or mixtures thereof, wherein said substituents are present in the form of C1-C4 alkyl ether or C4 cellulose hydroxyalkyl ether derivatives, or mixtures thereof, or a combination of (a ) and (b). Typically, the polyoxyethylene segments of (a) (i) will have a degree of polymerization between 1 and 200, although higher levels may be used, preferably between 3 and 150, more preferably between 6 and 100. Hydrophobic segments of C4- oxyalkylene Suitable C6 include, but are not limited to, terminal layers of polymeric soil release agents such as MO3S (CH:) NoCH: CH2O-, in which M is sodium and n is an integer between 4-6. Other soil release agents useful herein also include cellulosic derivatives such as hydroxy ether cellulosic polymers, block copolymers of ethylene terephthalate or propylene terephthalate with polyethylene terephthalate oxide or propylene terephthalate oxide, and the like. Such agents are commercially available and include cellulose hydroxyethers such as METHOCEL (Dow). Cellulose soil release agents for use herein also include those selected from the group consisting of C1-C4 alkylcellulose and C4 hydroxyalkyl cellulose. Other suitable surfactants include water soluble ethoxylated cationic amine compounds with dirt / mud removal and / or anti-redeposition properties. Of these cationic compounds, ethoxylated cationic monoamines, diamines and triamines are particularly preferred.

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The coating system according to the invention meets one or more of the following physical parameters:

a) Very suitable for coated materials (for example, detergents) so that they provide an effective barrier for materials coated with it and that it is compatible with hygroscopic and caustic materials.

b) High water solubility, for example, between 0.1 g -1 g of the material of the coating composition of the present invention dissolves in 10 minutes in a beaker of 1 l of water at 40 C when stirred at 200 rpm and in 20 minutes at 20 ° C under the same conditions. To satisfy these properties, the coating may include an additive that modifies the solubility. Preferred examples of said additives include plasticizers.

In a preferred embodiment, the water soluble coating system may contain a plasticizer with a content of more than 0.01%, preferably more than 0.1%, more preferably more than 0.5% and most preferably the 1% or more and up to 30%, preferably less than 30% by weight, more preferably 10% or less than 10%.

Suitable types of plasticizers include solvents.

Preferred examples of solvents include water, alkylene glycol monoalkyl lower ethers, glycerol, polyalcohols, propylene glycols, ethylene or ethoxylated or propoxylated propylene, glycerol esters, glycerol triacetate, polyethylene glycols, methyl esters and amides.

One of the preferred plasticizers is glycerol. Another type of preferred plasticizers comprises medium molecular weight polyethylene glycols (PEG). Such materials preferably have molecular weights of at least 150. PEGs of a molecular weight ranging between 200 and 3000 are most preferred. Another type of preferred plasticizer comprises methyl esters of lower molecular weights. Such materials are those with the general formula: RC (0) -OCH3 in which R ranges from 1 to 18. Examples of suitable methyl esters of lower molecular weights include methyl acetate, methyl propionate, methyl octanoate, and dodecanoate. methyl.

Suitable types of plasticizers also include nonionic surfactants.

Preferred non-ionic surfactants incorporated in the resin provide the benefit of suppressing the formation of foams. The condensation products of the alkyl ethoxylate of an alcohol with 1 to 80 moles of an alkylene oxide (optionally substituted aliphatic / aromatic linear C2 to C20 alkylene / branched alkylene) are suitable for this use. The alkyl chain of alcohol can be linear or branched, primary or secondary, and generally contains between 6 and 22 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred are the condensation products of alcohols having an alkyl group containing between 8 and 20 carbon atoms with between 2 and 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. In this regard, suitable surfactants include non-ionic surfactants POLY-TERGENT (R) SLF-18B from Olin Corporation.

The C6-C18 ethoxylated fatty alcohols and the C6-C18 mixed ethoxylated / propoxylated fatty alcohols are suitable surfactants for use herein. Preferably the ethoxylated fatty alcohols are C10-C18 ethoxylated fatty alcohols with a degree of ethoxylation between 3 and 50, more preferably these are C12-C18 ethoxylated fatty alcohols with an ethoxylation degree between 3 and 40. Preferably, the ethoxylated fatty alcohols / mixed propoxylates have an alkyl chain length between 10 and 18 carbon atoms, an ethoxylation degree between 3 and 30 and a propoxylation degree between 1 and

10.

The condensation products of ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic base formed by the condensation of propylene oxide with propylene glycol are suitable for use herein. The hydrophobic fraction of these compounds preferably has a molecular weight between 1500 and 1800 and is insoluble in water. Examples of compounds of this type include some of the commercially available Pluronic (TM) surfactants marketed by BASF.

The condensation products of ethylene oxide with the product resulting from the reaction of propylene oxide and ethylenediamine are suitable for use herein. The hydrophobic moiety of these products is constituted by the reaction product of ethylenediamine and propylene oxide in excess, and generally has a molecular weight between 2500 and 3000. Examples of this type of non-ionic surfactant include some of the Tetronic compounds ( TM) commercially available, marketed by BASF.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the polymer system may comprise a non-ionic mixed surfactant system.

Suitable compounds include fatty esters of mono or polyhydric alcohols having between 1 and 40

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carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon chain. The fatty acid fraction of the fatty ester can be obtained from mono or polycarboxylic acids having between 1 and 40 carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon chain. Suitable examples of monocarboxylic fatty acids include behenic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, myristic acid, lauric acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid, valeric acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid and beta acid, beta'-dihydroxyisobutyric. Examples of suitable polycarboxylic acids include: n-butyl malonic acid, isocitric acid, citric acid, maleic acid, malic acid and succinic acid. The fatty alcohol radical in the fatty ester may be represented by mono alcohols.

or polyhydric having 1 to 40 carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon chain. Examples of suitable fatty alcohols include: behenyl, arachidyl, cocoyl, oleoyl and lauryl alcohol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, ethanol, isopropanol, vinyl alcohol, diglycerol, xylitol, sucrose, erythritol, pentaerythritol, sorbitol or sorbitan. Preferably, the fatty acid and / or the fatty alcohol group of the fatty ester adjuvant material has 1 to 24 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain. Preferred fatty esters herein are ethylene glycol, glycerol and sorbitan esters in which the fatty acid fraction of the ester typically comprises a species selected from behenic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid or myristic acid. Glycerol esters are also highly preferred. Specific examples of fatty alcohol esters for use herein include: stearyl acetate, palmitoyl pluri-lactate, cocoyl isobutyrate, oleyl maleate, oleyl dimaleate and tallow propionate. Fatty acid esters useful herein include: xylitol monopalmitate, pentaerythritol monostearate, sucrose monostearate, glycerol monostearate, ethylene glycol monostearate, sorbitan esters. Suitable sorbitan esters include sorbitan monostearate, sorbitan palmitate, sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monomiristate, sorbitan monobehenate, sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan dilaurate, sorbitan distearate, sorbitan dibehenate, sorbitan dioleate, and sorbitan monoleate and also mixed poly esters of tallowalkyl sorbitan. Glycerol monostearate, glycerol mono-oleate, glycerol monopalmitate, glycerol monobehenate, and glycerol distearate are preferred glycerol esters herein. Other suitable agents include triglycerides, mono or diglycerides, and wholly or partially hydrogenated derivatives thereof, and any mixtures thereof. Suitable sources of fatty acid esters include vegetable and fish oils and animal fats. Suitable vegetable oils include soybean oil, cottonseed oil, castor oil, olive oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, grapeseed oil, palm oil and oil of corn

Waxes, including microcrystalline waxes are possible lubricants, despite being much less preferred in the present invention due to their poor water solubility. Preferred waxes have a melting point in the range of 35 ° C to 110 ° C and generally comprise between 12 and 70 carbon atoms. Paraffinic and microcrystalline-type petroleum waxes that are constituted by long-chain saturated hydrocarbon compounds are preferred.

The addition of a plasticizing agent allows the reduction of the water content in the coating composition before / during application of the composition to the detergent tablet. Since the detergent tablet is itself composed of water soluble / dispersible components, it is not convenient to apply a large amount of water to the tablet during the coating process. In addition, the plasticizer provides the coating after drying for greater softness and elasticity, resulting in less brittleness and more comfortable handling of the tablet.

The coating may include a dye. The dye, when present as a resin component, is preferably present at a level between 0.001% by weight and 2% by weight, preferably between 0.01% by weight and 1.7% by weight. weight, most preferably between 0.1% by weight and 1.5% by weight.

The dye may comprise a dye or a pigment. Examples of suitable dyes include reactive dyes, direct dyes, azo dyes. Preferred dyes include phthalocyanine dyes, anthraquinone dyes, quinoline dyes, monoazo dyes, diazo and polyazo. The most preferred dyes include anthraquinone, quinoline and monoazo dyes. Preferred dyes include SANDOLAN E-HRL 180% (trademark), SANDOLAN MILLING BLUE (trademark), TURQUOISE ACID BLUE (trademark) and SANDOLAN BRILLIANT GREEN (trademark) all available in Clariant, RU, HEXACOL QUINOLINE YELLOW (brand trademark) and HEXACOL BRILLIANT BLUE (trademark) both available in Paintings, RU, ULTRA MARINE BLUE (trademark) available in Holliday or LEVAFIX TURQUISE BLUE EBA (trademark) available in Bayer, USA. and liquid dyes, such as Miliken Liquitit® type.

The coating liquid that can be used for the coating process for preparing the coating layer may also additionally contain;

•

preservatives

•

dyes

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•

brightness enhancers

•

plasticizer

•

foam controller

•

dispersing agent

•

pigments

•

emulsifiers

•

pH adjusting agents

•

 fragrance

•

viscosity adjusting agents

•

 wetting agents

•

hydrophilic organic solvents

•

stabilizers

All these ingredients are commonly used and are known to those skilled in the art. In this regard, it will be appreciated that any additive is substantially soluble or dispersible in water such that the general system retains its water solubility / water dispersibility.

The shaped body article preferably comprises a cleaning composition or a water softening composition. The cleaning composition may be a detergent or additive for automatic dishwashing, a detergent or laundry additive, a hard surface cleaning composition (such as multipurpose cleaner) or a toilet tank cleaner.

It has been found that said coated article is particularly suitable since the coating material is formed by components that allow rapid decomposition of the coating; during use it has been discovered that the article solves the problem of the formation of residues in the products being cleaned, said residue being formed by packed material having a poor solubility.

The cleaning composition may comprise, inter alia, an adjuvant system, a bleaching system, a system that protects silver, a system that protects glass (against glass corrosion), an enzymatic system, a viscosity modifier, a perfume or a system for controlling odors, one or more dyes, an acidity modifier, a bactericide / fungicide, a surfactant system, and a polymeric system comprising a support polymer with characteristics as regards the formation of spots and / or a support polymer with characteristics in terms of film formation (as for example described in EP-A 1299 513, 1 363 986, WO 95/12854 or EP-A 0 877 002) and a disintegration of pills without being limited to these principles. However, the ingredients of the composition do not limit the present invention and any detergent composition suitable for different purposes can be used. Typical components of the compositions for automatic dishwashing are disclosed, for example, in EP-A 1 268 129, EP-A 1 299 513, EP-A 1 571 198, EP-A 1 520 908 and EP -A 1 524 313. All components described in those documents may be part of the coated compositions according to the present invention.

The composition can be formulated taking into account that the user will not come into contact with the composition, either by inhalation or by skin contact. For example, the composition may include an enzyme, without worrying about physical contact between the composition containing the enzyme, and the user.

Compositions for dishwashing are preferred, particularly dishwashing compositions comprising bleaching systems, complexing agents and / or a polymeric system that provides good formation characteristics are preferred of spots and the formation of films.

A rapid dissolution rate is achieved by means of a thin coating of said material that dissolves in water. Preferably, the present invention uses coatings of materials that dissolve in water with amounts from 0.07 mg / cm² to 15 mg / cm², resulting in, for example, preferably a thickness between 5 µm and 1000 µm, more preferably between 20 µm and 600 µm.

Accordingly, the coating corresponds to about 0.01% by weight to 5% by weight,

E08021163

03-11-2014

preferably about 0.01% by weight to 2.8% by weight of the total amount of detergent unit.

As an additional option, said unit coated detergent may comprise an additive that provides an unbearably bitter taste, in particular in the case of coatings comprising some sugar. This additive may be coated on said detergent composition, either as part of a water soluble coating or

5 well as a separate coating. This improves the prevention of children accidentally swallowing the entire detergent.

The water soluble material, provided in powder form or prepared in the form of a solution, melt or dispersion or a combination thereof comprising all the desired components to be found in the coating, is coated on the material by any proper procedure

Preferably the material is coated by dusting, spraying, soaking, immersion or the like or any combination of said techniques.

Claims (5)

E08021163 03-11-2014 1. A unit coated detergent composition, wherein the detergent composition is coated with a water soluble or water dispersible coating comprising from at least 1% to 99% polyvinyl alcohol-polyethylene glycol graft copolymer and a low compound selected molecular weight of sugars 5 comprising from 1 to 10 units of sugar or any amino acid, preferably natural amino acids or a mixture of sugars, a mixture of amino acids or a mixture of sugars and amino acids. 2. A unit coated detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein the coating comprises at least 50% to 99% of a graft copolymer of polyvinyl alcohol-polyethylene glycol and any additional coating material.

3. A unit coated detergent composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the amount of coating material provided by the coating is between 0.07 mg / cm2 and 15 mg / cm2.

4. A unit coated detergent composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the detergent composition is a dishwashing composition, laundry detergent or water softener.

A unit coated detergent composition according to claim 4, wherein the dishwashing composition is in the form of a tablet, having at least a compressed fraction and optionally an uncompressed fraction.

6. A unit coated detergent composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the coating is provided on at least one surface face of the shaped body, preferably at 20 minus two surface faces, more preferably on at least one of the two "upper surfaces", which means the upper and lower surface of the detergent tablet, including or excluding any uncompressed fraction of the tablet. 7. Procedure for preparing a unit body shaped according to any of the claims 1 to 6 which comprises spraying a coating material as defined in any one of claims 1 or 2 on at least one surface face of the shaped body. 12