Layered silicates of limited swelling power, a process for their production and their use in detergents and cleaning preparations

A synthetic, finely-divided, water-insoluble layered silicate comprising a mixed crystal system corresponding to the following structural formula

• [Na.sub.x+y (Mg.sub.3-x Li.sub.x)(Si.sub.4-y Al.sub.y)O.sub.10 (OH).sub.2 ].m[Na.sub.2 Si.sub.z O.sub.2z+1 ].nH.sub.2 O
• x is from 0 to about 0.3;
• y is from 0 to about 0.5;
• x+y is from about 0.1 to about 0.5;
• z is from about 1.0 to about 22;
• m is from about 0.1 to about 0.5, and
• n is from 0 to about 8.

A process for producing a synthetic, finely-divided, water-insoluble layered silicate having a mixed crystal system including a smectite-like crystal phase which is irregularly permeated by crystalline sodium polysilicate, and the following oxide summation formula

• MgO.aM.sub.2 O.bAl.sub.2 O.sub.3.cSiO.sub.2.nH.sub.2 O
• wherein M is selected from the group consisting of sodium, and a mixture of sodium and lithium, said mixture having a molar ratio of Na to Li of at least about 2, n representing the number of water molecules bound in the crystal phase and a, b, c and n each represent a number having a value within the following ranges:
• a is from about 0.05 to about 0.4;
• b is from 0 to about 0.3;
• c is from about 1.2 to about 2.0;
• n is from about 0.3 to about 3.0,
• comprising hydrothermally reacting water-soluble sodium silicate with an oxide, hydroxide, or water-soluble salt of magnesium, aluminum and/or lithium.

A detergent comprising from about 10 to about 35% by weight of a crystalline builder of the zeolite type, and at least about 5% by weight of a synthetic, finely-divided, water-insoluble layered silicate having a mixed crystal system including a smectite-like crystal phase which is irregularly permeated by crystalline sodium polysilicate, and the following oxide summation formula

• MgO.aM.sub.2 O.bAl.sub.2 O.sub.3.cSiO.sub.2.nH.sub.2 O
• wherein M is selected from the group consisting of sodium, and a mixture of sodium and lithium, said mixture having a molar ratio of Na to Li of at least about 2, n representing the number of water molecules bound in the crystal phase and a, b, c and n each represent a number having a value within the following ranges:
• a is from about 0.05 to about 0.4;
• b is from 0 to about 0.3;
• c is from about 1.2 to about 2.0;
• n is from about 0.3 to about 3.0,
• said layered silicate having a swelling power (V.sub.s /V) of less than about 0.6 as determined by the quotient of the sediment volume (V.sub.s) to the total volume (V) of said layered silicate in aqueous suspension.

A laundry detergent comprising:

• (a) about 5 to about 30% by weight of a synthetic, finely divided, water-insoluble layered silicate having a mixed crystal system including a smectite-like crystal phase and a sodium polysilicate, and the following oxide summation formula
• MgO.aM.sub.2 O.bAl.sub.2 O.sub.3.cSiO.sub.2.nH.sub.2 O
• wherein M is selected from the group consisting of sodium, and a mixture of sodium and lithium, said mixture having a molar ratio of Na to Li of at least about 2, n representing the number of water molecules bound in the crystal phase and a, b, c and n each represent a number having a value within the following ranges:
• a is from about 0.05 to about 0.4;
• b is from 0 to about 0.3;
• c is from about 1.2 to about 2.0;
• n is from about 0.3 to about 3.0,
• said layered silicate having a swelling power (V.sub.s V) of less than about 0.6 as determined by the quotient of the sediment volume (V.sub.s) to the total volume (V) of said layered silicate in aqueous suspension;
• (b) from about 5% to about 30% by weight of a surfactant;
• (c) up to about 60% by weight of an alumosilicate;
• (d) up to about 30% by weight of a phosphate;
• (e) up to about 5% by weight of a complexing agent for calcium ions;
• (f) up to about 50% by weight of a builder incapable of complexing calcium ions;
• and
• (g) up to about 50% by weight of a bleaching agent and other additives generally present in a laundry detergent, all weights being based on the weight of said laundry detergent.