Linear viscoelastic aqueous liquid automatic dishwasher detergent composition

A linear viscoelastic aqueous liquid automatic dishwasher detergent composition having a G"/G' value of less than one comprising approximately by weight:

• (a) 10 to 35% of at least one alkali metal detergent builder salt, said alkali metal detergent builder salt being selected from the group consisting essentially of alkali metal tripolyphosphate, alkali metal pyrophosphate, alkali metal metaphosphate, alkali metal carbonate, alkali metal citrate and alkali metal nitrilotriacetate and mixtures thereof;
• (b) 5 to 15% alkali metal silicate;
• (c) 0 to 6% alkali metal hydroxide;
• (d) 0 to 3.0% chlorine bleach stable, water-dispersible, organic detergent active material;
• (e) 0 to 1.5% chlorine bleach stable foam depressant;
• (f) chlorine bleach compound in an amount to provide to 4l% of available chlorine;
• (g) 0.1 to 2.0% of a cross-linked polyacrylic acid thickening agent having a molecular weight of from about 1,000,000 to 4,000,000;
• (h) 0.02 to 2% of a long chain fatty acid or a metal salt of a fatty acid;
• (i) 0.1 to 10% of a non-crosslinked polymeric chelating agent having a molecular weight of about 1,000 to 20,000;
• and
• (J) balance being water, said polyacrylic acid thickening agent is selected from the group consisting essentially of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, water-dispersible or water-soluble salts, esters, or amides thereof, and water-soluble copolymers of these acids or their salts, ester or amides with or with one or more other unsaturated monomers, wherein the aqueous phase includes both sodium and potassium ions at a K/Na weight ratio of from about 1/1 to about 45/1, wherein substantially all of the normally soluble components of the composition are present dissolved in the aqueous phase, and substantially all of the water in the composition is tightly bound to the cross-linked polyacrylic acid thickening agent, said composition having a bulk density of from 1.32 g/cm.sup.3 to 1.42 g/cm.sup.3 and said composition does not exhibit phase separation and remains homogenous, when said composition is centrifuged at 1000 rpm for 30 minutes.