ES2326983T3 - DETERGENT PADS. - Google Patents

Abstract

A cleaning tablet comprising a smooth phase, wherein the smooth phase comprises at least 5 wt% of a diluent material having a dielectric constant of less than 20 and a molecular weight of less than 300 Dalton.

Description

Detergent tablets

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to compositions cleaners in the form of pills to be used in washing of fabrics or machine-washed dishes.

Background of the invention

Detergent compositions in the form of pills have advantages over powdered products as far as that do not require a measurement and therefore are easier to handle and supply in the wash load.

The tablets of a cleaning composition are they usually repair by compressing or compacting an amount of the composition in the form of particles.

Pills comprising two or more separate areas have also been described. For example, the document
WO 01/42416 describes the production of multi-phase molded structures comprising a combination of molded core structures and a pre-mix in the form of particles. WO 00/61717 describes a detergent tablet characterized in that at least part of its outer surface is semi-solid. WO 00/04129 describes a multi-phase detergent tablet comprising a first phase in the form of a shaped structure having at least one mold therein and a second phase in the form of a compressed particulate solid. in said mold. WO 99/24549 describes a detergent tablet comprising a compressed solid structure and an uncompressed gelatinous portion disposed in a mold of said structure. WO 99/27069 refers to a tablet comprising a compressed and uncompressed phase, in which the uncompressed phase improves the stability of components of
fragrance.

There are also previous publications on stable, solid and / or soft transparent or gel-type detergent compositions. In GB 1578289 a composition of this type comprising soap, detergent and solvent has been proposed for detergent sticks for use in a pre-wash or dry cleaning treatment. It has recently been suggested, for example, in EP 1,371,719, EP 1,405,900, EP 1,382,668,
EP 1,375,636, EP 1,405,901, EP 1,405,902, EP 1,418,224 and WO 03/104380 prepare tablets comprising a soft or semi-solid phase.

A problem with the cleaning pads that they comprise a soft phase such as a phase molten-molded, semi-solid, not compressed or gel type is that often these phases show a slow dissolution behavior, for example, when used in a laundry washing machine. Therefore, it continues to be the combination of dissolution speed, hardness and stiffness desired for the application of soft detergent phases in tablets cleaners

It is an object of the present invention provide a cleaning tablet, preferably a tablet multi-phase cleaner, comprising at least one phase or soft layer with a speed of dissolution, hardness and stiffness favorable.

Definition of the invention

In a first aspect, the invention provides a cleaning tablet comprising a soft phase, in which the soft phase comprises at least 5% by weight of a diluent material which has a dielectric constant of less than 20 and a weight molecular weight of less than 300 daltons and 1 to 10% by weight of soap.

Preferably, the cleaning tablet it comprises a soft phase, in which the soft phase comprises:

(a) at least 5% by weight of a diluent material which has a dielectric constant of less than 20 and a weight molecular of less than 300 daltons, and

(b) at least 10% by weight of a material non-soap surfactant.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a cleaning tablet comprising a soft phase, in which the soft phase comprises at least 5% by weight of a diluent material selected from triethylene glycol dimethyl ether (CH 3 - (OCH 2 CH 2) 3 -OCH 3) or ethylene glycol monoethyl ether (CH 3 CH 2 (OCH 2 CH 2) 2 -OH),  benzyl alcohol or mixtures thereof. Also, these materials diluents can be mixed with diluents with a constant dielectric of 20 or more, such as dipropylene glycol, in the extent to which the dielectric constant of the material mix Diluents remain below 20.

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Detailed description

The tablets of the invention comprise a soft area For the purposes of this invention, the expression "phase soft "refers to compositions that, on the one hand, are solid enough to retain its shape at temperature environment and, on the other hand, are soft in appearance. Textures soft can be, for example, semi-solid, not compressed, gel-type or molten-molded, such as described above. Soft textures are generally of low or zero porosity and has, at an observation distance normal, the appearance of a continuous phase, for example, in opposition to a porous and particulate appearance of a material in the form of compacted particles.

The tablets of the invention can be single phase pills only or be predominantly constituted by the soft phase, however, in one embodiment preferred, the tablets of the invention are phase tablets multiple in which the least one of the phases is a phase soft

Preferably, the tablet or the first zone of the multi-phase pin is a soft zone and a zone semi-solid For the purposes of this invention, the expression "semi-solid" refers to compositions that, on the one hand, they are solid enough to retain their shape to room temperature, but they are not completely solid.

A suitable test to check if a composition can be considered as semi-solid It can be described as follows:

A cylindrical tablet with a diameter of 45 mm and a height of 20 mm is compressed radially between the plates of a material testing machine until the tablet breaks. In the starting position, the plates come into contact with the tablet, but do not apply any force. A force is applied, to compress the tablet, and the vertical speed of the plate upper is 25 mm / minute. The test machine measures the force applied (F) and also the displacement (x) of the plates one towards another as the tablet is compressed. It is also known the distance (and) between the plates before the force is applied, which is the diameter of the tablet At the time of the failure, the tablet breaks and the applied force necessary to maintain drops displacement The measurement is interrupted when the force applied necessary to maintain displacement has fallen in a 25% from its maximum value. The displacement in the fault memento (x_ {f}).

A graph of the force can be made (F) versus displacement (x). The maximum force is the force in the moment of failure (F_ {f}). Breaking energy is the area under the graph of force versus displacement, up to the point of breakage, and is given by the equation:

100

in which E_ {b} is the energy of break in mJoules, x is the displacement in meters and F is the force applied in Newtons to a displacement x and x_ {f} is the displacement at the time of failure.

Semi-solid compositions are characterized by a ratio of F_ {f} to E_ {b} of less than 1, more preferred from 0.1 to 0.9, most preferred from 0.2 to 0.6, while than traditional tablets of particulate materials compacted are generally characterized by a ratio of F_ {f} a E_ {b} of more than 1, more generally more than 1.25 or even more than 1.5 to about 6.

The tablets of the invention are preferably multi-phase tablets, in which at least one of the phases is a soft zone, as described previously. The areas of the cleaning tablet are possibly separate layers in a pill. Preferably, the soft area covers a substantial part of the upper surface of the other zone, for example, preferably at least 65%, more preferably at least 75%, most preferably more than 90% or even substantially the entire upper surface of the other zone is covered by the first soft zone. For the purpose of the invention, the expression "upper surface" refers to one of the main sides of the cleaning tablet which, placing the tablet on a smooth surface, could be classified as the upper surface. Especially preferred, the other second zone is suitably a layer of material in the form of compacted particles, which preferably have a surface substantially smooth upper.

Preferably, the first smooth zone is a layer having an average thickness of 0.5 to 20 mm, more preferably 1 to 5 mm, for example, 1.5 to 3 mm. Preferably, the total weight of the soft area is 1 to 40 grams, more preferably 3 to 30 grams, most preferably 4 to 20 grams, preferably the level of non-soap surfactants in the soft zone is 0.5 to 10 grams, more preferably 1 to 5 grams.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first soft or semi-solid zone comprises from 10 to 90% by weight of non-soap surfactants (based on total weight of the soft zone), more preferably 30-80% in weigh. It has been found that the combination of a first zone soft or semi-solid separated and these levels high surfactants provide dispersant properties and Very good cleaners to the tablet.

In a preferred embodiment the surfactants in the first zone they comprise a combination of surfactants anionic and non-soap surfactants in a weight ratio of 5: 1 to 1: 5, more preferably 3: 1 to 1: 3, more preferably 2: 1 to 1: 2 In another preferred embodiment, the first zone comprises relatively high levels of nonionic surfactants, preferably non-soap surfactants are predominantly  nonionic surfactants, most preferably all of Non-soap surfactants are non-ionic surfactants. They can other surfactants are also present, for example, cationic surfactants at a level, for example, from 0.1 to 10% in weight based on soft tissue weight or semi-solid

The soft or semi-solid zone comprises from 1 to 10% by weight of soap, based on the weight of the part soft or semi-solid. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the level of C16 soaps is relatively high, particularly it is preferred that at least 50% by weight of the soap is a C16 soap, more preferably 60 to 100% in Soap weight is a C16 soap.

The first soft area of the tablet comprises at least 5% by weight of diluent materials that have a dielectric constant and a molecular weight as described previously.

Preferably, the dielectric constant of the diluents is less than 17, for example 5 to 16. Also preferably, the molecular weight of the diluents from 50 to 250, for example, from 100 to 200. Preferred examples of diluents that they have a low molecular weight are, for example, triethylene glycol or dimethyl ether, or di (ethylene glycol) -ethyl ether, or benzyl alcohol or mixtures thereof. The most examples Preferred diluents having a low molecular weight are triethylene glycol dimethyl ether or di (ethylene glycol) -ethyl ether or mixtures thereof. Preferably, the diluent level is 5 to 50% by weight, plus preferably 10-40% by weight based on the weight of the soft area Also preferably, the diluents used in the soft zone preferably has a temperature of inflammation of at least 75 ° C, most preferably above 80 ° C or even above 90 ° C.

The soft or semi-solid phase preferably comprises zero or only low levels of water. Preferably, the water level is less than 20% by weight based in the weight of the semi-solid phase, more preferably less than 15% by weight, most preferably 5 to 12% by weight. Most preferably, the soft phases or semi-solids are substantially free of water, which means that apart from low humidity levels (for example, for neutralization or as crystallization water), no additional added water is present.

Preferably, the cleaning pads of according to the invention they also comprise a second zone or phase which is a solid zone, preferably a zone of material compacted The weight of the solid zone may vary appropriately in the range of 1 to 60 grams, more preferably 10 to 50 grams, most appropriately 20 to 40 grams.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second zone includes null or only very low levels of surfactants Preferably, the level of surfactants in the second zone is less than 10% by weight (based on the total weight of the second zone), more preferably 9 to 9% by weight, most preferably from 1 to 8% by weight.

The second area of the pill is preferably a solid zone, for example, this can be prepared by compression or fusion. Preferably, the second zone is a composition in the form of compacted particles. The second zone preferably comprises tablet ingredients other than surfactants Examples of these ingredients are improvers. of detergency, bleaching systems, enzymes, etc. Preferably, the detergency builders in the tablet They are predominantly present in the second zone. Preferably, enzymes are predominantly present in The second zone. For the purposes of this invention, the expression "predominantly present" refers to a situation in the that at least 90% by weight of an ingredient is present in the second zone, more preferably more than 98% by weight, most preferably substantially 100% by weight.

The materials that can be used in the tablets of this invention will be set forth below in detail.

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Surfactant compounds

The compositions that are used in the tablets of the invention will contain one or more surfactants detergents In a fabric washing composition, these they will preferably provide 5 to 50% by weight of the composition overall of the tablet, more preferably 8 or 9% by weight of the overall composition up to 40% or 50% by weight. The surfactant can be anionic (soapy or non-soapy), cationic, hybrid ions, amphoteric, nonionic or a combination of these.

The anionic surfactant may be present in an amount of 0.5 to 50% by weight, preferably 2 or 4% to 30% or 40% by weight of the composition of the tablet.

Synthetic anionic surfactants (it is say, not soapy) are well known to experts in the technique. Examples include alkyl benzene sulphonates, particularly linear alkyl benzene sulphonates of sodium having an alkyl chain length of C 8 -C 15; olefin sulphonates; alkane sulphonates; dialkyl sulphosuccinates and sulphonates of esters of fatty acids.

The primary alkyl sulfate that has the formula

ROSO_ {3} - M +

in which R is a chain of alkyl or alkenyl of 8 to 18 carbon atoms, especially 10 to 14 carbon atoms and M + is a solubilizing cation, it is commercially significant as an anionic surfactant. He linear alkyl benzene sulphonate formula

one

where R is linear alkyl of 8 at 15 carbon atoms and M + is a solubilizing cation, especially sodium, it is also an anionic surfactant commercially significant.

Often this linear alkyl benzene sulphonate or primary alkyl sulfate of the above formula, or a mixture thereof, will be the desired anionic surfactant and can provide 75 to 100% by weight of any non-surfactant anionic soap in the composition.

In some forms of this invention, the amount of non-soap surfactant is in a range of 5 to 20% in weight of the composition of the tablet.

Soaps to be used according to the invention are preferably soaps derived from fatty acids that occur naturally, for example, fatty acids from beef tallow.

Nonionic surfactant compounds Suitable that can be used include, in particular, reaction products of compounds having a hydrophobic group and a reactive hydrogen atom, for example, aliphatic alcohols, acids, amides or alkyl phenols with oxides of alkylene, especially ethylene oxide.

Nonionic surfactant compounds specific are condensates of alkyl oxides (C 8-22) phenol-ethylene, condensation products of primary or secondary alcohols of C 8-20 linear or branched aliphatic with ethylene oxide and products prepared by condensation of ethylene oxide with the oxide reaction products of propylene and ethylenediamine.

Especially preferred are the ethoxylates of primary and secondary alcohols, especially alcohols primary and secondary of C_ {9-11} and C 12-15 ethoxylates with an average of 5 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.

In some tablets for washing fabrics this invention, the amount of nonionic surfactant is in a range of 4 to 40%, better 4 or 5 to 30% by weight of the tablet complete.

Many nonionic surfactants are liquids. These can be absorbed into particles of the composition.

In a machine dishwashing tablet, The surfactant can be completely non-ionic, in an amount below 5% by weight of the whole pill, although it is known include some anionic surfactant and use up to 10% by weight of total surfactant.

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Detergency Enhancer

A composition that is used in tablets of the invention will usually contain 5 to 80%, more usually 15 at 60% by weight of detergency builder. This can be fully provided by water soluble materials, or it can be provided largely, or even completely, by a water insoluble material with properties of water softening The detergent builder insoluble in water may be present as 5 to 80% by weight, preferably 5 to 60% by weight of the composition.

Alkali metal aluminosilicates are highly favorable as insoluble detergency builders in water acceptable to the environment for fabric washing. Alkali metal aluminosilicates (preferably sodium) they can be crystalline or amorphous or their mixtures, having the formula general:

0.8-1.5 \ Na_ {2} O \ Ald {2} O_ {3} \ cdot 0.8-6 \ SiO_ {2} \ cdot xH_ {2} O

These materials contain some bound water (indicated as "xH_ {2} O") and are necessary to have a calcium ion exchange capacity of at least 50 mg CaO / g. Preferred sodium aluminosilicates contain 1.5-3.5 SiO2 units (in the formula previous). Both amorphous and crystalline materials can be easily prepared by reaction between sodium silicate and sodium aluminate, as described extensively in the bibliography.

Detergents of the detergency of suitable crystalline ion exchange, for example, in the GB 1429143 (Procter & Gamble). The aluminosilicates of Preferred sodium of this type are zeolites A and X available in trade and well known, the new zeolite P described and claimed in EP 384070 (Unilever) and mixtures thereof.

Supposedly, a detergency builder water insoluble could be a layered sodium silicate as it described in US 4664839. NaSKS-6 is the Registered trademark of a commercialized crystalline layered silicate by the Hoechst company (commonly abbreviated as "SKS-6"). The NaSKS-6 has the delta-Na2 {Si2} morphology form of a layered silicate. It can be prepared by methods such as described in the documents DE-A-3,417,649 and DE-A-3,742,043. Can be used other silicates in layers of this type, such as those with general formula NaMSi_ {x} O_ {2x + 1} \ cdotyH_ {2} where M is sodium or hydrogen, x is a number from 1.9 to 4, preferably 2 e y it is a number from 0 to 20, preferably 0.

Inorganic detergency builders which contain water soluble phosphorus include orthophosphates, metaphosphates, pyrophosphates and alkali metal polyphosphates. Specific examples of phosphate builders inorganic include tripolyphosphates, orthophosphates and sodium and potassium hexametaphosphates.

The detergency builders soluble in Non-phosphorus water can be organic or inorganic. The inorganic detergency builders that may be present include alkali metal carbonates (usually sodium); while organic detergency builders include polycarboxylate polymers, such as polyacrylates, copolymers acrylic / maleic and phosphonates acrylic, polycarboxylates monomers such as citrates, gluconates, oxydisuccinates, mono-, di- and glycerol tri-succinates, carboxymethyloxysuccinates, carboxymethylximalonates, dipicolinates and hydroxyethyliminodiacetates.

At least one area (preferably the second zone) of a tablet for fabric washing preferably includes polycarboxylate polymers, more especially acrylic / maleic polyacrylates and compolymers, which can act as detergency builders and also inhibit unwanted deposition on fabrics from the liquid of
washed.

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Bleaching system

The tablets according to the invention may contain a bleaching system in at least one area of a tablet, preferably in the second zone. This preferably comprises one or more peroxygen bleaching compounds, for example, inorganic persalts or organic peroxyacids, which can be used in conjunction with activators to improve action bleach at low wash temperatures. If present any peroxygen compound, the amount is likely to be place in a range of 10 to 25% by weight of the composition.

Preferred inorganic persalts are sodium perborate monohydrate and tetrahydrate, and percarbonate of sodium, advantageously used together with an activator. The bleaching activators, also called precursors of bleaching, have been widely described in the art. Examples Preferred include peracetic acid precursors, for example tetraacetylethylene diamine (TAED), currently widely used commercially along with sodium perborate and perbenzoic acid precursors. Bleach activators of quaternary ammonium and phosphonium described in documents US 4751015 and US 4818426 (Lever Brothers Company) are also of interest. Other type of bleach activator that can be used, but that is not a bleaching precursor, is a transition metal catalyst as described in the EP-A-458397, EP-A-458398 and EP-A-549272. A bleaching system may also include a bleach stabilizer (sequestrant heavy metals) as ethylenediamine tetramethylene phosphonate  Y diethylenetriamine-pentamethylene phosphonate.

As indicated above, if present a bleach and is a soluble inorganic peroxygen bleach in water, the amount can be from 10% to 25% by weight of the composition.

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Other detergent ingredients

The detergent tablets of the invention they may also contain (preferably in the second zone) one of detergency enzymes well known in the art for their ability to degrade and help the suppression of various Dirt and stains. Suitable enzymes include the various proteases, cellulases, lipases, amylases and mixtures thereof, which are designed to remove a variety of dirt and stains from fabrics. Examples of suitable proteases are Maxatase (brand registered), supplied by the company Gist-Brocades. N.V., Delft, Holland and Alcalase (registered trademark) and Savinase (registered trademark), supplied by Novo Industri A / S, Copenhagen, Denmark.

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Detergency enzymes are commonly used in the form of granules or agglomerates, optionally with a protective coating, in an amount of about 0.1 to approximately 3.0% by weight of the composition, and these granules or agglomerates do not present problems with respect to compaction to form a pill

The detergent tablets of the invention they may also contain (preferably in the second zone) a contrast agent (optical brightener), for example, Tinopal (registered trademark) DMS or Tinopal CBS, available at the company Ciba-Geigy AG, Basel, Switzerland. Tinopal DMS is 4,4'-bis- (2-morpholino-4-anilino-s-triazin-6-ylamino) -stilbene disulfonate  of disodium; and Tinopal CBS is 2,2'-bis- (phenyl-styryl) -disulfonate of disodium

Advantageously a material is included antifoam (preferably in the second zone), especially if  a detergent tablet is primarily intended to be used in automatic drum washing machines frontal. Suitable antifoaming materials are usually in granular form, such as those described in EP 266863A (Unilever). These antifoam granules usually comprise a mixture of silicone oil, crude petrolatum, silica hydrophobic and alkyl phosphate as active material antifoam, absorbed in an inorganic carrier material based in a porous absorbed water soluble carbonate. Granules Defoamers may be present in an amount up to 5% in composition weight.

It may also be desirable that a tablet of detergent of the invention include an amount of a silicate of alkali metal, particularly ortho-, meta- or sodium di-silicate. The presence of these alkali metal silicates at levels, for example, from 0.1 to 10% by weight it can be advantageous to provide protection against corrosion of metal parts in washing machines, in addition to provide some measure of detergency improvement and provide Advantages of treatment in the manufacture of the material in the form of particles that are compacted in the form of pills.

A pill for washing fabrics Generally it will not contain more than 15% by weight silicate. A dishwashing machine will often contain more 20% by weight silicate. Preferably, the silicate is present in the second area of the tablet.

Other ingredients that may optionally be used in a zone of a detergent for washing cloths of the tablet of the invention (preferably in the second zone) include anti-redeposition agents such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, linear chain polyvinyl pyrrolidone and cellulose ethers such as methyl cellulose and ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, fabric softening agents; heavy metal sequestrants such as EDTA, perfumes and dyes or
colored particles

Other ingredients that can be optionally used in the tablets of the invention, preferably in the second zone, they are dispersing adjuvants. Examples of adjuvants Suitable dispersants are water swellable polymers (for eg, SCMC), highly soluble materials (eg citrate sodium, potassium carbonate or sodium acetate) or tripolyphosphate sodium preferably with at least 40% of the phase I form anhydrous

The previous description of the tablet has been provided referring to a tablet constituted by One or two zones. However, it should be understood that each of the zones can be composed of a limited number of zones discreet

The cleaning tablets of the invention can be manufactured by any suitable method, for example, the pre-preparation of the soft phase, for example, by extrusion or molding in the molten state followed by the assembly of the soft phase and the other phases of the tablet. Also, the second phase of the material in the form of compressed particles can be prepared following an in situ preparation of the soft phase, for example, by molding, coating or spraying or assembling said compressed phase with a separately prepared soft phase. Typical treatment conditions for preparing the soft phase or the compressed phase are described, for example, in the documents described above.

The tablets of the invention can be used, for example, for dishwashing or laundry washing mechanics For these purposes, they will generally be used 1-5 pins per wash and, when appropriate, you can use a delivery device, for example, a propeller or a hairnet.

The invention will be further illustrated by middle of the following examples.

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Example 1

A detergent powder was prepared from the following composition by previously granulating the ingredients in granules, followed by subsequent dosing of the rest of the ingredients

2

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Soft tissues were prepared or semi-solid of the following composition:

4

Each A-C formulation was prepared with the following solvents: Triethylene glycol dimethyl ether having a dielectric constant of 7.6 and a molecular weight of 178, of the Clariant company (A1, B1 and C1) or diethylene glycol monoethyl ether having a dielectric constant of 15.5 and a molecular weight of 134, of the Sigma company (A2, B2 and C2). As a comparison, each formulation it was prepared with dipropylene glycol which had a dielectric constant of about 25 as solvent (A3, B3 and C3).

The mixtures were heated to 80 ° C and molded. in molds and cooled to 20 ° C to form soft tissue and firm semi-solid 5 grams and 32 mm thick diameter and 6 mm high.

Multi-layered tablets are prepared previously compressing 25 grams of the powder composition in a 45 mm diameter matrix at 4 kN / cm 2, followed by the adhesion of a soft and semi-solid part in the upper part of the compressed layer and followed by a stage of final compression at 0.8 kN / cm2. During the compression stage final, the soft and semi-solid part flows through the compaction forces to form a soft semi-solid layer of 3.4 mm attached to the top of the layer in the form of compressed particles The height of the powder part after The compression is 11 mm.

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Example 2 Dissolution properties

Soft tissues of 5 grams were prepared each one that had a composition as described in example 1 and which had a cylindrical shape of 19 mm in diameter and 22 mm of height. The pieces were immersed in water at 20 ° C which was stirred at 200 rpm The value of T80 was determined by measuring the time at which dissolved 80% of the soft part.

The following results were obtained:

5

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These results clearly show that the use of solvents that have a low dielectric constant (examples A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2) leads to an appreciable decrease in dissolution time compared to the use of diluents with a higher dielectric constant, such as DPG (A3, B3 and C3).

In addition to this, these examples show that the use of increased amounts of C16 soap leads to decrease the dissolution time (Ax compared to Bx and Cx). The times of Lower solutions are obtained using a combination of soaps high level of C16 and solvents that have a constant low dielectric (B1, B2, C1 and C2).

Claims (10)

1. A cleaning tablet comprising a soft phase, in which the soft phase comprises at least 5% by weight of a diluent material that has a dielectric constant of less than 20 and a molecular weight of less than 300 daltons and 1 to 10% by weight soap. 2. A cleaning tablet according to claim 1, wherein the soft phase comprises at least 5% in weight of a diluent material selected from triethylene glycol dimethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, benzyl alcohol or their mixtures 3. A cleaning tablet according to claim 1, wherein the diluent is selected from triethylene glycol dimethyl ether or diethylene glycol monoethyl ether or mixtures thereof. 4. A cleaning tablet according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein at least 50% of the Soap material is a C16 soap. 5. A cleaning tablet according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the soft phase comprises 5 to 50% by weight of the diluent material, preferably 10 to 40% in weight. 6. A cleaning tablet according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the soft phase comprises 10 to 90% by weight of a non-soap surfactant material, preferably 30 to 80% by weight. 7. A cleaning tablet according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the soft phase comprises less than 20% by weight of water, preferably 5 to 12% by weight. 8. A cleaning composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tablet comprises also a solid zone of compacted material. 9. A cleaning composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the diluent material It has a flash temperature above 75 ° C. 10. Use of a cleaning tablet according to one or more of the preceding claims for dishwashing or for laundry wash.