Dosage element and a method of manufacturing a dosage element
A dosage element to be consumed in use in a ware washing machine, the dosage element including a container, whereby the container encloses a non-consolidated particulate composition and a gel in direct contact with one another.
1. A method of manufacturing a ware washing unit dosage element having one compartment comprising the steps of:
(a) introducing a gel precursor composition into a water-soluble receptacle, wherein the gel precursor composition consists of 10-60 wt % of a non-ionic surfactant, and 10-60 wt % of a polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight in the range of 150-600 with the balance being a bleach activator, and optionally 0.1-8.0 wt % of polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight in the range of 1,000-35,000, water, a dye, and/or a builder;
(b) converting the gel precursor composition, or allowing the gel precursor composition to convert, into a shape-stable gel; and
(c) introducing a flowable particulate composition into the receptacle adjacent and in direct contact with the shape-stable gel such that the shape-stable gel and the flowable particulate composition do not substantially seep into each other;
wherein the method does not comprise consolidating the flowable particulate composition.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the water content of the shape-stable gel is less than 10 wt % water.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the water content of the shape-stable gel is less than 5 wt % water.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the water content of the shape-stable gel is less than 2 wt % water.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the density of the shape-stable gel is between 0.7 g/cm 3 and 2.0 g/cm 3 .
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the flowable particulate composition comprises a bleach and/or an enzyme.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gel precursor composition is introduced into the receptacle at an elevated temperature and cools to form the shape-stable gel.
8. The method of claim 1 , which does not comprise compacting the flowable particulate composition.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the shape-stable gel forms a layer at the bottom of the receptacle, and the flowable particulate composition forms a layer on top of the shape-stable gel.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ratio by weight of the flowable particulate composition to the shape-stable gel is in the range of 1:1 to 20:1.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising introducing a pill or core of material into the receptacle.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the introducing the pill or core of material into the receptacle occurs before, or at the same time as, the introducing the gel precursor composition into the receptacle.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the introducing the pill or core of material into the receptacle locates the pill or core of material such that the gel precursor composition forms a barrier between the pill or core of material and the flowable particulate composition.
14. A dosage element manufactured by the method of claim 1 .