Particles based on polylactones derived from polyhydroxycarboxylic acids, and pulverulent compositions in which these particles are present

Claim 2

Particles capable of disaggregation in an aqueous medium, consisting essentially of polylactones which are intermolecular and intramolecular esters of hydroxycarboxylic acid polymers containing units of the formula ##STR2## in which R 1 and R 2 independently represent hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and at least 1% by weight, relative to the polylactones, of a bicarbonate of an alkali metal or ammonium.

Claim 3

Particles according to claim 1 wherein said bicarbonate is sodium bicarbonate.

Claim 4

Particles according to claims 1 or 2 wherein said bicarbonate is present in an amount of between 3 and 20% by weight relative to the polylactones.

Claim 5

Particles according to claims 1 or 2 consisting essentially of a dry mixture of elementary particles of said polylactones and of said bicarbonate, said elementary particles having a mean diameter of between 2 and 50 microns.

Claim 6

Particles according to claims 1 or 2 wherein said particles have a mean diameter between 0.05 and 1.5 mm.

Claim 7

Particles according to claims 1 or 2 containing less than 10% by weight of water.

Claim 8

Particles according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said hydroxycarboxylic acid polymers consist exclusively of units of the formula ##STR3##

Claim 9

Particles according to claim 7 wherein the polylactones are esters of unsubstituted poly-α-hydroxyacrylic acid.

Claim 10

Particles according to claim 1 wherein said bicarbonate is present in an amount of up to 30% by weight relative to the polylactones.

Claim 11

A pulverulent composition for washing, cleaning and bleaching comprising 0.1 to 80% by weight of particles capable of disaggregation in an aqueous medium, consisting essentially of (1) polylactones which are intermolecular and intramolecular esters of hydroxycarboxylic acid polymers containing units of the formula ##STR4## in which R 1 and R 2 independently represent hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and (2) at least 1% by weight, relative to the polylactones, of a bicarbonate of an alkali metal or ammonium.

Claim 12

A pulverulent composition for washing, cleaning and bleaching comprising 0.1 to 80% by weight of particles capable of disaggregation in an aqueous medium, consisting essentially of (1) polylactones which are intermolecular and intramolecular esters of hydroxycarboxylic acid polymers containing units of the formula ##STR4## in which R 1 and R 2 independently represent hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and (2) at least 1% by weight, relative to the polylactones, of a bicarbonate of an alkali metal or ammonium.

Claim 13

A pulverulent composition according to claim 10 wherein said hydroxycarboxylic acid polymers consists exclusively of units of the formula ##STR5##

Claim 14

A pulverulent composition according to claim 11 wherein said bicarbonate is present in the particles in an amount of up to 30% by weight relative to the polylactones.