Abstract: A composition which comprises a mixture of water-soluble, amino-functional silicon compounds which are essentially free from alkoxy groups, water, optionally a content of alcohol and optionally a content of acid, the composition comprising silicon compounds of the general formula I: NH2[CH2)2NH]x(CH2)3SiO1.5  (I) in which x is 0, 1 or 2, and of the general formula II: (SiO1.5(CH2)3[NH(CH2)2]yNH[(CH2)2NH]x(CH2)3Si)1.5  (II) in which y and z are 0, 1 or 2 and are identical or different. The compositions are obtainable by mixing corresponding aminoalkoxy silanes, hydrolyzing the mixture and removing the hydrolysis alcohol formed as a result. The invention furthermore relates to a process for the preparation of the compositions and to their use in a wide variety of applications.