Abstract: New and improved thickeners for mixtures of one or more surface active agent include beta-hydroxyalkyl-terminally branched fatty acid amides. The new and improved thickeners achieve the same or better viscosity with lower amounts of mineral salts being required to be added. Concomitant benefits such as improved softening, lubricity, emulsifying and foam intensifying properties are also achieved. The thickeners and cleaner compositions containing them may also be prepared so that they do not contain nitrosamines, unlike prior art amide thickeners. A preferred thickener in accordance with the invention is 2-hydroxypropyl-isostearyl amide. A novel method for making the preferred thickener, so that it is substantially free of undesirable impurities is also provided.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of polyester-polyurethane flexible foams which do not give rise to the formation of misting, in which at least one polyisocyanate is reacted with at least one polyester pretreated by distillation and water and/or highly volatile organic compounds as blowing agent, characterized in that, in order to obtain the pretreated polyester which is used in the reaction with the polyisocyanate, in a first stage a starting polyester is manufactured which has a hydroxyl value (HV) higher by 4 to 12 mg KOH/g in relation to the HV of the desired pretreated polyester and which has a viscosity, measured at 25.degree. C. with a Brookfield RVT viscometer, lower by 2 to 5 Pa s in relation to that of the desired pretreated polyester and, in a second stage, the said starting polyester is subjected to a distillation for a treatment period of between 2 and 300 seconds, in temperature and pressure conditions making it possible to extract at least 85% of the cyclic diester present in the starting polyester.

Abstract: New and improved thickeners for mixtures of one or more surface active agent include beta-hydroxyalkyl-terminally branched fatty acid amides. The new and improved thickeners achieve the same or better viscosity with lower amounts of mineral salts being required to be added. Concomitant benefits such as improved softening, lubricity, emulsifying and foam intensifying properties are also achieved. The thickeners and cleaner compositions containing them may also be prepared so that they do not contain nitrosamines, unlike prior art amide thickeners. A preferred thickener in accordance with the invention is 2-hydroxypropyl-isostearyl amide. A novel method for making the preferred thickener, so that it is substantially free of undesirable impurities is also provided.