Abstract: Water-soluble or water-swellable crosslinked copolymers consisting essentially of structural units of the formula 1 or a mixture of the structural units of the formula 1 with structural units of the formula 2 and structural units of the formula 3 where R, R1, R2, R3, Z and n are as defined in the description. These copolymers are crosslinked with compounds which contain at least two olefinic double bonds. These crosslinked copolymers are suitable as thickeners, in particular for cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations.

Abstract: Water-soluble or water-swellable polymers, preferably having a particle size no greater than 10 &mgr;m, which, in addition to from 0.01 to 5% by weight of crosslinking structures originating from monomers having at least two olefinic double bonds, comprise, in random distribution, from 1 to 50% by weight of the repeat structural unit (1) and from 49.99 to 98.99% by weight of the repeat structural unit (2), in which R1, R2 and R3 independently of one another are a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and Z is a C1-C4-alkylene group. These polymers are used as thickeners, preferably in cosmetic or pharmaceutical preparations.

Abstract: The invention relates to surfactant-containing formulations which comprise, as surfactant, an N-(3-dialkylamino)propyl-N-polyhydroxyalkylcarboxamide of the formula where R is an aliphatic radical having from 8 to 24 carbon atoms, R1 and R2, which are identical or different, are alkyl groups having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms or hydroxyalkyl groups having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, and Z is a linear polyhydroxyhydrocarbon radical having at least 3 OH groups, which may also be alkoxylated, and also to their acid addition products. The surfactant-containing formulations are used in industrial and standard household surfactant compositions.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of compounds of the formula 1 as thickeners for liquid, aqueous surfactant systems where R is an aliphatic radical having from 8 to 24 carbon atoms, R1 and R2, which are identical or different, are alkyl groups having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms or hydroxyalkyl groups having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, and Z is a linear polyhydroxyhydrocarbon radical having at least 3 OH groups, which may also be alkoxylated, and also their acid addition products. The thickeners are used in industrial and standard household surfactant compositions.