Abstract: Thickener compositions for addition to paper coating compositions in order to obtain low high shear viscosity and good water retention are disclosed. The thickener compositions comprise an associative polymer with an associative monomer content below 10% by weight, based on the weight of the polymer, a weight average molecular weight below one million and an acid monomer content of at least 10% by weight, based on the weight of the polymer.

Abstract: Stable formulations of fluorescent whitening agents are described. These contain a) 2 to 20% by weight of a fluorescent whitening agent of formula (1) in which R1 is hydrogen, C1-C5-alkyl, C1-C5-alkoxy or halogen and M is hydrogen, an alkali metal, ammonium or magnesium, b) 4 to 30% by weight of an unmodified or modified polyvinyl alcohol, c) 55 to 94% by weight of water and d) 0 to 20% weight of further additives, polyethylene glycol being excluded. A process for the preparation of the formulations and their use for whitening paper materials is also described.