Abstract: The present invention relates to novel modified polyaminoamides which are useful as dispersing agents for particulate inorganic solids, especially for inorganic pigments such as clay minerals. The new polyamides are also useful as graying inhibiting additives and detergency boosting additives in washing composition for laundry.

Abstract: Copolymers which comprise in copolymerized form, (A) 60 to 99% by weight of at least one monoethylenically unsaturated polyalkylene oxide monomer of the formula I H2C?CR1—X—Y—R2—O—n—R3??I ?in which the variables have the following meanings: X is —CH2— or —CO—, if Y is —O—; is —CO—, if Y is —NH—; Y is —O— or —NH—; R1 is hydrogen or methyl; R2 are identical or different C2-C6-alkylene radicals, which may be linear or branched and may be arranged blockwise or randomly; R3 is hydrogen or C1-C4-alkyl; n is an integer from 3 to 50, (B) 1 to 40% by weight of at least one quaternized nitrogen-containing monoethylenically unsaturated monomer, (C) 0 to 39% by weight of anionic monoethylenically unsaturated monomers and (D) 0 to 30% by weight of other nonionic monoethylenically unsaturated monomers and have an average molecular weight Mw of from 2000 to 100 000, and use of these copolymers as dispersants for clay minerals.