Abstract: Thixotropic compositions comprising a solution of a urea urethane having the formula as hereinafter set out dissolved in a polar aprotic solvent containing 0.1-2.0 mol LiCl per urea group:R--O--CO--NH--R'--NH--CO--NH--R"--NH--CO--NH--R'--NH--CO--ORwherein R represents C.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 -- or C.sub.m H.sub.2m+1 (C.sub.p H.sub.2p O).sub.r --; n represents an integer having a value of from 4 to 22; m represents an integer having a value of from 1 to 18; p represents an integer having a value of from 2 to 4; and r represents an integer having a value of from 1 to 10. ##STR1## The solids content in the aprotic solvent amounts to 10-75 wt. % and preferably to from 40-60 wt. %.

Abstract: Polyalkylene glycol ethers of .beta.-hydroxymercaptans of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is a member selected from the group consisting of alkyl having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms, alkoxyalkyl having from 2 to 22 carbon atoms, haloalkyl having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms, cycloalkylalkyl having from 6 to 22 carbon atoms and alkenyl having from 3 to 22 carbon atoms, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are members selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, and R.sub.1 and when taken together alkylene having from 3 to 4 carbon atoms, with the proviso that the sum of the carbon atoms in R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 is from 4 to 22; A is a bivalent member having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of alkylene, haloalkylene and hydroxyalkylene; n is an integer from 0 to 50; m is an integer from 1 to 50; and the sum of n and m is an integer from 1 to 50. The compounds have surface-active properties and are useful per se or as intermediates.