Polyurethane-based thickeners

1 : An aqueous thickener composition comprising a nonionic water-dispersible or water-soluble polyurethane containing constituent units derived from

(a) at least one polyfunctional isocyanate;

(b) at least one polyether polyol;

(c) at least one monofunctional alcohol; and

(d) optionally, at least one polyfunctional alcohol, wherein, the polyfunctional alcohol (d) contains no functional groups other than the OH groups, and component (c) comprises 2-(n-butyl)-1-octanol.

2 : An aqueous thickener composition comprising a nonionic water-dispersible or water-soluble polyurethane containing constituent units derived from

(a) at least one polyfunctional isocyanate;

(b) at least one polyether polyol; and

(c) at least one monofunctional alcohol, wherein component (c) comprises 2-(n-butyl)-1-octanol.

3 : The thickener as claimed in claim 1 wherein component (b) comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycols and polypropylene glycols.

4 : The thickener as claimed in claim 2 wherein component (b) comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycols and polypropylene glycols.

5 : A thickener composition comprising a nonionic water-dispersible or water-soluble polyurethane comprising constituent units derived from

(a) at least one polyfunctional isocyanate;

(b) at least one polyether polyol; and

(c) 2-(n-butyl)-1-octanol.

6 : A thickener as claimed in claim 5 , wherein, component (b) comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycols and polypropylene glycols.

7 : A thickener as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, component (a) comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and tetramethyl xylene diisocyanate (TMXDI).

8 : A thickener as claimed in claim 2 , wherein, component (a) comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and tetramethyl xylene diisocyanate (TMXDI).

9 : A thickener as claimed in claim 3 , wherein, component (a) comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and tetramethyl xylene diisocyanate (TMXDI).

10 : A thickener as claimed in claim 4 , wherein, component (a) comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and tetramethyl xylene diisocyanate (TMXDI).

11 : A thickener as claimed in claim 5 , wherein, component (a) comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and tetramethyl xylene diisocyanate (TMXDI).

12 : A thickener concentrate comprising:

(A) water,

(B) a nonionic water-dispersible or water-soluble polyurethane comprising constituent units derived from

(a) at least one polyfunctional isocyanate;

(b) at least one polyether polyol;

(c) at least one monofunctional alcohol;

(d) optionally, at least one polyfunctional alcohol, wherein, the polyfunctional alcohol (d) contains no functional groups other than the OH groups; and component (c) comprises 2-(n-butyl)-1-octanol; and

(C) optionally, at least one member selected from the group consisting of organic solvents and nonionic surfactants, which surfactants comprise addition products of at least one of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide onto C 8-18 fatty alcohols.

13 : A water-containing dispersion paint containing a thickening effective amount of the thickener of claim 1 .

14 : An aqueous dispersion containing a thickener concentrate of claim 12 .

15 : The aqueous dispersion of claim 14 , wherein, the aqueous dispersion comprises a cosmetic preparation.