AMPHIPHILIC STAR-LIKE POLYETHER

The present invention relates to amphiphilic star-like polyether. The core molecule is an aliphatic hyperbranched polyether polyol, which is further alkoxylated, first with ethylene oxide or combinations of ethylene oxide and C3-C20 alkylene oxide, preferably propylene oxide, and/or glycidol, and then with a C3-C20 alkylene oxide, preferably propylene oxide, or combination of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, then optionally anionically modified. The resulting amphiphilic star-like polyether thus has an inner core based on an aliphatic hyperbranched polyether polyol, an inner shell predominantly containing polyethylene oxide units, the inner shell comprising at least 3 ethylene oxide units and an outer shell predominantly containing polypropylene oxide units, the outer shell comprising at least 3 propylene oxide units. They optionally contain anionic groups instead of hydroxyl groups on the periphery of the macromolecule. The invention further relates to their use as additive in laundry formulations and to their manufacturing process.