Aqueous compositions containing lipophilically-modified copolymer thickeners

This invention relates to thickeners for aqueous systems. More particularly, the invention relates to hydrophobically-modified thickeners and to their use in thickening aqueous systems. Aqueous compositions having enhanced thickening properties containing lipophilically-modified copolymer thickeners and one or more hydrophilic surfactants are disclosed. In particular, aqueous compositions containing (i) lipophilically-modified copolymers containing at least 5% of selected lipophilically-modified components and (ii) surfactants having an HLB value of greater than 15 are useful for the thickening of a range of personal, domestic and industrial products.