The invention provides for thickeners for inks and
coating materials, comprising polyurethanes, water,
viscosity regulators, and, if desired, organic solvents, wherein said
viscosity regulators comprise compounds of the general formula (I)R1—O—(SO)a—(EO)b—(PO)c—(BO)d-(DTO)e—R2in whichR1 and R2 independently of one another are one of the radicals from the group consisting of
hydrogen, an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic
hydrocarbon radical which optionally is substituted and / or contains
multiple bonds and / or contains heteroatoms, an aromatic radical which optionally is substituted and / or contains heteroatoms, an acyl radical, a carboxyacyl radical, and a carboxyalkyl radical,a=1 to 5,b=3 to 30,c=0 to 5,d=0 to 5, ande=0 to 5where (a+c+d+e)<=b.