An ester of a higher fatty acid, i.e. a fatty acid containing more the seven carbon atoms, is heated with a diamine containing a tertiary amino group and a primary or a secondary amino group, not more than 0,5 mol. of diamine being present for each equivalent of fatty acid contained in the ester. The products, either as such or after treatment with alkylating or aralkylating agent to produce quaternary salts yield dispersions with liquids such as dilute acid or water; such dispersions can be prepared in two steps by mixing the products with concentrated acid and introducing the mixture into the dispersion liquid. The dispersions so obtained, which may be acid, neutral or alkaline according to the amount of acid taken, may be used as assistants in dispersing the parent esters of other materials. In the examples, (1) boiled linseed oil is heated with asym. diethylethylenediamine, and the product is poured into dilute sulphuric acid; an emulsion of boiled linseed oil is obtained; (2) olive oil is heated with asym. diethylethylenediamine, and the product is treated with dilute oxalic acid; (3) bees' wax or montan wax is heated with asym. diethylethylenediamine, and the product is boiled with dilute sulphuric acid; (4) castor oil is heated with g -diethylamino-b -oxypropylamine; the product yields an emulsion with dilute acids; (5) castor oil is heated with asym. diethylethylenediamine, and the product is treated with dimethyl sulphate; the oil so obtained yields a colloidal solution with water; (6) as in example 5, but with different proportions and reaction conditions; (7) lard is heated with asym. diethylethylenediamine, and the product is treated with benzoic acid; a mixture of this product with fresh lard yields with water an emulsion which, according to the proportions, has a consistency ranging from that of an ointment to that of milk; (8) as in example 5, but with different proportions and reaction conditions; (9) an aqueous emulsion of a product prepared as in example 5 is stirred with olein to yield an emulsion; (10) neat's-foot oil is heated with o -amino-N-ethylpiperidine, and the product is poured into dilute sulphuric acid; (11) castor oil is heated with o -aminoethyl-cyclohexylethylamine, and the product is treated with dilute sulphuric acid; (12) linseed oil is heated with diethyl-benzylethylenediamine, and the product is treated with dilute acetic or other acid; (13) neat's-foot oil is heated with m-aminodimethylaniline, and the product is treated with dilute hydrochloric acid. Specification 219,304, [Class 2 (iii), Dyes &c.], is referred to.ALSO:An ester of a higher fatty acid, i.e. a fatty acid containing more than seven carbon atoms, is heated with a diamine containing a tertiary amino group and a primary or a secondary amino group, not more than 0,5 mol. of diamine being present for each equivalent of fatty acid contained in the ester. The products, either as such or after treatment with alkylating or aralkylating agents to produce quarternary ammonium salts, yield dispersions with liquids such as dilute acid or water; such dispersions can be prepared in two steps by mixing the products with concentrated acid and introducing the mixture into the dispersion liquid. The dispersions so obtained, which may be acid, neutral or alkaline, according to the amount of acid taken, may be used as assistants in dispersing the parent esters or other materials. In the examples: (1) boiled linseed oil is heated with asym. diethylethylenediamine, and the product is poured into dilute sulphuric acid; an emulsion of boiled linseed oil is obtained; (2) olive oil is heated with asym. diethylethylenediamine, and the product is treated with dilute oxalic acid; (3) bees' wax or montan wax is heated with asym. diethylethylenediamine, and the product is boiled with dilute sulphuric acid; (4) castor oil is heated with g -diethylamino-b -oxypropylamine; the product yields an emulsion with dilute acids; (5) castor oil is heated with asym. diethylethylenediamine, and the product is treated with dimethyl sulphate; the oil so obtained yields a colloidal solution with water; (6) as in example 5, but with different proportions and reaction conditions; (7) lard is heated with asym. diethylethylenediamine, and the product is treated with benzoic acid; a mixture of this product with fresh lard yields with water an emulsion which, according to the proportions, has a consistency ranging from that of an ointment to that of milk; (8) as in example 5, but with different proportions and reaction conditions; an aqueous emulsion of the product can be used for softening silk loaded with tin; (9) an aqueous emulsion of a product prepared as in example 5 is stirred with olein to yield an emulsion which may be used as a spinning oil, particularly for oiling wool; (10) neat's-foot oil is heated with o -amino-N-ethylpiperidine, and the product is poured into dilute sulphuric acid; (11) castor oil is heated with o - aminoethyl - cyclohexylethylamine, and the product is treated with dilute sulphuric acid; (12) linseed oil is heated with diethyl-benzyl-ethylenediamine, and the product is treated with dilute acetic or other acid; (13) neat's-foot oil is heated with m-aminodimethylaniline, and the product is treated with dilute hydrochloric acid. Specification 219,304, [Class 2 (iii), Dyes &c.], is referred to. o -Aminoethyl-cyclohexylethylamine is prepared by reducing with sodium and alcohol the cyclohexylethylaminoacetonitrile obtained from cyclohexylethylamine, formaldehyde, and hydrocyanic acid.