Hyperbranched polyesters modified with branched fatty acids and their use as paraffin inhibitors

Hydrophobically modified, hyperbranched polyesters, obtained by the following process:

• (a) reacting a mixture comprising at least a polyol (A) comprising at least 3 hydroxy groups and a molecule (B) comprising one carboxylic acid group and at least two hydroxy groups, by heating the mixture to a temperature of at least 100° C., wherein the molar ratio (B):
• (A) is from 1000:1 to 10:1, thereby obtaining a hyperbranched polyester comprising terminal hydroxy groups;
• and
• (b) reacting the mixture obtained in course of step (a) with a mixture of monocarboxylic acids (D) by heating to a temperature of at least 100° C., thereby esterifying at least a part of the terminal OH-groups of the polyester obtained in course of step (a), wherein the monocarboxylic acids (D) comprise
• (D1) at least one linear, saturated aliphatic carboxylic acid, wherein at least one of the carboxylic acids (D1) comprises at least 20 carbon atoms, and
• (D2) at least one branched, saturated aliphatic carboxylic acid (D2) comprising at least 4 carbon atoms,
• wherein the molar ratio (D1):
• (D2) is from 1:2 to 15:1.