Process for dispersing pigments and fillers using aminoalkanols and salt, alkoxylation and quaternization derivatives thereof

In a process for treating inorganic or organic pigments and fillers with a dispersing agent in order to improve their dispersibility in organic and aqueous media, the improvement comprising utilizing as the dispersing agent a member selected from the group consisting of

• (a) at least one aminoalkanol of the formulae ##STR6## wherein R.sub.1 is alkyl having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, R.sub.2 is a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl, provided that there is only one methyl group per (CH).sub.x group, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are the same or different and are a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and hydroxyalkyl having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, x is an integer of from 2 to 6 inclusive, and y is an integer of from 0 to 3 inclusive, with the proviso that, if y is 0, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are not both hydrogen,
• (b) salts of said aminoalkanol,
• (c) alkoxylation products of said aminoalkanol with ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide, and
• (d) quaternization products of said aminoalkanol.