Poly polyhydroxy fatty acid amides

Novel poly polyhydroxy fatty acid amide compounds having the formula:

• ##STR8## wherein:
• X is a bridging group from the group consisting of branched or linear alkyl, ether alkyl or alkyl amine moieties having from 2 to 200 atoms;
• Z, Z', and Z" are the same or different alcohol-containing moieties having two or more hydroxyl groups, or all but one of Z, Z', or Z" is hydrogen;
• R, R', and R" are the same or different hydrocarbyl moieties having from about 1 to about 21 carbon atoms and can be saturated, branched or unsaturated and mixtures thereof;
• and k is from 1 to about 100.