Quaternized polyethylenimines with a high quaternization degree

An ethoxylated polyethyleneimine having the general structure of formula (I):

• wherein n has a value which lies in the range of from 1 to 40, R is selected from hydrogen, a C1-C4 alkyl and mixtures thereof, E represents a C1-C12 alkyl unit, X− represents a suitable water soluble counterion and the degree of quaternization of the nitrogen atoms present in the polyethyleneimine backbone lies in the range of from 50% to 100%.