Sulphosuccinamide acids and their salts corresponding to the following general formula ##STR1## wherein X denotes the residue of a hydrophobic, optionally branched vinyloligomer having an average molecular weight M.sub.n of from 200-5,000, preferably from 300-3,000,of the groups denoted byR.sup.1 R.sup.2, one is hydrogen and the other is --SO.sub.3 M, andn represents a number with a value of from 1.4-3.0, preferably form 1.6-2.3. andM denotes hydrogen, an alkali metal, or an ammonium, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl-ammonium or C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 -hydroxy alkyl-ammonium group.