A water-soluble or water-dispersible, non-ionic surface active compound is provided having the formula <IMAGE> (1) wherein each Y independently is a hydrophilic polyhydroxyalkyl group; each X independently is <IMAGE> each R independently is a hydrophobic substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group or a hydrophobic substituted or unsubstituted aryl group; each n independently is an integer from 2 to 6; and, each m is an integer from 2 to 4. Such surfactants can be used in hydrophilic colloid compositions in the manufacture of photographic materials.
Non-ionic surface active compounds