Estolide esters obtainable by esterification of —hydroxycarboxylic acids having 12 to 24 carbon atoms, the hydroxycarboxylic acids comprising unsaturated hydroxycarboxylic acids having a) —monocarboxylic acids with 6 to 22 carbon atoms and —polyols with at least two hydroxy groups or b) —monoalcohols having 8 to 22 carbon atoms and —linear carboxylic acids having at least two carboxyl groups or c) —monocarboxylic acids having 6 to 22 carbon atoms and —monoalcohols having 8 to 22 carbon atoms.