Surface Activity and Efficiency of Cat-Anionic Surfactant Mixtures

The surface activity of surfactant mixtures is critically analyzed. Cat-anionic systems, in which two ionic species are mixed in non-stoichiometric ratios, are considered. With respect to the solution behavior, where a substantial decrease of cmc is met compared to the pure components, a moderate effect on surface tension, gamma, occurs. Compared to the pure species, the decrease of surface tension for such mixtures is not significant, and no clear dependence on the mole fraction anionic/cationic is met. The surface tension is grossly constant in the whole concentration range. Conversely, the interaction parameter for surfaces, beta(surf) (calculated by the regular solution theory), is more negative than that for micelle formation, beta(mic). This fact suggests that the desolvation of polar heads of the two species at interfaces is largely different. Very presumably, the underlying rationale finds origin in the sizes and solvation of both polar head groups.

Automated summary

The surface activity of surfactant mixtures was analyzed, finding that while the decrease in cmc was substantial, the change in surface tension was moderate. The surface tension remained roughly constant throughout the concentration range, suggesting differences in desolvation of polar heads at interfaces between the two species. Differences in the sizes and solvation of the polar head groups may explain these findings.