Interactions of surfactants with a derivatized low molecular weight styrene maleic anhydride co-polymer - differences between acetylenic diol-based wetting agents and other ethoxylates

The interaction between surfactants and polymers has been an intense area of study for many years. It has recently been reported that wetting agents derived from acetylenic alcohols interact with dispersing agents based on low molecular weight styrene-maleic anhydride (SMA) co-polymers, thereby impacting the ability of the wetting agent to decrease dynamic surface tension (DST). In this work, we further examine the effects of surfactant-polymer interactions on dynamic surface tension, with an emphasis on direct comparisons of acetylenic alcohol ethoxylates with other surfactants. Interactions with an SMA pigment-dispersing agent appear to be weaker with acetylenic alcohols than with other ethoxylates, as measured by dynamic surface tension. These results indicate that acetylenic alcohols are more likely to stay in true solution when formulated into complex systems, thus allowing them to be more effective at the air-liquid interface. This behavior allows the acetylenic alcohols to effectively lower dynamic surface tension and control foam. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.