Dynamic surface tension reduction surfactants

In high-speed spray cleaning, a critical factor is the dynamic surface tension reduction of the surfactant solution (Chapter 5, Section IV), rather than its... 

The efficiency of dynamic surface tension reductions within homoiogous series of surfactants in aqueous geiatin soiution... 

All three class types of surfactant studied exhibit a common behaviour in their dynamic surface tension properties in aqueous gelatin solution all show a maximum efficiency in DST reduction at a surface age of 0.1 s as their homologous series are ascended. 

There would appear then to be only limited evidence that oils which exhibit antifoam effects, when present as emulsified bulk phase, can also produce antifoam effects when present only as solubilizates in aqueous micellar solutions of surfactants. In many instances, alternative explanations for supposed observations of the latter are possible, which do invoke the presence of the oils as bulk phase. However some of the observations described here are difficult to dismiss. Of particular interest in this context are the findings of Koczo et al. [15], Lobo et al. [21], and Binks et al. [16] concerning the effect of solubilized alkanes on the foam stability of aqueous micellar solutions of various surfactants. Attempts to explain such effects by recourse to dynamic surface tension behavior after the manner of Ross and Haak [11] would appear to be unconvincing (see reference [22]). It is, however, possible that it may concern the effect of the solubilized oil on the relevant disjoining pressure isotherm. Wasan and coworkers [15,21] have suggested that the phenomenon is a consequence of the effect of solubilization of alkanes on intermicellar interactions. Lobo et al. [21] find that the instability of the foams formed from certain ethoxyl-ated alcohols in the presence of solubilized alkanes depends on the magnitude of the micellar second virial coefficient describing those interactions. Reduction of the... 

There is also a difference in dynamic surface properties between methyl ester ethoxylates and alcohol ethoxylates. As shown in Fig. 12 for pure 7-mol homologs, the methyl ester ethoxylate maintains a lower surface tension than its alcohol ethoxylate counterpart as measurements become more dynamic (bubble rate of bubble tensiometer is increased). This suggests that methyl ester ethoxylate is more effective in lowering surface tension (can achieve the same surface tension reduction with a lower surfactant concentration at the interface) and/or it diffuses through aqueous solution at a faster rate. 

Freshly prepared macroemulsions change their properties with time. The time scale can vary from seconds (then it might not even be appropriate to talk about an emulsion) to many years. To understand the evolution of emulsions we have to take different effects into account. First, any reduction of the surface tension reduces the driving force of coalescence and stabilizes emulsions. Second, repulsive interfacial film and interdroplet forces can prevent droplet coalescence and delay demulsification. Here, all those forces discussed in Section 6.5.3 are relevant. Third, dynamic effects such as the diffusion of surfactants into and out of the interface can have a drastic effect. 

The combined evidence of all three class types of surfactant suggest a strong degree of common behaviour in their dynamics in aqueous gelatin solution they all exhibit a maximum efficiency in DST reduction as their homologous series are ascended. Efficiency can be defined in several ways. Here, efficiency is represented in two different ways, both of which are designed to be independent of absolute values of surface tension lowering. The results for the three classes can then be combined and compared. 

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