Paul L. Valint

Relationship between fundamental interfacial properties and foaming in linear and branched sulfate, ethoxysulfate, and ethoxylate surfactants

Abstract The effect of hydrocarbon chain branching on the foaming performance of a variety of sulfate, ethoxysulfate, and ethoxylate surfactants was determined by the Ross—Miles test. Data from static and dynamic surface tension experiments were used to obtain a structure—property—performance correlation. Initial foam heights correlated with π (CMC), the effectiveness of surface tension reduction, while foam instability correlated with R 1 2 , the rate of surface tension reduction at the air—water interface. Hydrocarbon chain branching resulted in increased π (CMC) and R 1 2 . Consequently, surfactants wherein the hydrocarbon chain is branched exhibited high initial foam heights and low foam stability.