Behavior of surfactant mixtures in model oily‐soil detergency studies

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Abstract
A study of roll‐up in a model oily‐soil detergent system has shown that the addition of a second surfactant in a minor amount to an effective detergent can either enhance or inhibit roll‐up. Which effect takes place depends on the relative surface activity of the components, the levels used, and, for ionic surfactants, the electrolyte content. Addition of anionic surfactants can reduce the performance of an effective nonionic under low ionic strength/low hardness conditions. However, in high ionic strength/high hardness solutions, where the anionic is effective, the situation is reversed and addition of the nonionic component can, in some cases, reduce the rate of roll‐up. Roll‐up behavior appears to be controlled by the oil/ water interfacial tension. When the interfacial tension increases above a critical value, roll‐up is inhibited. A theory that has been used to predict surface tensions of mixtures is also useful in estimating oil/water interfacial tensions. The theory provides an understanding of why the interfacial tension can rise when mixed micelles are formed.

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