A survey is given of the broad range of technical applications of surf
actants. By means of some examples it is pointed out how basic propert
ies of surfactants (spreading, emulsifying, dispersing, foaming, cloud
ing) can advantageously be used to develop application-possibilities f
or the use in the field of ''non-detergents''. The application of ethe
r carboxylic acids and end group blocked ethoxylates are discussed as
examples for the solution of problems in the field of metal working an
d textile processing.