CHAIN-LENGTH COMPATIBILITY EFFECTS IN MIXED SURFACTANT SYSTEMS FOR TECHNOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS

Chain length compatibility is an important factor in systems involving interfacial films. As surface active molecules as well as other hydro carbon molecules are aligned at interfaces, the properties of the inte rface are impacted to a large extent upon the matching or mismatching of the alkyl chain lengths. The effects of chain length compatibility are particularly important to interfacial properties and technologies such as: surface tension, surface viscosity, micellar stability, foama bility, lubrication, contact angle, bubble size, environmental remedia tion, corrosion, enhanced oil recovery, microemulsion water solubiliza tion and microemulsion stability. In this article the authors discuss the importance of chain length compatibility on these interfacial prop erties and related technologies from a practical and fundamental viewp oint. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.