THE IMPORTANCE OF SUB-ANGSTROM DISTANCES IN MIXED SURFACTANT SYSTEMS FOR TECHNOLOGICAL PROCESSES

The spacing between atoms and molecules at interfaces and within mater ials is extremely important in determining the properties of such inte rfaces and materials. In surfactant monolayers at the air-water interf ace, it has been shown that small changes in molecular packing lead to large changes in the interfacial properties. Changes in intermolecula r distance as small as 0.04 Angstrom have been attributed to the effec t of mixing surfactants of different chain lengths. This paper discuss es the effect of these sub-angstrom distance changes on foaming, micel lar stability, melting points, bubble size, surface viscosity, lubrica tion, environmental remediation, enhanced oil recovery, and microemuls ion stability that result from chain length compatibility. (C) 1997 El sevier Science B.V.