Wettability and surfactivity of sodium phosphate surfactants in strong alkali solutions

Abstract

The wettability, surfactivity and the correlation between wettability and surfactivity of sodium diethylhexylphosphate, sodium diethylhexyl polyoxyethylene phosphate and their complex in NaOH solutions were studied. A complex alkali resistant phosphate surfactant with good permeability was prepared. The wettability of surfactants was investigated by measuring the immersion time, sinking time and capillary effects of nature cotton grey fabric in NaOH solutions. The surfactivity of the surfactants was characterized by measuring the surface tension. The effect of the complex on the surface appearance of cotton grey fabric was also investigated with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results show that all the surfactants exhibit good wettability for cotton grey fabric in 0.5–5.0 mol/L of NaOH solutions, the complex system exhibits better wettability in 5.0–7.0 mol/L of NaOH solutions, in comparison with either corresponding single surfactant component employed, and wettability is well correlative with the surfactivities of the surfactant. SEM images indicate that the cotton grey fabric is well wetted by the alkaline surfactant solution and the quality of fabric is improved.

Keywords

sodium diethylhexylphosphate / sodium diethylhexyl polyoxyethylene phosphate / wettability / surfactivity / alkali / surfactant