Surface Properties of an Alcohol Alkoxylate in the Presence of a Cationic Surfactant

Alcohol alkoxylate was prepared via propoxylation of an industrial alcohol ethoxylate. The chemical structure of the prepared compound was confirmed using FT-IR and the physical properties were evaluated by the usual methods according to ASTM. The surface properties of the aqueous solution of alcohol alkoxylate were determined with or without addition of a cationic surfactant in comparison to the corresponding alcohol ethoxylate. The measured parameters were surface tension, CMC, maximum surface excess, minimum surface area and the interaction parameter (beta). These data indicate that surface properties changed due to the attractive complex formation in the mixed system.