Synergistic behavior of a triblock copolymer with anionic and cationic surfactants in aqueous solution

The synergistic behavior of poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) triblock copolymer in aqueous solution with the synthesized anionic surfactants [decyl sulfontate (A10), myristyl sulfonate (A14) and cetyl sulfonate (A16)] and cationic surfactants [decyl pyridinium bromide (C10), myristyl peridinium bromide (C14) and cetyl pyridinium bromide (C16)] was investigated using a surface tension technique at 25 degrees C. The results show that the CMC values of binary mixtures for anionic and cationic surfactants with the triblock copolymer are lower than that of single surfactants. The synergistic interaction between surfactant molecules and copolymer molecules in binary mixed solution enhance the adsorption of surfactant molecules at the interface. The micellar mole fractions (X-m) and the interaction parameter (beta) of these surfactants in mixed micelles were determined.