Impact of Adsorption Layer Properties on Drainage Behavior of Microscopic Foam Films: The Case of Cationic/Nonionic Surfactant Mixtures

Aqueous mixtures of cationic hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) and nonionic pentaethyleneglycol monododecyl ether (C12E5) are investigated. Adsorption layer properties are systematically studied within a wide concentration range for a 1:1 molar ratio of the surfactants. Surface tension and dilatational rheology measurements are conducted by profile analysis tensiometry. The interfacial data are juxtaposed to drainage kinetics and stability results for microscopic foam films, investigated by microinterferometric thin liquid film instrumentation. The obtained results give experimental evidence of synergistic interactions in the studied solutions, as compared to the corresponding single surfactant systems. Specific runs of dynamic and equilibrium surface tension curves are registered against the total surfactant quantity; the surface dilatational elasticities for the mixtures are systematically higher. A clear correlation is established between adsorption layer performance and foam film characteristics. The maxima of the film lifetimes are well outlined, and the respective values are shifted towards lower overall concentrations. The reported results substantiate the key role of the adsorption layers, and the surface dilatational properties in particular, for foam film drainage kinetics and stability. The well-expressed synergy observed in adsorption layer and foam film properties suggests the substantial benefits of using mixed surfactant systems in the design and fine-tuning of foam systems for innovative applications.