A Comparative Study of Features of Sorption of N-Buthylxanthate and Dibuthyldixanthogen Onto Metallic Supports and Rutile Using in situ Atomic Force Spectroscopy

An interaction of potassium buthylxanthate and of dibuthyldixanthogen with metallic Ti, stainless steel and alpha-TiO2 surfaces was studied. Contact angle measurements by sessile drop technique showed that the treatment of initial substrate surfaces with potassium buthylxanthate aqueous solution or with dibuthyldixanthogen emulsion render them more hydrophobic. Using in situ atomic force spectroscopy, the sorption of surface active substances was shown to give rise to an increase in both adhesive force magnitude and the range within it acts at the approach of cantilever tip to the surface of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic samples. The maximum of both adhesive force and their range, up to 150 nm, took place in case of retract of cantilever tip from sample surface. Force curves are steeper, which related with the formation of nanobubbles on the surfaces of samples under study arising the long-range hydrophobic force of capillary origin. Dibuthyldixanthogen exhibited highly-active reagent properties inducing the formation of nanoscale gas structures on both hydrophobic and, in less extent, hydrophilic surfaces.