Effect of Polymer Polarity on the Adsorption of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate at Latex/Water Interfaces

Abstract

The effect of polymer polarity on surfactant adsorption from aqueous solution is considered. The analysis assumes that the surfactant adsorption at a polymer/water interface follows a Langmuir type adsorption isotherm and the free energy of adsorption is controlled by the interfacial tension of the interface. Limiting adsorption given by the area per molecule of surfactant at the CMC of the surfactant is related to the polymer/water interfacial tension and the polarity of the polymer surface, calculated from the polar and dispersion contributions to the polymer surface energy. Available data on the area per molecule of sodium lauryl sulfate on various polymer surfaces and some preliminary data on the effect of oil phase polarity on the saturation adsorption of sodium lauryl sulfate at oil/water interfaces have been used to test the above adsorption model.