Formation of a micelle-like structure in aqueous solution of glycols.

Abstract

Physical constants, such as surface tension, solubilization of pigments, polaography, refractive index, and viscosity, were measured of aqueous solution of 14 kinds of glycols of different number of carbon atoms, from propanediol to dodecanediol.Glycols with hydroxyls on either terminal ends or in 1, 2-positions showed a break point in the foregoing physical constants and were considered to form a micelle-like structure.Glycols with one hydroxyl at a terminal end and the other in a median position also forms a micelle-like structure but those having both hydroxyls in median positions and none at the terminal position do not form such a structure.The concentration of glycols at which they form a micelle-like structure decreases with increasing number of carbon atoms and the concentration of dodecanediol becomes approximately equal to the critical micelle concentration of nonionic surfactant.