Miscibility of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide and dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride in surface-adsorbed film and micelle

Abstract

Surface tension of aqueous solutions of mixtures of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) and dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC) has been measured and analyzed by using thermodynamic relations. The adsorbed film has been found to contain more DTAB molecules than the solution. The shape formed by the curves of the total molality at constant surface tension against the solution and surface compositions indicates the ideal mixing of the DTAB and DTAC molecules in the adsorbed film. Micellar composition has been estimated at the critical micelle concentration (CMC). The micelles have been found to be richer in DTAB than the solution, but poorer in DTAB than the adsorbed film at the CMC. The DTAB and DTAC molecules have been shown to mix ideally in the micelles. From the comparison with the results on the system of decylammonium bromide and decylammonium chloride, it has been concluded that, on the mixing of surfactants differing only in counter ions, the adsorbed film is influenced more significantly by the ionic head group of the surfactant than the micelle.