Wettability, adhesion, adsorption and interface tension in the polymer/surfactant aqueous solution system: II. Work of adhesion and adsorption of surfactant at polymer–solution and solution–air interfaces

Abstract

The values of the surface tension of aqueous solutions of Triton X-100, Triton X-114, Triton X-165, sodium dodecylsulfate, sodium hexadecylsulfonate, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, cetylpyridinium bromide, sodium N-lauryl sarcosinate, dodecyldimethyethylammonium bromide, tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide and benzyldimethyldodecylammonium bromide and those of contact angle measured in the polytetrafluoroethylene (polymethyl methacrylate, nylon 6)–solution–air system were applied for the studies of correlation between the adsorption of surfactants at the solution–air and polymer–solution interfaces, critical surface tension of polymer wetting and work of adhesion of aqueous solutions of these surfactants to the above mentioned polymer surfaces. On the basis of the surface tension of aqueous solutions of surfactants studied and polymer–solution interface tension the Gibbs surface excess concentration at the polymer–solution interface was calculated and compared to that at the solution–air one. Using the Gibbs surface excess concentration data the molar fraction of surfactants at the polymer–solution interface was determined and compared to that at the solution–air one. The values of the activity of surfactants at the polymer–solution interface obtained from the Sprow and Prausnitz equation were also compared to those at the solution–air one and next used for calculations of the work of adhesion of solution to the polymer surface. The obtained values were compared to those determined from the Young–Dupree equation.