Long Hydrophilic Chains Research Articles

Surface and aggregation behavior of butynediol tetraethoxylate-based trisiloxanes

Butynediol ethoxylate-based siloxane surfactants have attracted considerable attention owing to their low foam content and strong wetting power. In this study, butynediol tetraethoxylate-based trisiloxane (TBEO-2) with a longer hydrophilic chain than that of butynediol diethoxytrisiloxane surfactant (TBEO-1) was designed and prepared by the hydrosilylation reaction, and the molecular structure of the product was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR and 13C NMR and 29Si NMR) and its surface and aggregation behaviors were investigated using a range of techniques. The results showed that TBEO-2 exhibits a high surface activity, strong aggregation capacity, low foam content, strong wettability, and good water solubility. Therefore, butynediol tetraethoxylate-based trisiloxane can be considered an ideal low-foam wetting agent for use in various applications.