Influence of ethoxylate distribution on interfacial properties of linear and branched ethoxylate surfactants

The influence of ethoxylate distribution on interfacial properties of linear and branched hydrophobe C12 and C13 alcohols is examined at the air-water, decane-water, and Teflon-water interfaces. In the polydisperse ethoxylates, the presence of unreacted alcohol and broad ethoxylate distribution causes interfacial properties to change significantly at the decane-water interface and moderately at the Teflon-water and air-water interfaces. The linear hydrophobe ethoxylate is more sensitive to the presence of unreacted alcohol and broad ethoxylate distribution than the branched hydrophobe ethoxylate.