HLB, CMC, and phase behavior as related to hydrophobe branching

Increased hydrophobe branching is employed to increase water solubility of surfactants. This is often considered synonymous with increasing surfactant HLB. When HLB is viewed in the context of the phase behavior of oil/water/surfactant systems, it is seen that increased branching favors partitioning...

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Published inJournal of colloid and interface science Vol. 89; no. 1; pp. 209 - 216
Main Authors Graciaa, Alain, Barakat, Y, El-Emary, M, Fortney, L, Schechter, R.S, Yiv, S, Wade, W.H
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Elsevier Inc 01.09.1982
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Summary:Increased hydrophobe branching is employed to increase water solubility of surfactants. This is often considered synonymous with increasing surfactant HLB. When HLB is viewed in the context of the phase behavior of oil/water/surfactant systems, it is seen that increased branching favors partitioning into the oil phase, thus lowering surfactant HLB despite an experimentally observed increase in CMC. An alternative to HLB is proposed which defines a surfactant's properties based on the optimal alkane needed for the appropriate surfactant phase behavior.
ISSN:0021-9797
1095-7103
DOI:10.1016/0021-9797(82)90134-5