Surface elasticities of aqueous β-dodecyl-d-maltoside solutions: A capillary wave study

Particle laden fluid interfaces: dynamics and interfacial rheology

We review the dynamics of particle laden interfaces, both particle monolayers and particle+surfactant monolayers. We also discuss the use of the Brownian motion of microparticles trapped at fluid interfaces for measuring the shear rheology of surfactant and polymer monolayers. We describe the basic concepts of interfacial rheology and the different experimental methods for measuring both dilational and shear surface complex moduli over a broad range of frequencies, with emphasis in the micro-rheology methods. In the case of particles trapped at interfaces the calculation of the diffusion coefficient from the Brownian trajectories of the particles is calculated as a function of particle surface concentration. We describe in detail the calculation in the case of subdiffusive particle dynamics. A comprehensive review of dilational and shear rheology of particle monolayers and particle+surfactant monolayers is presented. Finally the advantages and current open problems of the use of the Brownian motion of microparticles for calculating the shear complex modulus of monolayers are described in detail.

Dilational surface rheology studies of n-dodecyl-β-D-maltoside, hexaoxyethylene dodecyl ether, and their 1:1 mixture

It is time to review latest activities on the dilational surface rheology of the two nonionic surfactants n-dodecyl-β-D-maltoside (β-C12G2) and hexaoxyethylene dodecyl ether (C12E6) and their 1:1 mixture as a lot of different data generated with different techniques have been published in the last years. As the data are scattered throughout different papers and were generated with different techniques, we carried out an extensive study with one technique, which we will use as reference for the discussion of different data sets. We found that the results are in most of the cases in line with already published data as regards the general trends. However, a quantitative comparison reveals differences, which may result in different interpretations of the data. In the review at hand, we summarize, compare and discuss our latest and previously published data.

Binary mixtures of (β-C12G2) with cationic and non-ionic surfactants: micelle and surface compositions

Surfactants used for practical applications are usually surfactant mixtures because they often exhibit a performance that is superior to the individual surfactants. In the present study binary mixtures of the sugar based surfactant n-dodecyl-β-D-maltoside (β-C12G2) with the cationic surfactant dodecyl trimethylammonium bromide (C12TAB) and the non-ionic hexaethylene-glycol dodecyl ether (C12E6), respectively, were investigated at different bulk mole fractions. Surface tension measurements were used to determine the critical micelle concentration and the surfactant composition at the surface. In addition, the regular solution theory was used to calculate interaction parameters as well as the mole fractions of the individual surfactants in the mixed air-water monolayer and in the mixed micelles, respectively. It was found that n-dodecyl-β-D-maltoside interacts weakly with the cationic surfactant (C12TAB) and that it dominates in both the mixed monolayer and the mixed micelles. On the other hand, β-C12G2 and C12E6 mix ideally in solution. For both surfactant mixtures the surfactant composition at the surface determined by surface tension measurements and by the regular solution theory, respectively, were compared and discussed in detail.

A disjoining pressure study of foam films stabilized by mixtures of nonionic and ionic surfactants

Studying the disjoining pressure Pi as a function of the film thickness h (Pi-h curves) of foam films stabilized by ionic and nonionic surfactants, one finds that the surface charge density q0 of films stabilized by ionic surfactants increases with increasing surfactant concentration, while the opposite holds true for nonionic surfactants. Thus, it should be possible to tune the surface charge density with mixtures of nonionic and ionic surfactants. To address this question, we studied foam films stabilized by aqueous solutions of surfactant mixtures. The mixtures consisted of the nonionic beta-dodecylmaltoside (beta-C12G2) and the cationic dodecyl trimethylammonium bromide (C12TAB) with mixing ratios of beta-C12G2/C12TAB = 1:0, 50:1, 1:1, 1:50, 0:1. The addition of small amounts of C12TAB to beta-C12G2 first neutralizes the negative surface charge of the beta-C12G2 films and finally leads to a charge reversal from negatively to positively charged surfaces. On the other hand, by adding small amounts of beta-C12G2 to C12TAB, one observes the formation of stable CBFs which was also observed for the pure C12TAB. However, in contrast to the pure C12TAB, the resulting Pi-h curves for the mixtures cannot be described with the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory; the slope of the curves is too steep, and it barely changes with changing electrolyte concentration. A possible explanation for this observation will be given and discussed.