GBT 5327-1985 Terminology of Surfactant

Surface active agents (also known as surfactants) are chemicals that reduce the surface tension between the different components of a solution or between the surface of one substance and the surface of another. These substances are used in a wide range of applications, from water treatment to detergents and even cosmetics and personal care products.

Surface active agents have several classifications, depending on their structure and substance type. Broadly speaking, surfactants can be divided into two categories: anionic surfactants and cationic surfactants. The former are characterized by a negatively charged head group, while the latter have a positively charged head group.

Anionic surfactants are comprised of small molecules or polymers with a hydrophobic tail and an amphiphilic head group. The hydrophobic tail can be composed of a single chain of carbon atoms or an ether chain, while the head group may contain a carboxylic acid, sulfate, or phosphate group. The anionic surfactants are typically used in shampoos, laundry detergents, and cleaning products.

Cationic surfactants can be classified based on the nature of the head group and the length of the carbon chain. Most cationic surfactants have a positively charged head group, often formed by a quaternary amine, a tertiary amine, or a pyridine group. The hydrophobic tail may consist of an aliphatic chain, an aromatic cycle, or an ether linkage. These types of surfactants are widely used in industrial cleaners, disinfectants, fabric softeners, and dyes.

Non-ionic surfactants are composed of an amphiphilic head group and a hydrophobic tail. The head group is generally an alcohol, amide, ether, or carboxylic acid, while the hydrophobic tail is composed of an aliphatic hydrocarbon chain or an ethylene oxide chain. These surface active agents are surfactants which do not charge either positively or negatively in solution, and can be used for tasks such as dispersing or cleaning substances.

Both anionic and cationic surfactants display special characteristics based on the surface area that they can cover. This is referred to as the surface tension or the surface free energy. Anionic and cationic surfactants possess different chemical structures and thus have varying surface tensions. Anionic and cationic surfactants have different hydrophobic tails, which can cause the surface tension of the surfactant to vary depending on the type of surfactant used.

Overall, surfactants are effective in reducing the surface tensions between surfaces, thus allowing them to mix and interact more efficiently. This has important implications in a variety of industries, from cleaning and personal care products to pharmaceuticals and industrial applications. As such, surface active agents remain a popular and indispensable tool in a range of industries.

介绍

Surface-active substances, also known as surfactants, are chemical substances that are used to reduce surface tension between two liquids, between a liquid and a solid, or between a liquid and a gas. Surface-active substances are commonly used in many industrial and consumer applications, including detergents, cosmetics, paint, paper, food processing and pharmaceuticals.

The term “surfactant” comes from the words “surf” and “active”, which refer to the compounds’ ability to interact with a surface or liquid boundary. Surfactants work by reducing surface tension, which occurs when two immiscible substances—such as oil and water—meet at a boundary. By reducing the surface tension, surfactants can help spread one substance across a surface or create a stable emulsion.

Surface-active substances are either anionic, cationic or non-ionic. Anionic surfactants carry a negative charge and are often used in detergents and cleaners, while cationic surfactants carry a positive charge and are used in emulsifiers and corrosion inhibitors. Non-ionic surfactants do not carry a charge, so they are more stable and don’t react with other chemicals easily.

Surface-active substances are classified according to their solubility in water and oil. They can be hydrophilic, meaning they easily dissolve in water, or hydrophobic, meaning they are insoluble in water. They can also be lipophilic, meaning they are soluble in oil, or lipophobic, meaning they are insoluble in oil.

Surface-active substances are becoming increasingly important for numerous industrial and consumer applications. Many products, including detergents, cleaners, cosmetics and paint, are formulated using surfactants. In addition, surfactants are used to reduce the surface tension of water for industrial sterilization processes and to dissolve oils, pigments and other components in various products.

Surface-active substances are essential in many industrial and consumer applications, and their use is expected to increase. To ensure safety and effectiveness, China’s State Council has issued GB/T 5327-1985, a set of standard guidelines for naming and classifying surfactants.