Surfactant, also called Surface Active Agent, a substance such as a detergent that, when added to a liquid, reduces its surface tension, thereby increasing its spreading and wetting properties. In the dyeing of textiles, surfactants help the dye penetrate the fabric evenly. They are used to disperse aqueous suspensions of insoluble dyes and perfumes. Surface active agents play an important role as cleaning, wetting, dispersing, emulsifying, foaming and anti-foaming agents in many practical applications and products, including paints, emulsions adhesives, inks, biocides (sanitizers).
There are 4 types of surfactants and these classifications are based upon the composition of the polarity of the head group: nonionic, anionic, cationic, amphoteric.
1.) A non-ionic surfactant has no charge groups in its head. The head of an ionic surfactant carries a net charge.
2.) If the charge is negative, the surfactant is more specifically called anionic; Anionic surfactants contain anionic functional groups at their head, such as sulfonate, phosphate, sulfate, and carboxylates. Alkyl sulfates include ammonium lauryl sulfate, sodium lauryl and sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES).
3.) If the charge is positive, it is called cationic. Most of the cationic surfactants find use as antimicrobials, antifungals, etc. It includes (Benzalkonium chloride (BAC), Cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), Benzethonium chloride (BZT).
4.) If a surfactant contains a head with two oppositely charged groups, it is termed zwitterionic. Zwitterionic surfactants are often sensitive to pH and will behave as anionic or cationic-based on pH. Fast dry latex traffic paints are based on this concept, with a drop in pH triggering the latex in the paint to coagulate.
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