Adsorption of Triton X-100 and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide mixture with ethanol at nylon-6-solution interface with regard to nylon-6 wettability: II. Work of adhesion and activity of surfactants at interfaces

Abstract

On the basis of the values of the surface tension of the aqueous solutions of the Triton X-100 and CTAB mixture with ethanol, the surface tension of nylon-6 and the nylon-6-solution interfacial tension, the activity of the surfactant mixture and ethanol at the nylon-6-solution interface was calculated and compared to that at the solution-air one. For these calculations, the Sprow and Prausnitz equation was applied. The obtained values of the activity were used for the calculations of the work of adhesion of the solution to the polymer surface. The values of the work of adhesion obtained in this way were compared to those determined from the Young-Dupre equation by using the contact angle values of the aqueous solutions of the TX-100 and CTAB mixture with ethanol measured on the nylon-6 surface. The changes of the work of adhesion determined from the Young-Dupre equation were also considered as a function of the surface tension of the solution, its polar component and the interfacial interaction parameter. © 2013 The Author(s).