Abstract
In general, anionic and cationic surfactants are incompatible because their mixtures form insoluble complexes. There are, however, some complexes that are soluble and behave like regular surfactants, specifically like nonionic surfactants, thus named pseudo-nonionic surfactant complexes. Pseudo-nonionic complexes are more effective and efficient than their ionic surfactant components as shown by their equilibrium and dynamic surface tensions and interfacial tensions. They pack at the interface more than their ionic components. Since, pseudo-nonionic complexes show their own characteristics, they can be treated as separate classes of surfactants distinct from ionic and nonionic surfactants. Novel cationic surfactant was synthesized, having the polyhydroxyl group at the head group. We found that aqueous mixtures of our cationic surfactant and usual anionic surfactant(SDS) could form homogeneous solutions even at high concentration. The properties of mixed surfactant solutions were measured. Foam stability, CMC(critical micelle concentration), water hardness tolerance and thickening effect were tested. The foam stability of mixed surfactants was very good and various synergy effects were observed.