Amphiphilic nanostructures in aqueous solutions of triethyleneglycol monododecyl ether

The aim of the present study is to relate the surfactant adsorption layer properties at air/solution interface to the drainage parameters of microscopic foam films in the case of aqueous solutions of the non-ionic amphiphile triethyleneglycol monododecyl ether (C12E3). The scope of the research covers adsorption dynamics, construction of equilibrium surface tension isotherm, studies on dilational rheology of the interfacial layers and foam film drainage kinetics. It is established that in the premicellar concentration domain (for surfactant concentrations higher than the range where the Henry’s law is operative but one–two orders of magnitude lower than the conventional CMC-values) there are considerable irregularities of the adsorption layer properties: two plateau regions and a kink are registered in the experimental surface tension isotherm, unusual changes of the surface rheological characteristics. The systematic investigations of the microscopic foam films reveal that the courses of basic kinetic parameters against the amphiphile concentration run in synchrony with the changes in the adsorption layer anomalies. This fact is related to the presence of premicellar surfactant aggregates. The results are juxtaposed to previously obtained characteristics of aqueous solutions of the non-ionic amphiphile tetraethyleneglycol monododecyl ether under similar experimental conditions (Colloids & Surfaces A, 392 (2011) 233–241).

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► In aqueous solutions of C12E3 premicelles cause onset of two plateaus and one kink of surface tension isotherm.
► In aqueous solutions of C12E3 premicelles cause onset of maxima in surface dilational elasticities.
► In aqueous solutions of C12E3 premicelles cause onset of unstable black patterns (dots) in foam films.