Impact of adsorption layers on thin liquid films

The present review is focused on most recent studies, in which the interconnections of interfacial layer and foam film properties are innate for the performance of the respective systems and have been clarified to highest possible degree. These investigations cover fundamental issues as the initial onset of premicelles in single-surfactant solutions, explore intricate topics as the interplay of competitive and cooperative adsorption in surfactant and protein–surfactant mixtures and give hints for fine-tuning the design of various formulations to be applied in industrial applications.

Figure optionsDownload high-quality image (414 K)Download as PowerPoint slideFoam film thickness vs. surfactant concentration and snapshots from the drainage kinetics of aqueous solution of β-casein/C12DMPO mixtures.Research highlightsImpact of adsorption layers on thin liquid filmsElena MilevaFoam films from aqueous solutions, containing single low molecular mass surfactants. The potential of combining microscopic thin liquid film instrumentation and advanced tensiometry as investigation tools in the study of premicellar nanostructures in aqueous surfactant solutions is enlightened.
► Foam films from aqueous solutions of mixtures from low molecular mass surfactants. The formation and stability of the adsorption layers and the respective thin liquid films are mainly related to details of the hydrophilic-hydrophobic structure of the components and to their competitive adsorption. The interaction between the mixture ingredients acts usually as an additional tuning parameter.
► Foam films from aqueous solutions of polymer/surfactant and protein/surfactant mixtures. The role of the interactions between the mixture ingredients (both in the interfacial layer and in the solution bulk) is very important. The interaction mechanism depends on the nature of the protein (globular or random-coiled) and on the type of the surfactant (nonionic or ionic). The concentration of the surfactant is a significant tuning parameter both for the adsorption properties and for the performance of the foam films.