Wettability of polymeric solids by ternary mixtures composed of hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon nonionic surfactants

Contact angle (θ) measurements on poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) surface were carried out for the systems containing ternary mixtures of surfactants composed of: p-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenoxypoly(ethylene glycols), Triton X-100 (TX100), Triton X-165 (TX165) and Triton X-114 (TX114), and fluorocarbon surfactants, Zonyl FSN100 (FSN100) and Zonyl FSO100 (FSO100).The aqueous solutions of ternary surfactant mixtures were prepared by adding TX114, FSN100 or FSO100 to binary mixtures of TX100 + TX165, where the synergistic effect in the reduction of the surface tension of water (γLV) was determined. From the obtained contact angle values, the relationships between cos θ, the adhesion tension and surface tension of solutions, cos θ and the reciprocal of the surface tension were determined. On the basis of these relationships, the correlation between the critical surface tension of PTFE and PMMA wetting and the surface tension of these polymers as well as the work of adhesion of aqueous solutions of ternary surfactant mixtures to PTFE and PMMA surface were discussed. The critical surface tension of PTFE and PMMA wetting, γC, determined from the contact angle measurements of aqueous solutions of surfactants including FSN100 or FSO100 was also discussed in the light of the surface tension changes of PTFE and PMMA under the influence of film formation by fluorocarbon surfactants on the surface of these polymers. The γC values of the studied polymeric solids were found to be different for the mixtures composed of hydrocarbon surfactants in comparison with those of hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon surfactants. In the solutions containing fluorocarbon surfactants, the γC values were different taking into account the contact angle in the range of FSN100 and FSO100 concentration corresponding to their unsaturated monolayer at water–air interface or to that saturated.

The values of the work of adhesion, WA, of aqueous solutions of the ternary surfactant mixtures M1, M2, M3, M4, M5 and M6, and TX114, FSN100 and FSO100 for the PTFE surface.Figure optionsDownload high-quality image (167 K)Download as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► The critical surface tension of wetting depends on the aqueous solution composition.
► γC of PTFE for ternary mixtures composed of fluorocarbon surfactants changes.
► The work of adhesion is not constant for fluorocarbon surfactants.