화학공학소재연구정보센터
Langmuir, Vol.12, No.15, 3531-3535, 1996
Onset of Hydrophobic Attraction at Low Surfactant Concentrations
We report here on the interaction between silica surfaces in a range of CTA(+) (cetyltrimethylammonium cation) concentrations up to the point of zero charge (5 x 10(-5) Prl) in a background electrolyte (3 x 10(-3) M sodium acetate). In the absence of CTA(+) the static interaction is repulsive at all distances. The addition of CTAB up to 10(-5) M has no effect on the interaction. Between 2 x 10(-5) and 3 x 10(-5) M the surface charge as deduced from interaction at large separations remains unchanged, but the interaction becomes attractive at distances less than a Debye length. The strength of the attraction increases several times as surfactant concentration increases to 4 x 10(-5) M with simultaneous reduction in the electrostatic repulsion at larger distances. At 5 x 10(-5) M the interaction is attractive at all distances. The results confirm that CTA(+) adsorption is cooperative and nonlinear in concentration and is enhanced by surface proximity. Both effects lead to a long range hydrophobic force.