Langmuir, Vol.14, No.20, 5685-5690, 1998
Fluorocarbons as volatile surfactants
Surface active properties of volatile vapors of fluorocarbon substances such as C6F14, C8F18, and C10F18 have been discovered. In a new phenomenon of capillary instability some perpetual oscillatory and rotary movements of many liquids take place due to a change of their surface tensions by 10-30% at contact with C8F18 vapor at room temperature. Features and possible applications of volatile surfactants are discussed.