Modelling the structure factor of concentrated surfactant solutions in foams

Many formulations involve a trapped kinetic state that provides some beneficial character to the formulation, yet the vast majority of studies on formulations focus on equilibrium states. Here, nanoscale structures present at dynamic interfaces in the form of air-in-water foams will be investigated. Previous work by us and others has shown that there are subtle changes in the scattering from transient foams formed from homologous series of alkyl sulphates, Pluronics, binary surfactant blends, as well as mixtures of these surfactants with polymers. Our most recent output has demonstrated a correlation between foam stability and the strength of the solution interaction which delineates the interfacial structures. To date, these studies have focused on pre-CMC systems; here we wish to explore more concentrated systems.

诸多配方体系均存在被捕获的动力学态，该状态可赋予配方有益特性，但当前绝大多数配方相关研究均以平衡态为核心聚焦对象。本文将针对以水中气泡沫形式存在于动态界面处的纳米级结构展开研究。此前我们团队及其他研究者的工作表明，由同系列烷基硫酸盐（alkyl sulphates）、泊洛沙姆（Pluronics）、二元表面活性剂复配体系，以及此类表面活性剂与聚合物的混合体系所形成的瞬态泡沫，其散射信号存在细微变化。我们最新的研究成果证实，泡沫稳定性与表征界面结构的溶液相互作用强度之间存在关联。截至目前，此类研究均聚焦于临界胶束浓度（Critical Micelle Concentration，CMC）前的体系；本文则拟探究更高浓度的体系。