 |
 |
| As oil and water are compared to two persons who cannot get along well with each other, these two substances usually separate immediately after agitation in an attempt to mix them. When a small amount of a surfactant is added to oil/water mixture and agitated, they easily mix consistently, allowing production of a stable emulsion. While fine particles such as carbon black stay on the surface of water and do not mix with water, if agitated after adding a small amount of surfactant, a stable solution in which the fine particles are dispersed uniformly can be produced. Using the effects of a surfactant that allow mixing of naturally un-mixable matters, products such as margarine, milky lotion, paint are manufactured. |
|
|
 |
 |
|
| While ordinary water forms drops on a leaf, the water containing a small amount of a surfactant will not form a drop, but spreads on the surface. It is because the surface tension of the water becomes weak. Using the aforementioned effect of a surfactant, an agricultural chemical can be applied to the leaves thinly and uniformly, allowing attainment of large effectiveness from a small amount of the chemical. As such, surfactant helps to easily wet a substance with water or in other words, makes the material easy to absorb water, which allows a dye or softening agent penetrate uniformly into cloth or leather. |
|
|
|
 |
|
For example, as you put a greasy dish in water containing a surfactant, the surfactant penetrates between the dish surface and the grease, causing the grease to come off the dish. As the surfaces of the removed grease are covered with the surfactant in the water, they do not stick to the dish, thus keeping the dish clean. Washing off the water containing the grease, the dish is clean. That is the cleansing effect of a surfactant.
Another feature is that foaming tends to occur in water containing a surfactant because a surfactant keeps bubbles stable inside of water. Some sort of surfactants, however, have such a characteristic that prevents foaming, and used for cleansing that has to be foam-free. |
|
|
|
 |
|
(1) Makes material soft, slippery (softening, smoothing)
With its property to make the surfaces of a material slippery, a surfactant is used as it is or mixed with oil and used to make the processes smooth in a variety of industries. For example, in the twisting process of making yarn or in the weaving process, a surfactant makes the material slippery to help manufacturing of high quality threads or cloths. The soft and comfortable touch of cloths is provided by the surfactant. The rolling lubricant, squeezing lubricant, etc. which are used to make thin metal plates, wires, etc., the lubricant to make plastic material slippery, etc. are also the products using the characteristics of a surfactant.
(2) Prevents static electricity (anti-static)
Synthetic fibers, plastic products, etc. tend to take static charges, become electrostatic, and attract dusts and other contaminants. In a factory, the static electricity sometimes causes an accident. Some sorts of surfactants prevent static electricity by reducing friction or make thin water-absorbing films on the surfaces to relieve static electricity. Such a surfactant is used by mixing in or applying to synthetic fibers or plastics.
(3) Prevents corrosion (rust prevention)
Using such characteristics that keep the surface wet and enhance absorption effects, a surfactant is used as an anti-corrosion agent to prevent rusting of metal.
(4) Eliminates inconsistent dying, prevents discoloration (even dying, fixing)
Some surfactants cause slow absorption of a dye into the fabric, preventing inconsistency and ensuring evenness of dying. With the help of such a surfactant, colorful cloths are produced. There are other surfactants that hold the dye on the cloth and prevents discoloration after washing.
(5) Kills germs (sterilizing)
A solution of a cation surfactant or a dipolar surfactant is used as sterilizing fluid for washing hands in a place like a hospital. As germs are generally charged negative on their surfaces, the positively charged cation surfactant or the dipolar surfactant can easily be attracted to them, cover their surfaces, and kill them. |
|
|
|
|
Greetings 
About surfactant
