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Surfactants in Particle Characterization

The term surfactant is derived from SURFace ACTive AgeNTS. Surfactants are molecules that decrease surface tension and interfacial tension between a liquid and a solid. Surfactants distribute themselves to have a higher concentration at the solid/liquid interface, than in the surrounding liquid phase. This excess concentration arises at the solid/liquid interface because the surfactant's molecular structure consists of one portion that is soluble in a liquid, and another portion which is insoluble in the same liquid.

Whereas many solutes have some slight increase in concentration near an interface, surfactants have a strong tendency to concentrate near the surface. The surfactant molecules preferentially orient themselves with the liquid-insoluble portion adsorbed on the surface of the solid particle, and the liquid-soluble portion sticking out into the liquid phase. This causes individual particles to become better dispersed in the liquid.

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Surfactants in Particle Characterization
Surfactants are molecules that decrease surface tension and interfacial tension between a liquid and a solid. They distribute themselves to have a higher concentration at the solid/liquid interface, than in the surrounding liquid phase. This excess concentration arises at the solid/liquid interface because the surfactant's molecular structure consists of one portion that is soluble in a liquid, and another portion which is insoluble in the same liquid.
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