Synergistic effects of polymers and surfactants on depletion forces

Langmuir. 2007 Apr 10;23(8):4351-7. doi: 10.1021/la063191d. Epub 2007 Feb 23.

Abstract

This work investigates the synergistic effects of a neutral polymer and an anionic surfactant on depletion forces as a function of bulk polymer and bulk surfactant concentration. In this work, we measure the force between a silica particle and a silica plate in aqueous solutions of the polymer and the surfactant using atomic force microscopy. The polymer is the triblock copolymer poly(ethylene oxide-block-propylene oxide-block-ethylene oxide) (Pluronic F108), and the surfactant is sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). In F108-only solutions, the force between the silica particle and the silica plate is primarily repulsive for polymer concentrations ranging from 200 to 10 000 ppm. In SDS-only solutions, the net force between the silica surfaces is repulsive at all separations for concentrations below 16 mM SDS and is attractive with a structural force character above 16 mM SDS. When both F108 and SDS are present in the solution, a net attractive force is observed at SDS concentrations as low as 4 mM, a factor of 2 below the critical micelle concentration (cmc). We attribute this synergistic effect to the complexation of F108 with SDS in bulk solution at a critical aggregation concentration (cac) that is less than the cmc, producing a relatively large, charged complex that creates a significant depletion force between the particle and plate.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Anions / chemistry*
  • Chemistry, Physical / methods*
  • Electrolytes
  • Micelles
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Models, Chemical
  • Models, Statistical
  • Molecular Weight
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Poloxamer / chemistry
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Silicon Dioxide
  • Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / chemistry
  • Surface Properties
  • Surface-Active Agents / chemistry*

Substances

  • Anions
  • Electrolytes
  • Micelles
  • Polymers
  • Surface-Active Agents
  • Poloxamer
  • Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate
  • Silicon Dioxide