Abstract
The interaction between certain pairs of synthetic polymers and surfactants in aqueous solution has been studied widely. These systems are of inherent scientific interest and useful properties are imparted by both the polymer (rheological control, stability enhancement) and surfactant (lowering of surface tension, wetting). Here, rather than review the extensive field of synthetic polymer/surfactant systems a selective ‘case study’ is presented of one type of system, that of gelatin, the anionic surfactant sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS) and, ultimately, the same system in the presence of a competing (for the SDS) non-ionic surfactant. Results from a range of techniques are discussed, and their complementarity and distinctions highlighted. Extensive comparisons with other polymer/surfactant systems are made.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
