Solution properties of mixed surfactant systems (IV)

Electric properties of mixed anionic-nonionic surfactant systems in aqueous solutions above the CMC have been studied in terms of pNa values, electrical conductivities, and dielectric constants; these systems are sodium 3, 6, 9-trioxaicosanoate (ECL) — alkyl polyoxyethylene ethers (C_mPOE; m=12, 14, 16, and 18). The degree of ionic dissociation of mixed micelle increases with increasing the number of carbon atoms of the alkyl group in the nonionic surfactant. The electrical conductivity increases with increasing the alkyl chain length in the nonionic surfactant, in spite of the increase of the activation energy for conduction. The size of mixed micelles also increases with increasing alkyl chain length. This may be attributed to the fact that the mixed micelle is formed more easily by a nonionic surfactant including long alkyl chains than for one having shorter alkyl chains.