What is Surface Active Agents or Surfactant Used As Textile Chemicals

Definition of Surface Active Agent: Surfactant or Surface Active Agents can be defined as the textile chemicals, which-

1. has balanced solubility in water and in oil.
2. preferentially gets oriented at the interface between air and water in which it is dissolved.
3. lowers the surface tension of water substantially. When dissolved in it in the concentration range 0.1 – 10 g/L at the room temperature which is 27 to 30 degree centigrade.

Classification of Surfactant or Surface Active Agents:

Chemistry of Surfactants

Surfactants is of two kinds – 1. Ionic Surfactants. 2. Non- Ionic Surfactants.

Ionic Surfactants is of three kinds like 1. Anionic Surfactants, 2. Cationic 3. Amphoteric.

Ionic Surfactants :

Anionic, Cationic & Amphoteric Surface Active Agents are called Ionic Surfactants or Surface Active Agents.

Anionic Surfactants:

It can be defined as those surfactants which when dissolved in water ionize into long Anions and small cations.

Cationic Surfactants:

Cationic Surfactants can be defined as those surfactants which when dissolved in water ionize into long Cations and small Anions.

Amphoteric Surfactants:

Amphoteric Surfactants or surface active agents are those agents which when dissolved in water ionize and produce large segments carrying both anionic and cationic charges.

Non-Ionic Surfactants:

Non-Ionic surfactants are those surfactants which are soluble in water and reduce the surface tension of water, but, they do not generally ionize when dissolved in water.

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