Adsorption of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate at the Surface of Aqueous Solutions of Poly(vinylpyrrolidone) Studied by Neutron Reflection

Abstract

The surface excess of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in aqueous solutions of SDS and the polymer poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) has been measured as a function of SDS and PVP concentrations using neutron reflection. Below the critical aggregation concentration (CAC) the adsorption of SDS is increased by the presence of PVP, indicating that the two components interact cooperatively at the surface. Between the CAC and the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the surfactant there is a slight depletion of SDS from the surface. Comparison of coverages determined by neutron reflection with those from earlier radiotracer work indicates that, in the higher concentration range, PVP is bound to the surfactant layer, creating a region from which surfactant is depleted, which is further evidence for a strong polymer/surfactant interaction at the surface. Comparison of the effect of added PVP on the surface tension with the neutron reflection measurements indicates that, even below the CAC, the surfactant complexes to the polymer to some extent in the bulk solution. There are no measurable effects of the polymer on the thickness of the surfactant layer at any concentration. There is an indication that at the surface the surfactant is slightly displaced outward from water on addition of polymer, but accurate structural determination of the mixed layer proved too difficult to be certain of this result.

Polymer/Surfactant Interaction: Interfacial Aspects

“…In a series of papers, Thomas, Penfold, and co-workers (12)(13)(14), using specular neutron reflection techniques on PEO/ SDS and PVP/SDS systems, demonstrated in general terms that below T 1 , mixed surface films of polymer and surfactant are present, but above T 1 the polymer is displaced. Increases in surfactant concentration in the surface occur beyond T 1 and can occur to some extent beyond T 2 : the actual concentration of polymer affects the particular behavior observed.…”

Dynamic Surface Properties of Poly(vinylpyrrolidone) Solutions

“…Although complexes of this substance formed with conventional surfactants in aqueous solutions is the subject of numerous studies (20,21), the PVP adsorption films at the liquid-gas interface have been poorly investigated, probably because of experimental difficulties. For example, PVP is effectively invisible in the neutron reflection experiment (21).…”

Polymer-Amphiphile Interactions: An Overview

“…Adsorption at an interface depends upon the competition between complex formation in the bulk and at interface. There are numerous studies on the associative nature of polymers in bulk solutions [65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76]. Philip et al [77] have reported that the interaction between a neutral polymer (PVA), an ionic surfactant (SDS) and colloid can lead to three different states which depends upon the sequence of adsorption of polymer and surfactant on the colloidal interface.…”