ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Aqueous foam stabilized by polyoxyethylene dodecyl ether

Xi-An Li, Jian-Bing Peng, and Yong-Li Yan

College of Geology Engineering and Geomatics, Chang’an University, Xi’an, 710054, China

E-mail: yylhill@163.com

Received: 7 August 2008  Revised: 13 February 2009  Accepted: 16 February 2009

Abstract: Foaming properties of aqueous solutions of the nonionic surfactant polyoxyethylene dodecyl ether (C₁₂EO _n ) were studied at 298 K. Four different EO chain lengths, namely C₁₂EO₃, C₁₂EO₅, C₁₂EO₇, and C₁₂EO₉, were considered. The foams obtained from C₁₂EO₃ or C₁₂EO₅ were extraordinary stable retaining a constant volume for more than 20 h. The presence of lamellar liquid crystalline phases was mainly responsible for the super-stable aqueous foams.

Keywords: foam - polyoxyethylene dodecyl ether - stabilization - lamellar liquid crystal

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.2478/s11696-009-0047-1

Chemical Papers 63 (5) 620–624 (2009)