The main feature of surfactants is that they reduce the surface tension between water and oil. This allows water to better penetrate oily surfaces and oily substances to mix better with water. These properties enable them to be used in cleaning products and personal care products that facilitate the removal of oils and contaminants.

Surfactants have a molecular structure consisting of two basic parts: a hydrogenated part that combines with hydrogen and a non-hydrogenated part that dissolves with water. This structure represents a molecule where one end is water-soluble and the other end is oil-soluble. These properties are used to regulate the interaction between water and oil.

Surfactants are used in many different tasks such as creating foam, dissolving oils and reducing surface tension in cleaning and cosmetic products.

Surfactant Usage Areas

Until the beginning of the 20th century, only soap came to mind when surfactants were mentioned. However, with the development of industry and increasing needs, other types of surfactants gradually began to enter our lives.

Contrary to popular belief, surfactants are used more in industry than in homes. We can summarize the industrial usage areas as follows. Textile industry, Cosmetics industry, Pharmaceutical industry, Polymer industry, Metal industry, Metal industry, Mining industry, Leather industry and manufacturing, Paint industry, Petroleum industry

Surfactant Types

It is possible to classify surfactants in various ways. However, in the most general and simple form, we can divide surfactants into 5 groups.

1-) Anionic surfactants

2-) Cationic surfactants

3-) Non-ionic surfactants

4-) Zwitter ionic (Amphoteric) surfactants

5-) Semi polar surfactants