The Interaction Between Polyvinylpyrrolidone and Cationic Surfactant: Surface Tension and Steady‐State Fluorescence Methods

Abstract

The interaction between a new synthetic cationic surfactant, 3‐cetyloxy‐2‐hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (CHPTAC), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) has been investigated by surface tension and steady‐state fluorescence methods. The results indicate that PVP and CHPTAC have synergistic surface activity by forming a mixed monolayer. In bulk phase CHPTAC molecules associates with PVP to form assemblies driven by the hydrophobic effect and intermolecular hydrogen bonding. Although each PVP molecule can bind 70 CHPTAC molecules, the mean aggregation number of CHPTAC varies with concentrations.

Keywords:

• Polyvinylpyrrolidone
• Cationic surfactant
• Polymer/surfactant interaction
• Surface tension
• Aggregation number

Acknowledgment

We wish to express our great thanks to the Science Foundation of Shandong University for the youth (y34029) and the Key Project of Chinese Education Ministry (No. 99183) for the part financial support.