Cationic Surfactant

Surface active agents are known as Surfactants, these are the compounds that lower the surface tension of liquids and gases or between 2 liquids or between solids and liquid. Some elements which act as surfactants are emulsifiers, wetting agents, detergents, dispersants, and foaming agents. Surfactants help dyes to penetrate through clothes or fabrics evenly. Surfactants can be used to dissipate the aqueous suspension of insoluble perfumes and dyes. Surfactants will always have a hydrophilic head (water-loving) and a hydrophobic tail (water-hating).

Surfactant

Surfactants are recognised as the compounds that lower tension between gases and liquids, solids and liquids and 2 liquids. Surface-active agents can also be termed surfactants. It helps dyes easily penetrate through fabrics and clothes. They have different types of charges which give surfactants different properties and classify them. This makes it easier to choose which surfactant should be used for which type of product. The four categories are anionic, nonionic, cationic, and amphoteric surfactants.

Types of Surfactants

The charge that the hydrophilic head contains which is classified into four categories neutral, negative, positive and dual. This discriminates one surfactant with the other surfactant and also classifies them with different properties. Let us discuss surfactants:

• Nonionic Surfactants: Nonionic surfactants are neutral and do not have any type of charge in them. They have emulsifying oils which help to remove organic soils. Products that comprise nonionic surfactants in them are polishes, fragrances and cleaners.

• Cationic Surfactants: Cationic Surfactants have a positive charge in the hydrophilic head that makes them have anti-static properties. Due to this property, they can be used widely as a fabric softener.

• Anionic Surfactants: Anionic surfactants have a negative charge in the hydrophilic head and can be very useful to suspend and lift soils in micelles. Anionic Surfactants attack a wide variety of soils and are heavily used in detergents and soaps. They are generally used as wetting agents or detergents.

• Amphoteric Surfactant: Amphoteric Surfactant is also known as zwitterionic surfactants and they contain both types of charges which are negative and positive which makes amphoteric have dual charge. This property of surfactants helps them to dry very quickly and is widely used in latex products and paint to make them dry faster.

Cationic Surfactant

Cationic Surfactants are the type of surfactants that have a positive charge in the hydrophilic end. This positive charge gives them a unique property of anti-static which makes them useful for fabric softeners. They also serve as antimicrobial agents which makes them useful for disinfectants. These cannot be used by combining with anionic surfactants. Combining them with anionic surfactants will lead to the falling of cationic surfactants out of the solution and will no longer be effective. However, cationic and nonionic surfactants can be combined and are compatible. An example of cationic surfactants is alkyl ammonium chlorides. 

Application of Cationic Surfactants

Cationic Surfactants can be used in various things such as:

• Cosmetics and Toiletries: These are not good for foaming or they don’t have detergent properties, but they can be easily used as hair conditioners. Due to these reasons, the use of cationic surfactants is limited to just shampoos and conditioners.

• Laundry Cleaning Textiles

Conclusion

Surfactants are heavily used in the detergent and hygiene industry because of their unique properties for foaming and cleaning. Surfactants can be divided into 4 categories according to the charge that they carry in the hydrophilic head and the four types have their property due to the different charges they carry. Cationic has a positive charge in it and is widely used in the hair care industry due to its less foaming property.