Silicon-modified carbohydrate surfactants VIII. Equilibrium wetting of perfluorinated solid surfaces by solutions of surfactants above and below the critical micelle concentration—surfactant distribution between liquid–vapour and solid–liquid interfaces

For selected carbohydrate-modified Silicon surfactants of the siloxane, carbosilane, polysilane and silane type, the concentration dependences of the liquid/vapour and solid/liquid interfacial tensions under equilibrium conditions have been determined. Further, the Lifshitz–van der Waals and donor–acceptor contributions have been calculated. Below the critical micelle concentration (cmc) a steep increase in donor–acceptor contributions to both interfacial tensions was found. The Lifshitz–van der Waals contribution of the liquid/vapour interfacial tension shows a pronounced minimum. Calculations of the concentration-dependent surface coverage suggest that preferential adsorption to one of the interfaces does not take place. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.