What Are the Types of Cationic Surfactants?

As early as 1896, F. Kraft and others discovered that the hydrochloride of hexadecylamine had soap-like foaming properties, but it wasn't until after 1928 that cationic surfactants began to be used industrially. They were employed as fiber softeners, antistatic agents, water repellents, dyeing aids, mineral flotation agents, and bactericides. However, its consumption is less than that of anionic and nonionic surfactants; it is generally used for specific purposes such as reducing friction and bactericidal action.

Cationic surfactants dissociate in water to release surface-active cations. Its charge is opposite to that of anionic surfactants and is thus often referred to as "inverse soap". In terms of its chemical structure, it contains at least one long-chain hydrophobic group and a positively charged hydrophilic group. The long-chain hydrophobic group is usually derived from fatty acids or petrochemical products. The positive charge of surface-active cations is generally carried by nitrogen atoms but can also be carried by sulfur and phosphorus atoms. Currently, of the hundreds of commercially valuable cationic surfactants, the vast majority contain positively charged nitrogen atoms.

Like other types of surfactants, cationic surfactants adsorb onto interfaces or surfaces. Upon reaching a certain concentration (critical micelle concentration, or CMC), they form micelles in solution, thereby reducing the surface tension of the solvent and exhibiting surface activity. They have emulsification, solubilization, wetting, cleaning, and dispersion effects. The cleaning ability of cationic surfactants is limited, but they exhibit prominent bactericidal effects and strong adsorption affinity for hard surfaces. Generally, hard surfaces carry a negative charge, and positively charged cationic surfactants show significant activity towards them. Cationic surfactants are also easily adsorbed onto human skin, hair, and teeth. For example, in cosmetics, they are mainly used as bactericides, bacteriostats, hair conditioners, skin softeners, and anti-caries additives.

Common Cationic Surfactants

• Quaternary Ammonium Salts: Such as cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC). These cationic surfactants have good solubility and emulsifying properties, frequently used as wetting agents, emulsifiers, and bactericides.

• Amine Surfactants: Such as hexadecylamine (C16-amine) and hexadecyldimethylamine (C16-dimethylamine). They have good wetting properties and are commonly used as wetting agents and dispersants in the textile, paper, and dye industries.

• Amino Aldehyde Surfactants: Such as hexadecyl amino aldehyde (C16-aminoaldehyde). They have good emulsifying and dispersing properties and are commonly used in the dye, paint, and coating industries.

The advantages of Reformchem as a cationic surfactants supplier

• Excellent Product Performance: As a cationic surfactants supplier, Reformchem produces cationic surfactants with excellent surface activity, cleaning ability, and antistatic properties, meeting various cleaning and care needs.

• Wide Range of Applications: As a cationic surfactants supplier, Reformchem's products are suitable for household cleaning, automotive care, industrial cleaning, and other fields, providing efficient and safe solutions for different industries.

• Focus on Safety and Environmental Protection: As a cationic surfactants supplier, Reformchem emphasizes product safety and environmental protection, complying with relevant regulatory requirements to provide users with a healthy and safe experience.

• High-Quality Service: As a cationic surfactants supplier, Reformchem offers comprehensive technical support and after-sales service, ensuring users receive timely and professional assistance during use.