Properties of tensides
Tensides enrich at interfaces or surfaces:
© University of Borås
- Surface tension is reduced
- The surface is wetted (spreading of the water droplet) more easily.
- For an oil and water mixture:
- Shaking an oil and water mixture will form temporary oil droplets spread out in the water. These droplets adhere and soon the oil and water will form a two-phase system.
© University of Borås
With tensides added, the tensides enrich at the oil and water interface, reducing the energy needed to create small droplets. These droplets can be stable for a long time – an emulsion is formed.
This ability to emulgate oil is critical for the washing properties of tenside molecules. Oil and dirt particles (dirt particles are often attached by a thin layer of oil) can be removed and rinsed away during laundering.
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Project
Contact
This resource was developed as part of an Erasmus+ project, funded with support from the European Commission under grant agreement 2016-1-SE01-KA203-22064.
The project was a collaboration between:
- The University of Borås, Sweden
- The University of the Highlands and Islands, Scotland
- The University of Alcalá, Spain
- Digital Connections, Scotland
This resource has been released under Creative Commons license CC-BY-SA 4.0.
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- Academic content – The University of Boras (www.hb.se)
- Technical resource development – The University of the Highlands and Islands Educational Development Unit - EDU (edu@uhi.ac.uk)
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