Chemical Classification Methods of Surfactants in Textile Auxiliaries Qian Tai Tells You
March 17, 2025
According to their different chemical structure characteristics, textile auxiliaries are mainly classified into two categories: surfactants and polymers.
According to their different ionicity, surfactants can be divided into anionic, cationic, amphoteric, and non-ionic types.
Anionic Surfactants
According to their different hydrophilic groups, anionic surfactants can be divided into fatty carboxylates, fatty alcohol sulfate salts, alkyl sulfonates, alkylbenzene sulfonates, and phosphate esters, etc. As the surfactant with the longest application history, the largest usage amount, and the lowest price, anionic surfactants have excellent washing, emulsifying, and solubilizing effects. In the textile processing process, they are mainly used as detergents, wetting agents, scouring agents, and leveling agents, etc.
Cationic Surfactants
According to their different structures, cationic surfactants can be divided into primary amine salts, secondary amine salts, tertiary amine salts, and quaternary ammonium salts, etc. Due to their strong emulsifying, dispersing, and foaming effects, cationic surfactants are commonly used as softeners, antistatic agents, and leveling agents in the textile processing process.
Amphoteric Surfactants
According to their different structures, amphoteric surfactants can be divided into amino carboxylic acids, betaines, and imidazoline types. It not only has good functions such as penetration, emulsification, and washing, but also has low biodegradability and good compatibility. In textile finishing, it is commonly used as softeners, leveling agents, etc.
Non-ionic Surfactants
According to their different structures, non-ionic surfactants can be divided into two categories: fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ethers and alkylphenol polyoxyethylene ethers. Due to their strong emulsifying, degreasing, solubilizing, and low-foaming properties, their usage amount in the textile processing process is relatively large, second only to cationic surfactants. They are commonly used as emulsifiers, leveling agents, and scouring agents, etc.