Book Review: Colloidal Surfactants. Some Physicochemical Properties. By K. Shinoda, T. Nakagawa, B. Tamamushi, and T. lsemura. Physical Chemistry. A Series of Monographs, Vol. 12. Edited by E. Hutchinson and P. van Rysselberghe

Abstract

pp., numerous figures and tables, linen, $11.50. This book is divided into four sections dealing with I . the formation of micelles, 2. physicochemical studies in aqueous solutions of nonionic surfactants, 3. adsorption phenomena, and 4. monomolecular layers. In parts 1 and 2, an extensive discussion is given of micelle formation, the critical micelle concentration (CMC), and the various factors effecting this concentration (e. g. the structure of the surfactant, additives, or mixtures of surfactants). This text is based on a particularly broad review of the literature. In part 3, the fundamentals for calcuiating adsorption and the influences on adsorption at air/solution, solution/ oil, and solution/solid interfaces are dealt with. Also some special aspects of adsorption are described, viz. the adsorption at a solution/mercury interface and the interaction between surfactants and hydrophobic or hydrophilic colloids. In part 4, the behavior of films of surface-active compounds and polymers, particularly synthetic polymers, is discussed. K . Shinoda and his colleagues have successfully evaluated recent literature in order to give a review mainly of micelle for-