Rheological Investigation of Wormlike Micelles Based on Gemini Surfactant in EG–Water Solution

Abstract

The self‐assembly behavior of gemini surfactants in ethylene glycol (EG)‐water (5/95, v/v) mixed solvent was investigated by rheological measurements at 10 °C. The influence of molecular structure of the gemini surfactant and added hydrotrope on the solution properties was studied. Sodium salicylate (NaSal) showed stronger ability to induce 2‐hydroxyl‐propanediyl‐α,ω‐bis‐(dimethyldodecylammonium bromide), referred to as 12‐3(OH)‐12, to form wormlike micelles than sodium benzoate. Less NaSal is required to promote a sphere to rod transition and to reach the peak viscosity. Moreover, the concentrations of hydrotrope and gemini surfactant are both lower than conventional single‐chain surfactant systems to reach a comparable viscosity. The strong hydrophobicity of gemini surfactants and hydrotropes is responsible for the high efficiency in forming wormlike micelles in EG/water systems. The geometric structure of gemini surfactants also plays a vital role in self‐assembly into wormlike micelles. Dimethylene‐1,2‐bis‐(dodecyl dimethylammonium bromide), referred to as 12‐2‐12, shows absolute superiority over 12‐3(OH)‐12 in constructing wormlike micelles. The present study will be helpful for developing de‐icing fluids and anti‐freezing solutions, which need rheology control in EG‐aqueous medium at low temperature.

Wormlike Micelles of a Cationic Surfactant in Polar Organic Solvents: Extending Surfactant Self-Assembly to New Systems and Subzero Temperatures

“…This ability to modulate the rheological properties has led to numerous applications for WLMs, including in oil recovery, home-care and personal care products, and as drag-reducing agents. ,, Most studies on WLMs have been conducted in water, and aqueous WLMs have been formed using cationic, − ,− anionic, and zwitterionic − surfactants. Reverse WLMs, with their tails facing out towards the solvent, have also been reported in nonpolar liquids (oils). − Lastly, some studies have been conducted on WLMs in mixtures of water and polar organic solvents (such as alcohols or diols). − To our knowledge, however, there have been no reports of WLMs in pure solvents of intermediate polarity.…”

Synergistic Influence of pH and Temperature on Rheological Behavior of Adhesive Emulsions Stabilized with Micelle Dispersion of an Anionic Surfactant

“…This is an indication of a liquid–solid (sol–gel) transition due to electrostatic repulsions, which enhances the stability of the emulsion and may even form a weak crystalline solid (Mewis and Wagner, ). These shear‐induced phenomena also termed as Shear banding (SB) that was observed in a variety of other complex fluids, such as lamellar surfactant phases (Fan et al, ; Salmon et al, ), wormlike micelles (Mei et al, ; Wei et al, ), suspensions (Ragouilliaux et al, ), and polymeric solutions (Kamal et al, ; Ravindranath et al, ). The SB phenomenon is the stratification of the flow into regions of high and low shear rates, , connected by an “interface” of sharp change in which this homogeneous velocity gradient profile becomes unstable to heterogeneous perturbations and splits into high and low shear rate bands that coexist in the cell, so that the local shear rate varies spatially .…”

Gemini Surfactants Virtual Issue

“…Yang et al () have reported on the effects of surfactant concentration and counterions on the rheological properties of quaternary ammonium Gemini surfactants in high‐performance fracturing fluids. Wei et al () have reported on the rheological properties of cationic Gemini surfactants in ethylene glycol–water solutions. Sodium salicylate was found to promote viscoelasticity to a greater extent than sodium benzoate in self‐thickening deicing fluids.…”