NONIONIC SURFACTANT COMPOSITIONS

摘要

The present invention provides nonionic surfactants, compositions incorporating these surfactants, and related methods of making and using such surfactants and compositions. The nonionic surfactants demonstrate excellent equilibrium and dynamic surface tension properties as well as excellent wetting properties. Further, representative embodiments of the surfactants have shown low foaming characteristics, indicating that the surfactants would be suitable in applications where resistance to foaming is desired. The surfactants can be used singly or in combination with other nonionic and/or ionic surfactants as desired. As an over view, the nonionic surfactants of the present invention have a structure in which the surfactant backbone includes one or more amine moieties. At least one, preferably two or more branched, cyclic, fused cyclic, and/or spyro hydrophobic moieties are pendant from at least one of the amine moieties. Additionally, at least one, preferably two or more hydrophilic moieties, preferably alkylene oxide (i.e., polyether) chains also are pendant from at least one of the amine moieties.

主权项

1. A method of making a nonionic surfactant, comprising the steps of:
a) providing an adduct comprising at least one secondary amine moiety and at least two branched, cyclic, fused cyclic, and/or spyro hydrophobic moieties; and b) N-functionalizing at least a portion of the secondary amine moieties of the adduct under conditions effective to convert at least a portion of the secondary amine moieties to tertiary amine moieties having pendant, hydrophilic, N-ether functionality.