"The Surface Activity of Short-chain Siloxane Surfactants and Aggregation Behavior in Aqueous Solutions" 

Ronaldo Franjul, MSE PhD Candidate 

Advisors: Professors Jeffrey Youngblod & Carlos Matinez

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ABSTRACT

Surfactants play a pivotal role in various industrial applications, ranging from detergents and cosmetics to pharmaceuticals. Among them, siloxane surfactants, particularly short-chain variants like tri- and tetrasiloxane, have garnered attention as potential alternatives to conventional hydrocarbon and fluorinated surfactants. Siloxane surfactants possess unique properties stemming from their flexible Si-O-Si backbone and the ability to form densely packed methyl groups at the surface. Despite their promising high surface activity, the behavior of siloxane surfactants in aqueous solutions remains less understood compared to hydrocarbon and fluorinated surfactants. This critical review seeks to address these knowledge gaps by examining the factors influencing the surface activity and aggregation behavior of siloxane surfactants in water. By analyzing existing literature, this work aims to provide insights into the physicochemical properties, adsorption efficiency, effectiveness, hydrolysis, and aggregation behavior of siloxane surfactants, ultimately laying the groundwork for their development as environmentally friendly alternatives in various applications.