The sodium polyoxybutylated ethyl and octyl sulfates, which had 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 10 units of butylene oxides, were prepared by adding 1, 2-butylene oxide to the corresponding alcohols, and the relation of their surface activities, such as surface tension, foaming properties, wetting power, dispersing power and emulsifying powers, and the length of oxy-butylene chain was studied.
The following conclusions were obtained.
1) Sodium polyoxybutylated ethyl sulfates having less than 3 moles of butylene oxide had little surface activities, but the products having more than 5 moles of butylene oxide had good surface activities. The surface tensions of the products having over 5 moles of butylene oxide were low, and their c.m.c. values were more than 0.25% approx. The foaming properties, except 10 mole adduct, and dispersing powers of all products were inferior. The wetting powers of 5, 7 and 10 mole adducts and emulsifying power of 10 mole adduct were superior.
2) As compared with sodium octyl sulfate, the surface tensions of sodium polyoxybutylated octyl sulfates were lower in the low concentration, and their c.m.c. values were also lower. The foaming properties and emulsifying powers of the products having over 5 moles of butylene oxide were excellent. The products having 5 and 7 moles of butylene oxide had good wetting power. All products had poor dispersing power.
