Silicone surfactants—new developments

Silicone surfactants—copolymers of silicone and polyethers—are useful for applications in which their high surface activity and silicone character provide performance advantages. They have recently been shown to enhance the efficiency of microemulsions. Systematic studies of their phase behavior continues to expand our knowledge of the self-assembly of large molecules. They are beginning to be used to prepare nanostructured materials. The unusual wetting properties of the trisiloxane surfactants has been much discussed, leading to a better understanding of the roles of diffusion, surfactant aggregation, and Marangoni effects in surfactant enhanced spreading.