Synthesis, Characterization, and Surface Activities of Polymeric Cationic Thiol Surfactants in Aqueous Medium

A series of cationic polyurethane surfactants [PQ8‐18] were synthesized by the reaction of alkyl bromoacetate (namely: octyl‐, decyl‐, dodecyl‐, tetradecyl‐, hexadecyl‐, and octadecyl bromoacetate) as quaternizing agents and modified polyurethane contains tertiary amine species. Modified polyurethane was prepared by the reaction of toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and triethanol amine monomercaptoacetate. The chemical structures of the prepared surfactants were confirmed using elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy. The molecular weight measurements of the prepared polymers showed that the segments of each polymer contain average 10 units of the urethane‐triethanol amine mercaptoacetate. The surface activities of the prepared surfactants including: surface tension (γ), effectiveness ( πcmc), concentration at micelle formation (CMC), efficiency (Pc20), maximum concentration at the interface (Γmax), and the average area occupied by each surfactant molecule at the interface at equilibrium ( A min) of surfactants solutions were established at 25°C. The surface tension and the critical micelle concentration values of the prepared surfactants were gradually decreased by the gradual increase of their alkyl chain length. The prepared cationic surfactants showed efficient activity as inhibitors for dissolution of carbon steel in an acidic medium and also as a biocide against the growth of bacteria, fungi, and yeast.