surface-active agent

surface-active agent
/serr"fis ak'tiv/, Chem.
any substance that when dissolved in water or an aqueous solution reduces its surface tension or the interfacial tension between it and another liquid. Also called surfactant.

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also called  Surfactant,  

      substance such as a detergent that, when added to a liquid, reduces its surface tension, thereby increasing its spreading and wetting properties. In the dyeing of textiles (textile), surface-active agents help the dye penetrate the fabric evenly. They are used to disperse aqueous suspensions of insoluble dyes and perfumes.

      The surface-active molecule must be partly hydrophilic (water-soluble) and partly lipophilic (soluble in lipids, or oils). It concentrates at the interfaces between bodies or droplets of water and those of oil, or lipids, to act as an emulsifying agent, or foaming agent.

      Other surface-active agents that are more lipophilic and less hydrophilic may be used as defoaming agents, or as demulsifiers. Certain surface-active agents are germicides, fungicides, and insecticides.

      Surface-active agents are used in corrosion inhibition, in ore flotation, to promote oil flow in porous rocks, and to produce aerosols. See also detergent.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • surface-active agent — noun a chemical agent capable of reducing the surface tension of a liquid in which it is dissolved (Freq. 6) • Syn: ↑wetting agent, ↑wetter, ↑surfactant • Hypernyms: ↑chemical agent • Hyponyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • surface-active agent — a substance that exerts a change on the surface properties of a liquid, especially one that reduces its surface tension, such as a detergent. Called also surfactant …   Medical dictionary

  • surface-active agent — /ˈsɜfəs ˌæktɪv ˌeɪdʒənt/ (say serfuhs .aktiv .ayjuhnt) noun any substance which when added to a liquid reduces its surface tension and thus increases its spreading or wetting properties. Also, surfactant …  

  • cationic surface active agent — katijoninė aktyvioji paviršiaus medžiaga statusas T sritis Standartizacija ir metrologija apibrėžtis Medžiaga, kuri disocijuodama atskelia įsigerti gebantį katijoną. atitikmenys: angl. cation surface active substance; cation active surfactant;… …   Penkiakalbis aiškinamasis metrologijos terminų žodynas

  • cationic surface active agent — katijoninė aktyvioji paviršiaus medžiaga statusas T sritis fizika atitikmenys: angl. cation surface active substance; cation active surfactant; cationic surface active agent vok. kationischer oberflächenaktiver Stoff, m rus. катионогенное… …   Fizikos terminų žodynas

  • anionic surface-active agent — anijoninė paviršinio aktyvumo medžiaga statusas T sritis chemija apibrėžtis Medžiaga, kuri disocijuodama atskelia adsorbuotis gebantį anijoną. atitikmenys: angl. anion active surfactant; anionic surface agent; anionic surface active agent;… …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • cationic surface-active agent — katijoninė paviršinio aktyvumo medžiaga statusas T sritis chemija apibrėžtis Medžiaga, kuri disocijuodama atskelia gebantį adsorbuotis katijoną. atitikmenys: angl. cation active surfactant; cationic surface agent; cationic surface active agent;… …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • anionic surface active agent — anijoninė aktyvioji paviršiaus medžiaga statusas T sritis Standartizacija ir metrologija apibrėžtis Medžiaga, kuri disocijuodama atskelia įsigerti gebantį anijoną. atitikmenys: angl. anionic surface active agent; anionic surfactant vok.… …   Penkiakalbis aiškinamasis metrologijos terminų žodynas

  • anionic surface active agent — anijoninė aktyvioji paviršiaus medžiaga statusas T sritis fizika atitikmenys: angl. anionic surface active agent; anionic surfactant vok. anionischer oberflächenaktiver Stoff, m rus. анионное поверхностно активное вещество, n pranc. agent de… …   Fizikos terminų žodynas

  • Surface-active agent — Поверхностно активное вещество, ПАВ …   Краткий толковый словарь по полиграфии

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