Archives - Chemistry: Page 17
Author: amparo enriquez (Wed May 17, 2006 12:51 am)
Title: Fluorosurfactants
Fluorosurfactants work because they have a love-hate relationship with their chemical surroundings.
Chains of carbon atoms surrounded by fluorine form the “hating end” and repel both water and oil-based stains. The “loving end” of the molecule links up with hydrocarbon structures that anchor the chains to the rest of the coating. To repel stains, the terminal tips of millions of carbon fluorine chains must reside at the surface. At lower concentrations, fluorosurfactants reduce surface tension, which, for instance, enable polishes and paints to be applied more easily and leave a smoother surface.