Dynamic interfacial tension of triblock copolymers solutions at the water–hexane interface

Equilibrium and dynamic surface tension of non-ionic triblock copolymers, Pluronics, varying in the number of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(propylene oxide) groups have been measured by means of drop profile tensiometry at the water–hexane interface. perimental data have been explained on the basis of a theory previously developed for protein solutions [1]. This model assumes the coexistence of different adsorbed states at the interface, depending on the surface coverage. It has been shown that the best fit is achieved when a polylayer adsorption is considered. Reasonable values of the adsorption layer thickness and realistic values of the diffusion coefficient are obtained which validate the model proposed.