In the field of daily chemical products, the optimization of formulations is crucial to improving product performance, reducing costs, and meeting consumer needs. Among them, surfactant compounding technology plays a vital role. By rationally combining different surfactants, the comprehensive performance of daily chemical products can be significantly enhanced, which is far better than using a single surfactant. This article will analyze the key points of this technology.


Firstly, understanding the synergistic effect between different surfactants is the core of compounding technology. When two or more surfactants are mixed in a certain proportion, their combined effect is often greater than the sum of their individual effects. For example, the combination of anionic surfactants and non-ionic surfactants can not only improve the cleaning ability of the product but also enhance its stability. The anionic surfactant has strong detergency, while the non-ionic surfactant has good solubility and compatibility, and the two complement each other. This synergistic effect can be measured by parameters such as surface tension and critical micelle concentration. By testing these parameters, the optimal compounding ratio can be found.


Considering the compatibility of surfactants with other ingredients in the formula is essential. Daily chemical products usually contain a variety of components, such as humectants, thickeners, preservatives, and fragrances. Surfactants must be compatible with these ingredients to avoid adverse reactions such as precipitation, delamination, or discoloration. For instance, in shampoo formulations, surfactants need to be compatible with cationic conditioning agents. If the compatibility is poor, it will affect the smoothness and combability of the hair after washing. Therefore, when compounding surfactants, it is necessary to conduct compatibility tests with other ingredients to ensure the stability of the entire formula system.


Targeting specific product functions to select surfactants for compounding is a key point. Different daily chemical products have different functional requirements. For example, facial cleansers need to have good cleaning ability while being mild and non-irritating to the skin; laundry detergents need to have strong stain-removing power and be suitable for different water qualities. For facial cleansers, mild surfactants such as amino acid surfactants can be compounded with a small amount of anionic surfactants to achieve both cleaning and mildness. For laundry detergents, surfactants with good hard water resistance can be selected and compounded to improve the decontamination effect in hard water areas.


Finally, conducting sufficient performance tests and evaluations on the compounded surfactant system is necessary. These tests include not only basic performance tests such as surface tension, foaming power, and emulsifying ability but also practical application tests such as cleaning effect, skin feel, and stability under different temperature and pH conditions. Through comprehensive performance evaluation, the advantages and disadvantages of the compound system can be found, and then the formula can be adjusted and optimized to achieve the best product performance.