Surface Abrasive Treatment of Steel in Binary Aqueous Solutions of Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose – Sodium Laurylsulphate

Understanding the interaction between surfactants and polymers is currently needed to create new, highly effective media for the mechanical processing of metals. Since the efficiency of surface dispersion is mainly determined by wetting and penetrating properties (the Rebinder effect), a study was conducted on the influence of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and the polyelectrolyte sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Na-CMC) on the dispersing properties of their binary aqueous solutions (BAS). Small additions of SLS to the Na-CMC solution were found to significantly affect the dispersing properties of the Na-CMC-SLS BAS. Both significant synergism of metal dispersion in the low Na-CMC and surfactant concentration range and antagonism of components in the high Na-CMC and low surfactant concentration range were observed. The antagonism of the components' effects in highly concentrated solutions of 0.25% and 1% Na-CMC-SLS is due to the formation of intermolecular complexes of Na-CMC-SLS, which significantly impact the rheological properties and, consequently, the penetrating and dispersing properties. The dispersing properties of the 0.05% Na-CMC-SLS BAS are extremely dependent on the surfactant content due to a combination of positive effects from surface-active, rheological, and conductive properties.