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    Surfactant softening of plant leaf cuticle model wax – A Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation (QCM-D) study

    Year: 2014

    Journal: Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, Volume 426, 15 July 2014, Pages 22–30, 20141009

    Authors: Anton Fagerström , Vitaly Kocherbitov , Peter Westbye , Karin Bergström , Thomas Arnebrant , Johan Engblom 

    Last authors: Johan Engblom

    Organizations: a Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, SE-205 06 Malmö, Sweden b Biofilms – Research Center for Biointerfaces, Malmö University, SE-205 06 Malmö, Sweden c Agro Applications Europe, AkzoNobel Surface Chemistry AB, SE-444 30 Stenungsund, Sweden

    Country: Sweden, Sverige

    The aim was to quantify the softening effect that two surfactants (C10EO7 and C8G1.6) have on a plant leaf cuticle model wax. Effects on the thermotropic phase behavior and fluidity of the wax (C22H45OH/C32H66/H2O) were determined.

    The model wax is crystalline at ambient conditions, yet it is clearly softened by the surfactants. Both surfactants decreased the transition temperatures in the wax and the G″/G′ ratio of the wax film increased in irreversible steps following surfactant exposure. C10EO7 has a stronger fluidizing effect than C8G1.6 due to stronger interaction with the hydrophobic waxes.

    Intracuticular waxes (IW) comprise both crystalline and amorphous domains and it has previously been proposed that the fluidizing effects of surfactants are due to interactions with the amorphous parts. New data suggests that this may be a simplification. Surfactants may also absorb in crevices between crystalline domains. This causes an irreversible effect and a softer cuticle wax.