NON IONIC – 2

Non-ionic surfactants, often termed ethoxylated surfactants due to their reliance on ethylene oxide (EO), comprise various classes categorized by Tadros (2005). These include alcohol ethoxylates, alkyl phenol ethoxylates, fatty acid ethoxylates, monoalkaolamide ethoxylates, sorbitan ester ethoxylates, fatty amine ethoxylates, and ethylene oxide–propylene oxide copolymers (polymeric surfactants). Additionally, there are multi-hydroxy products such as glycol esters, glycerol and polyglycerol esters, glucosides, polyglucosides, and sucrose esters. In the context of concrete applications, non-ionic surfactants offer compatibility with various surfactant types, given their non-ionic nature that reduces adsorption onto charged surfaces. This characteristic enhances their efficacy in creating air voids within concrete without significant surfactant loss at the solid–liquid interface. Despite this advantage, when used alone, non-ionic surfactants may struggle to stabilize the air system, unlike their ionic counterparts. Consequently, they are often employed in mixtures with different surfactant types, playing a supportive role to enhance solubility and mitigate adsorption tendencies. Notably, ethoxylated fatty acids and amines function as single-component air entrainers, finding applications in stiff cementitious materials such as plaster and concrete pavers. The versatility of non-ionic surfactants in formulated admixtures underscores their importance in optimizing concrete performance for entities like Hypro Diagnostics.