Cationic Surfactant

Cationic surfactants are a class of surfactants that carry a positive charge in their molecular structure. Their molecules typically consist of an oil-loving group and a water-loving group. The oil-loving group is usually a long carbon chain hydrocarbon, while the water-loving group carries a positive charge, such as nitrogen, sulfur, or phosphorus atoms. These positive charges typically exist in the form of quaternary ammonium salts or pyrrole derivatives. Cationic surfactants have good solubility in water and can remain stable in both acidic and alkaline solutions.

Cationic Surfactants List Request a Quote

PropertiesTypesApplicationsHot ProductsServicesCase StudyCustomer ReviewsLatest UpdatesOnline Inquiry

Properties of Cationic Surfactants

Antimicrobial Properties

Cationic surfactants exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, effectively inhibiting the growth of bacteria, fungi, yeast, and other microorganisms. This property makes them widely used in disinfectants and medical protective applications.

Adsorption and Electrostatic Interactions

Cationic surfactants carry a positive charge, allowing them to adsorb onto negatively charged surfaces such as fibers, soil, metals, and plastics. This characteristic plays an important role in fields like textiles and oilfields.

Emulsifying and Solubilizing Capabilities

Cationic surfactants possess excellent emulsifying and solubilizing abilities, allowing them to form stable emulsions by mixing oil and water phases. This feature makes them widely applied in industries such as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and coatings.

Thermal and Chemical Stability

Cationic surfactants have excellent thermal resistance and chemical stability, maintaining their stability in high-temperature or strongly acidic and alkaline environments.

Main Types and Representative Compounds

Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs)

The basic structure of quaternary ammonium cationic surfactants consists of a positively charged nitrogen atom attached to four organic groups (usually alkyl or aryl).

Representative Compounds: Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide (CTAB), Benzalkonium Chloride (BAC), etc.
Main Applications: Disinfection and sterilization, fabric softeners, phase transfer catalysts, etc.

Pyridinium Salts

Pyridinium salt cationic surfactants are a class of cationic surfactants based on a pyridine ring structure. They are typically quaternary ammonium salts formed by reacting an alkyl chain or other functional groups on the nitrogen atom of the pyridine ring with halogenated alkyl compounds.

Representative Compounds: Cetylpyridinium Chloride
Main Applications: Antiseptics, electroplating additives, etc.

Imidazolinium Surfactants

Imidazolinium cationic surfactants are a class of surfactants based on an imidazolinium ring structure. They are typically synthesized by reacting fatty acids with diamines like diethylenetriamine to form an imidazolinium intermediate, followed by a quaternization reaction to introduce positively charged groups

Representative Compounds: 1-Acetyl-3-dodecylimidazolinium
Main Applications: Conditioners, fabric softeners, preservatives, etc.

Amine Salts & Amine Oxides

Amine salt cationic surfactants are salts formed by the neutralization of fatty amines with inorganic acids (e.g., hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, acetic acid, etc.). Amine oxides are oxides formed by the reaction of tertiary fatty amines with hydrogen peroxide. Their molecular structure contains an oxygen atom and two hydrocarbon groups

Representative Compounds: Dodecylamine Salt, Lauryl Dimethylamine Oxide
Main Applications: Foam stabilizers, cosmetic emulsifiers, etc.

Applications of Cationic Surfactants

Personal Care and Cosmetics

Textile and Leather Industry

Disinfectants

Oilfield Chemicals

Industrial Water Treatment

Nanomaterials and Pharmaceutical Formulations

Personal Care and Cosmetics

Cationic surfactants have a wide range of applications in personal care and cosmetics. They typically carry a positive charge, which allows them to interact with the negative charges on the surface of skin and hair, providing softening, conditioning, and anti-static effects. For example, in shampoos and conditioners, cationic surfactants such as polyquaternium compounds (e.g., Polyquaternium-7) can give hair smoothness and shine while reducing static.

Textile and Leather Industry

In textiles, they are commonly employed for fabric softening, anti-static treatment, and as dyeing auxiliaries. Their strong affinity for fibers, resistance to high temperatures and washing, imparts fabrics with a fuller feel and smoothness, along with excellent antibacterial and anti-static properties. In the leather industry, cationic surfactants are applied during processes such as soaking, tanning, fatliquoring, and finishing. They offer functions like bactericidal and preservative effects, tanning assistance, softening, anti-static, and water resistance, thereby enhancing the fullness and softness of leather while improving its appearance and performance.

Disinfectants

These surfactants, with their positive charge, interact with the negatively charged cell membranes of microorganisms, disrupting their membrane structure and thereby achieving bactericidal effects. Common quaternary ammonium salts such as dodecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (Steris) and benzalkonium chloride have been used as disinfectants for over 50 years. They not only exhibit strong bactericidal properties but can also be blended with other surfactants to enhance disinfecting performance.

Oilfield Chemicals

Cationic surfactants are extensively used in oilfield chemicals, mainly as biocides, corrosion inhibitors, flocculants, shale inhibitors, water-blocking agents, scale inhibitors, and demulsifiers. For example, in oil extraction processes, cationic surfactants help enhance the efficiency of heavy oil extraction by reducing the oil-water interfacial tension, allowing the heavy oil to form low-viscosity emulsions that are easier to extract.

Industrial Water Treatment

Due to their molecular structure containing hydrophilic groups with positive charges, cationic surfactants can electrostatically interact with negatively charged pollutants in water, such as clay, silicates, and organic colloids, forming flocs that effectively remove suspended particles and impurities from water. Additionally, cationic surfactants exhibit good bactericidal properties, making them useful as disinfectants in water treatment.

Nanomaterials and Pharmaceutical Formulations

In the field of nanomaterials, cationic surfactants can act as template agents or stabilizers to synthesize and regulate the morphology, size, and structure of nanomaterials. In pharmaceutical formulations, cationic surfactants are used in drug carriers, solubilizers, emulsifiers, and antibacterial agents. Their excellent stability and antimicrobial properties offer broad prospects in drug delivery systems and biomedical materials.

Customers Often Look For

Our company's best-selling cationic surfactant is widely used in industries such as textiles, personal care, and household cleaning due to its excellent antistatic properties and outstanding lubrication effects. This product is gentle yet effective, enhancing the comfort and quality of products, making it especially suitable for use in shampoos, conditioners, and other daily care products. We are dedicated to providing high-quality cationic surfactants to meet diverse customer needs and help make your products more competitive.

Our Services Include

To meet the diverse needs of our clients regarding surfactants, we offer comprehensive services including Dispersant and Surfactant Characterization, as well as Custom Synthesis and Product Development.

Dispersant and Surfactant Characterization

Dispersant and surfactant compounds, additives, and materials are tested, analyzed, and characterized at Alfa Chemistry's dispersant analysis laboratory.

Custom Synthesis and Product Development

Alfa Chemistry is prepared to effectively accomplish any demanding custom synthesis project in our custom synthesis laboratory, from milligrams to kilograms, based on years of expertise working with surfactant companies.

Case Study

Case 1: Application in Shampoo

An internationally renowned personal care company sourced Polyquaternium-11 from Alfa Chemistry to develop a new shampoo. Due to its cationic properties, Polyquaternium-11 can closely adhere to hair fibers, forming a transparent and flexible thin film that provides a soft, smooth feel to the hair. Additionally, this ingredient has extremely low residue, preventing the hair from becoming weighed down. As a result, the shampoo received widespread acclaim from consumers, particularly for its excellent performance in improving hair texture and reducing frizz.

Case 2: Application in Food Preservation

A food technology company sourced Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate HCl (Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate Hydrochloride) from Alfa Chemistry for the development of a new type of food preservative. Research showed that this compound has significant inhibitory effects on various foodborne pathogens, such as Listeria monocytogenes, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) as low as 10 μg/mL. In experiments, the bacterial count on food surfaces treated with Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate HCl was significantly reduced, and the compound was found to decompose into natural metabolites in the body, ensuring high safety. As a result, the company successfully developed an efficient and safe food preservative that significantly extended the shelf life of food products.

What Our Clients Say

"We chose Polyquaternium-11 as the main ingredient during our new product development, and the results exceeded our expectations. This product not only effectively enhances the smoothness of our conditioner but also increases hair shine. Customer feedback has been very positive, with many expressing their satisfaction with the results after use. We will definitely continue to use this material in future products!"

— Emily Carter, Cosmetic R&D Manager

"We used Ethyl lauroyl arginate HCl in our new product development and found it to perform exceptionally well in emulsification and moisturization. This ingredient is not only effective but also safe, with very positive feedback from our customers. We are delighted to have found such a high-quality raw material and appreciate your company’s efficient service and professional support!"

— Michael Anderson, Cosmetic R&D Engineer

"In our company’s laboratory, Triethylmethylammonium chloride (CAS 10052-47-8) is widely used in our quality control processes. The high purity and stability of this product ensure that our experimental results are accurate and reliable. The technical support provided by the supplier has also made the usage process much more reassuring. I highly recommend this product to my peers."

— Sarah Thompson, Quality Control Manager

"During our new product development, we needed a compound that could effectively enhance solubility, and Benzyltrimethylammonium hydroxide perfectly met our needs. It not only improved the product’s performance but is also very easy to handle. We are very satisfied with the supplier’s service, with timely deliveries and professional support making our work much smoother. Thank you for providing such a high-quality product!"

— James Mitchell, R&D Engineer

"As the Quality Control Manager at a pharmaceutical company, I place great importance on the quality of raw materials. Dodecylpyridinium bromide is a key ingredient in our cleaning and disinfection processes. We are very satisfied with its performance, and it has significantly improved the safety of our products. It is also worth mentioning that the supplier’s service attitude is excellent, with quick responses and a highly professional approach!"

— Jessica Reynolds, Quality Control Manager

Latest Updates

Knowledge & Learning

Exploring Cationic Surfactants: Composition, Benefits, and Wide Range of Uses

View

Online Inquiry

Name:

Phone:

* Email:

Quote Number:

* Quantity:

* Service & Products of Interest:

Project Description:

*Verification Code: