The Concise Surfactant Reference image
by Eric Lomax

1998; A4 (12" x 8"), 142 pages, softback, £90.00, ISBN: 978-1870228-22-0

Surfactants (surface-active agents - materials which alter the surface properties of water and other liquids to produce foams, emulsions and other effects) are used in very many industries, but their properties are not as widely understood as they might be. This is partly because the physical chemistry behind these effects is not always available.

This book explains, with the help of ten coloured diagrams and very many black and white illustrations, the structure, preparation and properties of the common surfactant types (anionic, nonionic, cationic and amphoteric). It goes on to show why some surfactants are easily thickened (and thinned) and how hydrotropes work; why some are foaming agents, others are wetting agents and yet others are emulsifiers; what is required for low-foaming products and how defoaming works; the difference between a solubiliser and a coupler and what a microemulsion is; the interactions between different surfactants and how use can be made of such effects; the application of surfactants in personal care products, in laundry and dishwashing detergents, in hard surface cleaners and other uses, and many more important facts about surfactants. The book is completed by a discussion of toxicological and environmental considerations, an extensive glossary of surfactant terms and an encyclopaedic list of surfactant types.

The Concise Surfactant Reference has been written by Eric Lomax who is well known as a lecturer on surfactant technology. He is the editor of Marcel Dekker's Amphoteric Surfactants, wrote several chapters for that book and has written many other papers dealing with the properties and applications of these interesting materials.

This is an essential book for all chemists working with surfactants. It will also be of great use to other technical personnel who have to understand something about these products.

*Paperback with a clear cellophane cover.

The Surfactant Dictionary and Encyclopedia
by Eric Lomax

1997; A4 (12" x 8"), hardback loose-leaf, £90.00

A quick and easy reference to hundreds of subjects.

About the book: "I have long appreciated the need for a reference book on surfactants," writes Eric Lomax, the editor, "in easy to understand form, which would answer commonly encountered questions quickly and succinctly.

It is difficult to provide such answers in book format, even with good indexing, so I decided to combine a "book" introduction which could be read straight through to give those new to surfactants a rapid overview, and an "encyclopedia" which would provide more detailed explanations.

This combined format is designed to provide you with rapid answers, easily understood, and lavishly illustrated. To make it as easy as possible to use, The Surfactant Dictionary and Encyclopedia is available in loose-leaf binder format. This lets you add your own material."

About the author: Eric Lomax has spent his whole working life of more than 30 years on surfactants. This has included sales, technical service, research and development, and being granted numerous patents world-wide. His articles have been published in Europe, the Americas and Japan. He has recently completed editing the new Marcel Dekker book Amphoteric Surfactants, 2nd edition. Currently he is joint Managing Director of Specialty Training Limited which publishes the British Association for Specialty Chemicals Surfactant Training Modules and runs courses based on them. Specialty Training runs about 16 surfactant courses each year and also undertakes an in-house training for major companies in this field. With such a background it is difficult to imagine one more qualified to put together a truly easy-to-use reference book.

Surfactants in Personal Care
by Eric Lomax

[details to be advised]

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