Self-aggregation of ionic C(10) surfactants having different headgroups with special reference to the behavior of decyltrimethylammonium bromide in different salt environments: a calorimetric study with energetic analysis.

Self-aggregation of C10 ionic surfactants with different head groups, viz., decylpyridinium chloride, sodium decylsulfate, decylammonium bromide, decyldimethylammonium bromide, and decyltrimethylammonium bromide, was studied in the aqueous medium by microcalorimetric and conductometric methods. The effects of temperature and different salts (NaF, NaCl, NaBr, NaI, Na2SO4, Na2S2O7, Na-benzoate, and Na-salicylate) were also studied on decyltrimethylammonium bromide representatives. The cmc, counterion binding, and energetics of micellization were evaluated and discussed. The energetic parameters, enthalpy, entropy, and specific heat of micellization obtained from direct calorimetry and the indirect van't Hoff method were compared and discussed.