Novel Nonionic Polyurethane Surfactants and Ag Nanohybrids: Influence of Nonionic Polymeric Chains

Five novel nonionic surfactants were prepared by the reaction of polyethylene glycol of different molecular weights with toluene diisocyanate. The obtained polyurethane polymers were reacted with oleic acid to obtain the nonionic polyurethane surfactants. The structures of the synthesized compounds were determined by using: Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and their average molecular weights by means of GC analysis. Silver nanohybrids of the nonionic polyurethane surfactants were prepared via physical combination by chemically prepared silver nanoparticles. The silver nanohybrids were determined using: UV, TEM, and DLS spectroscopy. The influence of the nonionic chain length (polyethylene glycol chains) on the surface activity of the synthesized nonionic polyurethane oleate surface active agents and their silver nanohybrids was studied. The results of surface activity of the nonionic polyurethanes oleate and their nanohybrids showed an increase in the critical micelle concentration by decreasing the polyethylene glycol chain lengths. The nanohybrids were also more surface active. Longer polyethylene glycol chains provide good protection for the formed silver nanoparticles than the shorter chains.