Surface force of polystyrene latex particles in aqueous anionic amphipathic solutions

The Surface forces between a polystyrene particle (negatively charged surface) of latex and a flat silica plate for several concentrations of aqueous solution of anionic amphipathic molecules (sodium dodecylsulfonate) were investigated using an atomic force microscope (AFM) colloidal probe method. In the lower concentration region approximately 1-2 mM, the surface force showed general repulsive profiles according to normal Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory between the surfaces having the same sign of surface charge under an electrolyte aqueous solution. While in the higher concentration region at less than the critical micelle concentration (cmc), the surface force showed attractive profiles. Findings suggest that the anionic amphipathic molecules adsorbed to the polystyrene particle in the higher concentration region and induced changes in the surface morphology and properties of the surface region. The change in the surface morphology is believed to be one of the origins of the attractive interaction.