Surface Activity: Principles, Phenomena and Applications (Polymers, Interfaces and Biomaterials)

The first book in a new series edited by Toyoichi Tanaka, Surface Activity illustrates the fundamentals and principles of surfactants, and describes the applications of surface activity to our everyday life andindustry. It is written to display the most essential concepts and up-to-date research results on surface activity phenomenon. The book covers the concepts of surface (interfacial) tension and its characteristic properties.
Surface Activity presents conventional and potential applications, and proposes creative and original ideas for future research and development for consumer products such as detergents, toiletries and cosmetics. The book also discusses potential applications for lypotropic liquid crystals, new drug delivery systems, molecular electronics, and environmental concerns. This book will be of value to researchers, yet beginners in this field will also be able to understand the essential concepts.


* Describes surface activity from basic principles to practical applications
* Presents the applications of wetting, foaming and defoaming, emulsions, etc., for detergents, toiletries, cosmetics and other industrial uses
* Describes environmental problems
* Gives potential future applications for drug delivery systems, sensors, and molecular electronics

Dr. Kaoru Tsujii is one of the pioneers and leaders in science and technology of the surfactants. He has long explored the field covering both theory andindustrial applications. Tsujii received both his Master of Science degree and his Ph.D. from Osaka University. He has been employed by Kao Corporation, a leading manufacturer of consumer products in Japan, since 1970, where he is currently a Research Fellow. His areas of research include ididescent solutions resulting from periodic structure of bilayer membranes, super water- and oil-repellent surfaces utilizing their fractal structure, hybrid polymer gels with bilayer membranes, and interactions of surfacants with polymer gels. Dr. Tsujii has published over 50 papers and has authored 14 books and chapters. He has applied for 76 patents.