Information sources

Abstract

Information on the properties of surfactants and their use in formulations is not neatly collected together in any one type of publication. Although surface active agents are chemicals they are not pure, and the products of commerce are mixtures of chemicals of very similar but not identical properties. Thus publications such as Beilstein and the Registry file of Chemical Abstracts are of very limited use. The major source of information on surfactants are the manufacturers. Their information is generally inadequate because they will concentrate on that information relevant to the manufacture and safety of the surfactants rather than their use. The larger manufacturers will have available considerable information on the use of their products as a sales aid, but this will inevitably be limited to the larger end uses.