The difference between dispersant and surfactant

The main difference between a dispersant and a surfactant is that a dispersant can improve the separation of particles in a suspension, while a surfactant is a substance that can reduce the surface tension between the two phases of a substance
.

Dispersant is a form of surfactant
.
But all surfactants are not dispersant coatings online coatingol.
com
.
In addition to acting as a dispersant, surfactants can also act as detergents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, and foaming agents
.
Generally, they are all organic compounds
.

What is a dispersant?

Dispersants are liquids or gases used to disperse small particles in a medium
.
We also call it "plasticizer"
.
They come in two forms
.
Non-surface-active polymers and surface-active substances
.
We add these substances to the suspension to avoid the formation of particle clusters
.
In order to avoid cluster formation, this improves the separation of particles
.
In addition, this process prevents particles from settling
.
In most cases, the dispersant consists of one or more surfactant substances
.

Figure 01: Mechanism of action of dispersant

The applications of these substances include the production of automobile engine oil, the prevention of the formation of biofilms in various industries, the avoidance of large amounts of water in concrete mixing, and the decomposition of solids into particles in oil drilling

What is a surfactant?

Surfactants are substances that can reduce the surface tension between the two phases of a substance
.
It can reduce the surface tension between two liquids, between gas and liquid or between liquid and solid
.
Most of the time, they are amphiphilic organic compounds
.
This means that these substances contain both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions in the same molecule
.
Therefore, they contain both water-soluble and non-water-soluble regions
.

Figure 02: Hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions of surfactant molecules

The applications of surfactants include detergents, wetting agents, dispersants, emulsifiers, foaming and defoaming effects in many products, such as detergents, emulsions, paints, soaps, inks, antifogging agents, adhesives, and disinfectants.

What is the difference between dispersant and surfactant?

Dispersants are liquids or gases used to disperse small particles in a medium

The chart below provides more detailed information on the difference between dispersants and surfactants in tabular form
.

Summary – Dispersants and Surfactants

Dispersant is a form of surfactant