Formation of surfactant layers - a basic operation of textile finishing

This publication shall make accessible the idea to the practicians that all finishing processes in the textile industry with participation of surfactants can be put down to the basic operation of the formation of layers. Furthermore I want to ask for some understanding for the requirement to develop the scientific knowledge on the interactions between surfactants and solids in such a way that they can be used for the optimization of processes of textile finishing. It should be possible to derive statements on the properties of the modified solids from the knowledge on the constitution of the components involved in the formation and the structure of this layer. It is evident that the difficulties are in detail (e.g. synergistic effects in mixtures of surfactants); nevertheless, a scientific progress in textile finishing is in the long run only possible in this way.