ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Data Journal

Investigating the diffusion of surfactant and water into soft solid films for cleaning applications using neutron reflectometry

Abstract: The removal of soft solid deposits from surfaces remains a persistent challenge in both domestic and industrial cleaning, particularly in the food sector. These residues often require chemical action and surfactant solutions for effective removal. However, a mechanistic understanding of how surfactants and water penetrate and alter these films remains incomplete. We hypothesise that diffusion of surfactant and water into such films is dependent on both the film composition and the substrate, and that this interaction drives key nanoscale structural changes relevant to cleaning performance. We propose to use neutron reflectometry to investigate time-resolved structural and compositional changes in 100 nm-thick model food residue films composed of potato starch, ?-lactoglobulin, stearic acid, and their binary mixtures. Films will be deposited on stainless-steel-coated and hydrophobic OTS-functionalised silicon substrates to assess substrate-dependent effects. Using isotopic contrast and deuterated SDS, we will monitor surfactant and solvent distribution during and after exposure. OFFSPEC at ISIS is ideally suited to resolve these dynamic changes with high spatial resolution. The outcomes of this work will directly support our previous work towards a comprehensive, cross-scale understanding of cleaning processes. These measurements will provide critical nanoscale insights into cleaning mechanisms and inform the development of more effective and sustainable cleaning agents.

Principal Investigator: Mr Matthew Moore
Experimenter: Miss Lucie Hlubinkova
Local Contact: Dr Mario Campana
Experimenter: Professor Zhenyu Zhang
Experimenter: Dr Stephen Hall
Local Contact: Dr Oleksandr Tomchuk
Experimenter: Mrs Anna Bakhina
Experimenter: Mrs Alla Voiteshenko
Experimenter: Miss Huiru Yu

DOI: 10.5286/ISIS.E.RB2520393

ISIS Experiment Number: RB2520393

Publisher: STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source

Data format: RAW/Nexus
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Data Citation

The recommended format for citing this dataset in a research publication is as:
[author], [date], [title], [publisher], [doi]

For Example:
Mr Matthew Moore et al; (2026): Investigating the diffusion of surfactant and water into soft solid films for cleaning applications using neutron reflectometry, STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, https://doi.org/10.5286/ISIS.E.RB2520393

Data is released under the CC-BY-4.0 license.