ABSTRACT
Strictly speaking, polyoxyethylene alkylamines should be considered as cationic surfactants. Indeed, in some references polyoxyethylene alkylamines are reviewed as cationic surfactants [1]. This notwithstanding, polyoxyethylene alkylamines made by reaction of >6 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of primary amine do exhibit solubility characteristics, e.g., high-temperature cloud point, of classical nonionic surfactants. Although adducts from propylene oxide and mixed adducts of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide are beginning to become more available, they will not be discussed. In this review we shall address only those surfactants that have attained significant commercial importance. Any omissions are a matter of the perspectives of the authors.
