HOW DO DETERGENTS AND DEGREASERS WORK

HOW DO DETERGENTS AND DEGREASERS WORK

EMULSIFICATION OF OILS-GREASE BY DEGREASER
Ionic or non-ionic detergent, Degreasers act as a combination of Physical and Chemical activity products when cleaning, degreasing and emulsifying greases and oils.
In principles the formulation contains a wetting agent that lowers the surface tension, especially in a hydrophobic ( non-polar) surface, allowing the interaction on the surface.
See the picture for its action:

Surface tension picture

This allows the degreaser to act on the whole surface and spread on top of the hydrocarbon (grease- oil) layer.
Then the product penetrates with the action of the solvents and its great solvency allows it to mix with the oils and greases. Here the action is that of dissolution or mixing. It actually takes the longest, around 5 to 10 minutes.

Dissolution step graphic example 

The next action taking place is the emulsification process, where the emulsifying agents and coupling agents, dissolve its molecules partially in the hydrophobic phase and with the polar end dissolved in the water part, see illustration below showing an emulsifying agent with its polar and non polar sides and the process to produce the micelles. The micelles concentration and size will depend in the concentration and type of emulsifying agent respectively.

Examples of emulsifying agents

Alignment of molecules

Partial dissolution of molecules by detergents

Finally the process of dispersion takes place where all the micelles are formed and are emulsified and dispersed in the water.
Micelles formed separate from each other due to electrical charges and are dispersed in the water solute. The quantity and size of them depending on the dosage and type of degreaser. In principles the greater the amount of the degreaser, the smaller the micelles and the fines the dispersion.

Finally oil / grease in emulsion 

Water is so able to uplift the grease from the surface and wash it away.