VARIABLES AFFECTING DRAG REDUCTION BY NONIONIC SURFACTANT ADDITIVES†

Abstract
For several polyoxyethylene alcohol nonionic surfactants not previously studied, the effects of surfactant structure, temperature, electrolytes, surfactant concentration, and mechanical degradation on drag reduction near their coacervation temperatures were investigated. Only linear alcohol derivatives were effective. Mechanically degraded solutions regain their drag reducing ability upon entering a low-shear region.