What Does
Cloud Point Mean?
A cloud point refers to the temperature at which a solution of a surfactant begins to agglomerate on a molecular level, generating a cloudy physical appearance. Cloud point temperatures are important for liquid fuels and other petroleum-based substances.
Corrosionpedia Explains Cloud Point
Nonionic surfactants are the most likely to display cloud point occurrences due to their solubility at lower temperatures. Shale inhibitors are produced from glycols that present cloud point behavior. The applicable use of cloud points is within the temperature range of 0°C to 100°C (32°F to 212°F), correlating to the physical state boundaries of water. It is measured using 1% aqueous surfactant solutions. Other components present in a solution may decrease or increase the solution’s cloud point.