The role of adsorption of dodecylethyldimethylammonium bromide (C-12(EDMAB)) and benzyldimethyldodecylammonium bromide (BDDAB) at water-air and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-water and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) -water interface, in wetting of PTFE and PMMA surface, was established from the measured values of the contact angle (theta) of aqueous C-12(EDMAB) and BDDAB solutions in PTFE (PMMA)-solution drop-air system, and from the measured values of the surface tension of aqueous C-12(EDMAB) and BDDAB solutions. Adsorption of C-12(EDMAB) and BDDAB at water-air interface was determined earlier from the Gibbs equation. Adsorption at solid -water interface was deduced from the Lucassen-Reynders equation based on the relationship between adhesion tension (gamma(LV) cos theta) and surface tension (gamma(LV)). The slope of the gamma(LV) cos theta-gamma(LV) curve was found to be constant and equal to -1, and about -0.3 for PTFE and PMMA surface, respectively (in the case of both surfactant studied: C-12(EDMAB) and BDDAB, and in the whole range of surfactants concentration in solution). It means that the amount of the surfactant adsorbed at the PTFE -water interface, GSL, was essentially equal to its amount adsorbed at water-air interface, Gamma(LV). However, GSL at the PMMA -water interface was about three times smaller as compared to that at water-air interface. By extrapolating the linear dependence between gamma(LV) cos theta-gamma(LV) and dependence between cos theta-gamma(LV) and cos theta = 1 we determined the value of the critical surface tension of PTFE and PMMA surface wetting, gamma(c). The obtained values of gc for PTFE surface were equal 23.4 and 23.8 mN/m, 23.1 and 23.2 mN/m for C-12(EDMAB) and BDDAB, respectively and they were higher than the surface tension of PTFE (20.24 mN/m). On the other hand, the obtained values of gc for PMMA surface were equal 31.4 and 30.9 mN/m, 31.7 and 31.3 mN/m for C-12(EDMAB) and BDDAB, respectively and they were smaller than the surface tension of PMMA (39.21 mN/m). Using the values of PTFE and PMMA surface tension and the measured values of the surface tension of aqueous C-12(EDMAB) and BDDAB solutions in the Young equation, the PTFE (PMMA)-solution interfacial tension, gamma(SL), was also determined. Next, the work of adhesion (W-A) was deduced, and it occurred that the dependence between the W-A and the surface tension (gamma(LV)) for both studied solids was linear. However, the values of the W-A for PMMA change as a function of log C (C-surfactant concentration) changed from 91.7 to 68.5 mJ/m(2) and from 91.8 to 65.1 mJ/m(2) for C-12(EDMAB) and BDDAB, respectively. On the other hand, the work of adhesion of both studied surfactants solutions to the PTFE surface was practically constant (an average value was equal 45.8 and 45.4 mJ/m(2), respectively). These values were close to the value of the work of water adhesion to PTFE surface (45.5 mJ/m(2)). (C) 2008 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.