[RoyT]

What is the difference between cationic detergents and anionic detergents.

How is one incompatible with other - what does that incompatibility mean.

Foe example, benzalkonium chloride is reportedly incompatible with soaps and other anionic surfactants, citrates, iodides, nitrates, permanganates, salicylates, silver salts and tartrates. Incompatibilities have been demonstrated with ingredients of some commercial rubber mixes or plastics. Incompatibilities have also been reported with other substances including aluminum, cotton, fluorescein sodium, hydrogen peroxide, kaolin, hydrous wool fat, and some sulphonamides.

What is meant by these incompatibilities?

[Babcock_Hall]

Let's start with your first question.  Do you what a cation is versus what an anion is?

[RoyT]

Yes, I understand one is positively charged and the other negatively charged. So they cancel each other out, but no other significant impact?

[Babcock_Hall]

I am not certain of the answer to this myself, but I am happy to consider what might happen.  Have you thought about solubility?

[RoyT]

I have not thought about solubility

[Babcock_Hall]

In an aqueous solution of a cationic detergent, what kind of intermolecular force stabilizes the positive charge?  How would this be different in an aqueous mixture of cationic and anionic detergents?