The effect of polymers on the physicochemical properties of cationic gemini (16-4-16 MEA, 2Br-) and monomeric surfactants (cetyldiethylethanolammonium bromide, (CDEEAB) and cetyldimethylethanolammonium bromide (CDMEAB) have been studied by conductivity measurements. The critical micelle concentration (cmc) value increases by increasing the percentage and molecular mass of polymers (poly (ethylene glycol), PEG-X, where X = 400, 600) while it decreases with higher molecular mass (X = 4000, 6000, 20,000). Thermodynamic parameters (standard Gibbs energy (Delta G degrees(m)), enthalpy (Delta H degrees(m)), and entropy (Delta S degrees(m)), of micellization) have also been investigated. Hydrophobic interactions and the ability to form hydrogen bonds play a role in the polymer-surfactant association. This associative behavior was shown to depend significantly on the polymer and surfactant concentrations. The enthalpies of micellization are much more exothermic for the gemini surfactants than for the monomeric surfactants. All of the surfactants exhibited the enthalpy-entropy compensation phenomenon. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.