Disclosed are fast blooming surfactants that are suitable for inclusion in film compositions that will subsequently treated with a low surface energy material to create a surface energy gradient between the underlying polymeric structure of the film and spaced apart microscopic depositions of the low surface energy material. The surfactants have a permeation rate of less than 240 hours, a surface tension in an aqueous solution at a concentration that is greater than the critical micelle concentration that lies between the critical surface tension of the underlying polymeric structure of the web material and the critical surface tension of the low surface energy depositions; and an HLB between about 6 and about 16. Preferred surfactants also have a weight loss on heating to 250.degree. C. that is less than about 20%. More preferred surfactants have a hydrophobic chain that is substantially saturated.