A simple rule for describing the composition dependence of the aggregation number of mixed micelles

Abstract

The mean aggregation numbers of mixed micelles composed of hydrocarbon surfactants (nonionic/nonionic and ionic/nonionic surfactants) have been determined by the intensity light-scattering method, in order to compare them with the values calculated by using the equations derived. The equations have been derived for representative micellar shapes (disk-like, rod-like, and spherical shapes) by making the assumptions that (i) the surface area of the hydrocarbon core of a mixed micelle is built up by independent contributions from each surfactant monomer, and (ii) the dimension of the hydrocarbon core is determined by the number of carbon atoms of a surfactant. The closest agreement of the observed aggregation numbers with the calculated ones has been obtained for the mixed micelle of an oblate ellipsoidal shape as a geometrical model for a disk-like micelle. This suggests that an oblate ellipsoidal shape may be more probable for a micelle formed at a moderate range of surfactant concentration than a prolate ellipsoidal (a rod-like) and a spherical shape if the assumptions (i) and (ii) hold. The equations presented here are useful, since they make it possible to calculate an accurate aggregation number of the mixed micelle of any composition from the aggregation numbers of the pure micelles of the components and the number of carbon atoms of component surfactants as long as there is no highly specific interaction between different surfactant components.