Formation of a liquid crystalline phase between aqueous surfactant solutions and oily substances

Abstract

AbstractThe process in which a ternary liquid crystalline (LC) phase containing surfactant, water and oily substance is formed after contact of aqueous surfactant solution and oily substance was investigated by a combination of (i) microscopic observation in polarized light and (ii) penetration of water‐soluble or oil‐soluble dye into LC phase. The structure of LC phase and the process of its formation were found to be affected by many factors, such as kinds of surfactant, surfactant concentration, alkyl chain length of oil and so on.Oil is supposed to be gradually incorporated into LC phase with time. The fact that parts of LC phase are projected into the exterior surfactant solution, and that the continuous phase within LC phase is water, suggest the possibility of the dispersion of LC phase into the exterior solution.The process of the formation of LC phase implies some contribution to oily dirt removal.The process of the formation of LC phase implies some contribution to oily dirt removal.