Micellar Growth and Shape Change in an Oil-in-Water Microemulsion

Abstract

Accurate measurements of water, oil, and surfactant self-diffusion coefficients have been made in the microemulsion phase of pentaethylene glycol dodecyl ether (C 12 E 5 ), water, and decane using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. In conjunction with previously measured 2 H NMR relaxation rates, the self-diffusion coefficients are consistent with a limited growth from sphere to prolate (oil-swollen) micelles with an axial ratio ≤3.5 as a precursor to the bicontinuous structure