Micellar Nematic Phase in a Binary Mixture of Two Nonmesogenic Compounds

Abstract

We report the results of our studies on the optical and thermal properties of two nonmesogenic compounds, namely, tetradecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (TTAB) and glacial acetic acid (GAA). The mixture exhibits very interesting schilieren texture of micellar nematic lyophase, smectic A (SmA), and SmG phases for all concentrations of TTAB sequentially when the specimen is cooled from its isotropic phase. The order parameter (S) of the micellar nematic phase is estimated with the help of temperature dependence of optical anisotropy from the measured refractive index and density data. The temperature variation of order parameter of the experimental curve is very well fitted with the Mayer–Saupe theoretical curve. The temperature variation of electrical conductivity is also discussed. The formation of above phases has been confirmed by optical X-ray and differential scanning calorimetry studies.