title: Surfactant diffusion through bicontinuous micellar networks: a case study of the C9G1/C10G1/H2O mixed surfactant system.
abstract: Self-diffusion coefficients were obtained by means of NMR diffusometry for differing ratios of n-decyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (C10G1) and n-nonyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (C9G1) surfactant mixtures, along dilution lines through the micellar region of the ternary C9G1/C10G1/H2O phase diagram. Networks of bicontinuous micelles have been suggested to exist throughout the micellar regions of the phase diagram. A phase separation into two coexisting liquid solutions is observed in the dilute, C10G1-rich regions of the phase diagram. The fact that the dilution curves follow scaling relations pertaining to surfactant diffusion in a network for mixtures rich in C10G1 indicates that the phase separation is due to differences in the networks in different micellar regions of the phase diagram; networks remain largely intact despite dilution down to the phase separation in the C10G1-rich region, whereas networks with scissions are predicted to exist in the C9G1-rich regions of the micellar phase.
authors.affiliation: Physical Chemistry 1, Center for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Christy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Whiddon
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reimer
authors.forename: Olle
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Söderman