Langmuir, Vol.17, No.26, 7995-8000, 2001
Stepwise process forming AOT W/O microemulsion investigate by dielectric measurements
The dielectric constant, is an element of (r), and the electrical conductivity, kappa, were measured precisely for (AOT + r .H2O) in c-hexane, heptane, octane, and decane as a function of the molar ratio, r, of water to AOT up to percolation onset at 298 K for 1 kHz to 30 MHz, The aggregation process depends strongly on the oil used and r. The unique change observed in is an element of (r) and kappa was interpreted in terms of shape and size of the assemblies. In c-hexane, water is stabilized stored in spherical reversed micelles for a wide range of r. In heptane and octane, water is bound in unsymmetrical aggregates formed first in a region of small r, and then reversed micelles are formed from aggregates on addition of water. The behavior in decane is quite different from other systems. Our results suggest that large particles are formed from small aggregates directly in decane. The percolation transition occurs because of the coalescence of droplets with addition of water, leading to abrupt increase of is an element of (r) and kappa. The value of r that induces percolation is in the order decane < octane < heptane " c-hexane. This order was related to the curvature energy of droplets, which is influenced strongly by the degree of oil penetration. Our speculation for the aggregation process is supported by theoretical and experimental results found in the literature.