Aggregate structures enhancement

The dual nature or amphiphilicity of surfactant molecules provides a thermodynamic driving force for adsorption and aggregation of surfactant molecules. In aqueous media the hydrophobic sections of surfactant molecules are attracted to the hydrophobic section of adjacent surfactant molecules. The association of adjacent hydrophobic sections of surfactant molecules reduces the less favorable interactions between water molecules and individual hydrophobic sections of surfactant, thereby reducing system free energy. The effects of association between adjacent hydrophobic sections of surfactant molecules are enhanced in aggregate structures such as adsorbed layers of surfactant and solution micelles. 

Dibutylphtalate absorption analysis. High dibutyl phtalate absorption of conductive carbon black showed that this carbon black had a large amount of free spaces between the aggregates which enhances the effective volume of the filler (Table 3). Macromolecules of elastomers can be trapped in this pores or voids of the aggregates which increases the reinforcing effect of the filler [1,5], The least branched and complex structure revealed the N550 carbon black. 

More recently, Lee and co-workers also designed a carbohydrate-conjugate molecular wedge (35) that can endow aggregates with enhanced stabihty, external stimuh responsive character as well as biological functions [79]. These molecules were found to self-assemble into nanofibers that could reversibly transform into spheres upon addition of guest aromatic small molecules, i.e. Nile Red (Fig. 29). The structural transformation could be interpreted by the... 

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