Extended phase structures, fatty acid

When surface active agents are considered, a further complication may be encountered. Because of their surface active nature, the surfactants not only emich at the surfaces, but also form extended structures themselves. At low concentrations, the surfactants remain as dissolved monomers or asssociate to oligomers. However, when the critical micellization concentration (cmc) is surpassed, a cooperative association is activated to micelles (1 to 10 nm) consisting typically of some 50 to 100 monomers. At stiU higher concentrations, or in the presence of cosurfactants (alcohols, amines, fatty acids, etc.), liquid crystalline phases may separate. These phases have an infinite order on the x-ray scale, but may remain as powders on the NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) scale. When the lamellar liquid crystalline phase is in equilibrium with the liquid micellar phase the conditions are optimal for emulsions to form. The interface of the emulsion droplets (1 to 100 pm) are stabilized by the lamellar liquid crystal. Both the micelles and the emulsions may be of the oil in water (o/w) or water in oil (w/o) type. Obviously, substances that otherwise are insoluble in the dispersion medium may be solubilized in the micelles or emulsified in the emulsions. For a more thorough analysis, the reader is directed to pertinent references in the literature. ... 

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