Phase behaviour surfactant-polymer systems

The phase behaviour of PS systems is also affected by specific interactions between the two cosolutes, similar to hydrophobic interactions in the case of HM-polymers. This may enhance phase separation for nonionic systems but decrease it for ionics. For a mixture of oppositely charged polymer and surfactant,... 

There are basically two topics that need to be addressed regarding the effect of amphiphilic polymers on the physical behaviour of microemulsions. The first topic is related to phase behaviour and structure formation. Amphiphilic polymers can strongly influence phase behaviour because of their impact on the bending rigidity of the surfactant film. For both droplet micro emulsions and bicontinuous microemulsions such phenomena were studied. Especially in droplet microemulsions, amphiphilic polymers were used to interconnect microemulsion domains. This leads to ordering phenomena and can alter the phase behaviour. The second topic again is based on systems where microemulsion domains are connected via polymers. It covers dynamic phenomena with a focus on viscoelastic properties. Important in this area is the formation of transient or permanent networks. 

ZHA Zhang, K.-W., Karlstrbm, G., and Lindman, B., Phase behaviour of systems of a non-ionic surfactant and a non-ionic polymer in aqueous solution. Colloids Surfaces, 61, 147, 1992. 

The extent of phase separation in the system shown in Figure 20.21 increases strongly with the surfactant alkyl chain length and polymer molecular weight. On addition of electrolyte, the phase separation is eliminated, but at higher electrolyte content there is a phase separation again. However, as we can see in Figure 20.22, it is of a different nature. This behaviour, which is... 

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