Ternary systems spherical micelles

A typical phase diagram of a ternary system of water, ionic surfactant and long-chain alcohol (co-surfactant) is shown in Figure 15.5. The aqueous micellar solution A solubilizes some alcohol (spherical normal micelles), whereas the alcohol solution dissolves huge amounts of water, forming inverse micelles, B. These two phases are not in equilibrium, but are separated by a third region, namely the lamellar liquid crystalline phase. These lamellar structures and their equilibrium with the aqueous micellar solution (A) and the inverse micellar solution (B) are the essential elements for both microemulsion and emulsion stability [3]. 

Many surfactant solutions are known which contain spherical micelles up to high surfactant concentrations and behave as Newtonian liquids with a low viscosity. This is especially the case for ternary systems of surfactant, hydrocarbon and water where the spheres are stabilized by the solubilization of the non-polar hydrocarbon. 

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