Phase behavior of microemulsion systems studied by positron annihilation techniques

The positron annihilation technique was applied to the study of phase behavior of sodium stearate (or oleate)-alcohol-oil-water microemulsion systems. The positron annihilation parameters revealed a dependence of the water/oil ratio at which microemulsion formation occurs on the hydrocarbon chain length of both alcohol cosurfactant and solvent as well as surfactant concentration. Dynamic laser light scattering has been utilized for substantiating the phase transitions determined in the different microemulsion systems by positron annihilation. The difference in the behavior between saturated and unsaturated surfactants is the most remarkable result of the investigation. Thus, replacing sodium stearate by sodium oleate in the surfactant-1-hexanol-isooctane systems obviated microemulsion formation. This behavior has been rationalized by considering packing and kink presence in microemulsion formation. 26 references.