Fractal scaling of small-angle neutron scattering from nonionic micellar solutions below the cloud temperature.

Power-law variations of small-angle neutron-scattering intensities from nonionic micellar solutions of isooctylphenoxy polyethoxy ethanol (Triton X-100) in D{sub 2}O for a range of concentrations (1{endash}4 wt{percent}) and temperatures (295{endash}335 K) are interpreted in terms of simple models of fractal aggregates. The results show a large increase in dimensionality from {approximately}1 at ambient temperature to {approximately}2.3 near the cloud points. The variation of fractal dimension with temperature is almost the same for the three concentrations studied. Thus one arrives at a picture of micellar aggregates becoming more and more tenuous as cloud points are approached. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}