I. Mandru et Z. Cenuse, THE EFFECT OF N-BUTYL GLYCOL ETHERS ON THE PHASE-DIAGRAMS OF MICROEMULSIONS FORMULATED WITH NONIONIC SURFACTANTS, Colloid and polymer science, 274(9), 1996, pp. 894-898
The effect of n-butyl glycol ethers used as cosurfactants on the micro
emulsions formulated with two nonionic surfactants, hexaoxyethylene gl
ycol monolauryl ether and sorbitan monolaurate, is presented on ternar
y phase diagrams. The solubilization parameters as well as isothermal
invariant points (IIP) of microemulsions were correlated with the solu
bility parameters of cosurfactants. An optimum solubility parameter of
cosurfactants was established around 9 (cal/cm(3))(1/2) where both II
P and solubilization parameters are optimal for water and oil solubili
zation with the lowest concentration of amphiphilic compounds. The mix
ture of cosurfactants can be used to obtain a certain transition on th
e phase diagram and so to achieve certain characteristics for microemu
lsions, especially to tailor the solvency of the system.