ASSOCIATION STRUCTURES IN WATER, POLY(SODIUM UNDECANOATE), AND DECANOL

The phase equilibria in the system water, poly(sodium undecanoate), an d decanol were investigated using visual observations and low-angle X- ray diffraction. The system contained, in addition to the solid soap a nd the alcohol, an aqueous micellar isotropic solution, and a lamellar liquid crystal. The differences from the corresponding monomer system are discussed. The absence of a liquid crystal of hexagonally arrayed cylinders and an alcohol solution of inverse micelles is related to t he structure of the polysoap.