MICROEMULSIONS AND LIQUID-CRYSTALS WITH WHITE OIL

Phase maps were determined in the system water, sodium dodocyl sulfate , pentanol and a commercial mineral oil (Drakeol(R) 7) and the dimensi ons in the lamellar liquid crystal were determined using low angle x-r ay diffraction. The mineral oil gave a strong reduction in the water-i n-oil microemulsion region solubilization capacity for water when comb ined with the cosurfactant in a 1/1 weight ratio. For less oil/cosurfa ctant ratios a large oil-in-water microemulsion region was observed. T he mineral ail added to the liquid crystal in the system strongly redu ced the water penetration into the hydrocarbon chain region and enhanc ed the disorder of the hydrocarbon chains in the structure.