AOT REVERSE MICELLES - DEPLETION MODEL

The structure of AOT microemulsions in various bulk solvents is invest igated by SAXS and conductivity measurements. The intermicellar intera ctions are analyzed with the sticky hard-sphere model taking into acco unt the discret nature of the solvent. A model is proposed to explain the decrease in the interdroplet attractions with the increase of volu me fraction of reverse micelles. It is based on the existence of deple tion forces between reverse micelles. It allows the determination of a theoretical relation between the stickiness parameter and the reverse micelle volume fraction which is compared to experimental data. The p ercolation threshold of reverse micellar systems is then qualitatively determined in three different solvents.