CHARACTERIZATION OF MESOSCOPIC STRUCTURES FROM POLYMERIZABLE AMPHIPHILES - THE WATER-SSPOM SYSTEM

Solutions of sodiumsulfopropyloctadecylmaleate (SSPOM) and water form ordered lamellar structures. Remarkable is that the structures form be low the Krafft discontinuity indicating a frozen state of the hydrocar bon chains. Phase behaviour and microstructure were characterized usin g optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), electri cal conductivity, backscattering of light, small-angle X-ray scatterin g (SAXS) and freeze fracture electron microscopy (FFEM). We find a hig hly swollen lamellar structure displaying iridescent colours when illu minated with white light. The repeat distance of the bilayer membranes is estimated by light and X-ray scattering and shows a non-linear dep endence on inverse surfactant concentration. Above the chain melting t emperature near 37-degrees-C the liquid crystalline hexagonal phase (H (alpha)) is observed.