SELECTIVE ASSOCIATION PROCESSES OF SINGLE-CHAIN AMPHIPHILES IN MONOLAYER FILMS

The association processes in binary mixtures of amphiphilic molecules explains the existence of some structural inhomogeneities in supramole cular aggregates of lipid molecules. This paper presents the results o f the selective association of a single-chain amphiphile in two series of binary mixtures organized in a flat monolayer. Starting from this study, some observations about the cluster formation and phase separat ion in binary mixtures can be made. The lyotropic liquid crystal defec ts may also have their origin in the association processes. The thermo tropic behaviour of binary mixtures may be determined by the selective association of the mixture components.