Mesostructured fluids. 2. Microstructure and supra-aggregation

The phase behavior and microstructure of copper(II) bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfo succinate, Cu(AOT)(2)-isooctane-water, is determined over a wider domain th an previously used. It is characterized by a rich variety of phases and mic rostructures. Equilibrium phases consisting of spontaneous thermodynamicall y stable emulsions in equilibrium with other microstructure phases are obse rved. These spontaneous emulsions are composed of supra-aggregates, lamella r spherulites in which the interior and exterior are phases of interconnect ed cylindrical nanostructures. In another part of the phase diagram, clumps of interdigitated micelles are surrounded by an interconnected cylinder ph ase. The phase boundaries emerge qualitatively from elementary consideratio ns that require only notions of local and global packing constraints.