A lyotropic ferrocolloid on the basis of the potassium laurate-1-decanol-water system

A method of preparing a lyotropic magnetic colloid by adding a cationic fer rofluid to a potassium laurate-1-decanol-water ternary solution is describe d. The mesomorphic phases are identified, and phase diagrams in the vicinit y of the nematic state region are constructed. Inside this region, the disp ersion is a ferronematic, that is, a liquid crystal with marked magnetic pr operties. A strong dependence of the maximal number of particles retained b y the lyotropic matrix on pH and on the component composition of the base s olution is revealed. The magnetization and magnetic susceptibility of the s ystem are measured as functions of concentration of the dispersed magnet.