Structure and elastic properties of 10-12 pentacosadiyonic acid Langmuir films

Monolayers of the polymerizable 10-12 pentacosadiyonic acid amphiphile spre ad on a basic buffer are studied both before and after polymerization. We h ave established the phase diagram of the unpolymerized Langmuir film by iso therm measurements, Brewster angle microscopy, and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction experiments. Diffuse scattering experiments performed at the Eu ropean Synchrotron Radiation Facility allowed us to investigate the structu re and elastic properties of the different monomer phases and the modificat ions induced by polymerization.