CHARACTERIZATION OF A CHIRAL AMPHIPHILIC ISOTROPIC-PHASE

A chiral amphiphilic isotropic phase, I(C), characterized by laser dif fraction and flow birefringence is reported in the potassium tetradeca noyl L-alaninate (KTDA)/decanol/H2O (5% CsCl) detergent system. This I (C) phase on the phase diagram lies between the CH(C) (cholesteric pha se with cylindrical shaped micelles) and an isotropic micelle phase I( M). The I(C) phase more than likely has orientational order. Its prope rties are compared to the well-known blue phase found in thermotropic liquid crystals.