SPINODAL DECOMPOSITION OF A 3-COMPONENT WATER-IN-OIL MICROEMULSION SYSTEM

We have performed a series of spinodal decomposition measurements of a three-component microemulsion system made of a surfactant Aerosol OT, water, and decane. The measurements were made by a temperature jump from a one-phase droplet microemulsion to a two-phase droplet microemulsion along the critical isovolume fraction line (10%) using a time resolved light scattering intensity measurement technique. All three stages of the evolution were studied. Time evolution of intensities for the initial stage follows closely the linearized theory. On the other hand, time evolution of the characteristic wave vector, the maximum scattering intensity, and the intensity distributions in the intermediate and late stages are in good agreement with recent dynamic scaling theories. © 1995 The American Physical Society.