ADDITIVE EFFECTS ON THE PERCOLATION OF WATER AOT DECANE MICROEMULSION WITH REFERENCE TO THE MECHANISM OF CONDUCTION

The results of temperature induced percolation behaviours of w/o microemulsion produced by the ternary system water/AOT/decane in the presence of alkanols, cholesterol and several of its esters, benzyl alcohol and a crown ether are presented. The percolation threshold has been increased by the additives, except for benzyl alcohol and the crown ether, where the conductance-temperature profile is less sharp and the threshold temperature is lowered. The activation energy for percolation has also been lowered by the additives. The findings support percolation transition by efficient transport of Na+ counter-ions through water channels formed in the clusters of microwater droplets upon collision. The clusters undergo structural rearrangements during percolation. © 1990.