HYDROPHOBICALLY CROSS-LINKED MICELLAR SOLUTIONS - MICROSTRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF THE SOLUTIONS

The aggregation behavior of the cross - linking agent dioleyl - polyethyleneoxide (R (-EO-)x R, with x = 55, 90, 135 ) with and without the presence of globular O/W microemulsion droplets was investigated. The microemulsion droplets consisted of tetradecyldimethylamine oxide (TDMAO) and decane and had a radius of about 33 angstrom. It was found that the cross-linking agent has a well defined cmc and forms micelles. The aggregation number was determined by light scaftering measurements and lay in the range of 20 - 30. From SANS measurements somewhat higher aggregation numbers were obtained. Rheological measurements showed that the systems cross - (ink at high concentrations. The cross - linking agent was added to solutions that contained microemulsion droplets. It was found that the viscosity of these solutions could become significantly enhanced upon its addition. SANS and light scattering data of these solutions showed that the size of the droplets did not change. The scattering data of the cross - linked micelles could be fitted with a model for hard spheres that included an additional attractive term. The shear moduli which were determined from the viscoelastic solutions are consistent with the scattering data.