Closed compact Taylor's droplets in a phase-separated lamellar-sponge mixture under shear flow

We have studied by optical microscopy, small-angle light scattering, and rheology, the behavior under shear ow of a phase-separated lamellar-sponge (L-alpha-L-3) ternary mixture. We observe in the L-alpha-rich region (PhiL(alpha)>80%) the existence of a Newtonian assembly made of closed compact monodisperse lamellar droplets immersed in the sponge phase. Contrary to the classical onion glassy texture obtained upon shearing L-alpha phases, the droplet size scales herein as (gamma )over dot(-1), the inverse of the shear rate. This result is in good agreement with Taylor's picture. Above a critical shear rate, (gamma )over dot(c), the droplets organize to form a single colloidal crystal whose lattice size varies as (gamma )over dot(1/3).