Properties of a two-dimensional asphaltene network at the water - Cyclohexane interface deduced from dynamic tensiometry

Static and dynamic tensiometries show that a newly prepared water/asphaltenated cyclohexane interface behaves as expected: the mean area occupied per asphaltene molecule is 2 nm(2), and variations of interfacial tension and dilatational elastic modulus with time indicate that equilibrium is reached more slowly than that for usual surfactants. The use of the time/temperature superposition principle allows a detailed rheological study of a 2 day old interface of the same type which has reached equilibrium. It is found that the two-dimensional asphaltene network exhibits a glass transition zone, behaves as a gel near its gelation point, and is built by a universal process of aggregation.