The microstructural transitions of aqueous micellar solutions of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and sodiumdodecyl sulfate by adding 1-hexanol were investigated, measuring the concentrations of equilibrated phases and the electrical conductivities at the low concentrations of surfactants, where the solubilities of 1hexanol varied significantly, at 30℃ and 45℃.
Ternary phase diagrams of multiphase regions, constructed by liquid chromatography analysis and by counting the number of phase of samples, consisted of one three-phase region and three two-phase regions. One of the two-phase regions was found to equilibrate an aqueous micellar solution and a liquid crystal, and had a critical point between them. Near this region, the solubility curve varied abruptly, and the isotropic solution turned birefrigent.
The conductivities of the single phase regions above the critical point increased up to a certain point as 1-hexanol added, and then decreased, representing the microstructural transition at the supercritical region.
Further, the solubility of 1-hexanol in aqueous micellar solution was found to increase as temperature and the number of hydrophile-lipophile balance of surfactants increase.
