Langmuir, Vol.10, No.8, 2547-2552, 1994
Structure of a Triglyceride Microemulsion - A Small-Angle Neutron-Scattering Study
The microscopic structure of a microemulsion of soybean oil, water-ethanol (80/20 wt %), and polyoxyethylene(40) sorbitol hexaoleats has been studied with small angle neutron scattering. The concentrations of the three components are varied such that the oil-surfactant ratio is constant and stable microemulsions are obtained in regions of the phase diagram corresponding to bicontinuous and L2 phases. Small angle neutron scattering is measured as a function of concentration and temperature in order to describe the structure of the microemulsions. The results are consistent with a bicontinuous phase in the cases of largest aqueous content. In the low aqueous concentration samples, a substantial correlation is found in the spatial distribution of this minority phase.
Keywords:BICONTINUOUS STRUCTURE;MODEL MICROEMULSIONS;SURFACTANT SYSTEMS;VEGETABLE-OILS;MICELLAR;WATER