Meaning and structure of amphiphilic phases

Abstract

This paper attempts to come to grips with a major issue confronting association colloid science. It does so by illustrating some surprising features of aggregates of simple amphiphiles as revealed by two powerful complementary tools, video-enhanced microscopy (VEM) and cryotransmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), both of which allow direct visualization. The natures of these aggregates challenge existing theories and show up limitations of some other noninvasive, though indirect, techniques. The problem of the meaning of amphiphilic phases and their microstructure is discussed and the necessity for a different descriptive language emphasized. Show more