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Ternary microemulsions as model disordered media
Author(s) -
Knackstedt Mark A.,
Ninham Barry W.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
aiche journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1547-5905
pISSN - 0001-1541
DOI - 10.1002/aic.690410524
Subject(s) - percolation (cognitive psychology) , ternary operation , microemulsion , scaling , context (archaeology) , volume fraction , materials science , percolation threshold , microstructure , thermodynamics , atomic packing factor , statistical physics , condensed matter physics , chemical physics , physics , chemistry , electrical resistivity and conductivity , mathematics , crystallography , composite material , geometry , pulmonary surfactant , computer science , programming language , paleontology , quantum mechanics , neuroscience , biology
The ternary microemulsion systems alkane/water/DDAB (didodecyldimethylammonium bromide) form ideal model‐disordered media. The static microstructure is described by a simple parameter‐free model that can be predetermined and agrees with SAXS and SANS scattering experiments. The component volume fraction can be varied to exhibit bicontinuous random structures with a predicted percolation transition to disconnected water‐in‐oil droplets. Structural transitions are analyzed in the context of theories of percolative phenomena. Experimental transport properties agree well with model predictions based on an effective medium approximation. Critical exponents that describe the scaling of the transport properties near percolation are consistent with theoretical expectations near a static percolation transition. Through variation of component volume fractions a medium of known microstructure can be prescribed, so that independent measurement of transport and mechanical properties is possible.