Multi-lamellar vesicle formation in a long-chain nonionic surfactant: C16E4/D2O system

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2011 Oct 1;362(1):1-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2011.06.053. Epub 2011 Jul 2.

Abstract

The temperature dependent rheological and structural behavior of a long-chain C(16)E(4) (tetraethylene glycol monohexadecyl ether) surfactant in D(2)O has been studied within the regime of low shear range. In the absence of shear flow, the system forms a lamellar liquid crystalline phase at relatively high temperatures. The present paper reports on the shear-induced multi-lamellar vesicle (MLV) formation in C(16)E(4)/D(2)O at 40 wt.% of surfactant in the temperature range of 40-55 °C. The transition from planar lamellar structure to multi-lamellar vesicles has been investigated by time-resolved experiments combining rheology and nuclear magnetic resonance (rheo-NMR), rheo small-angle neutron scattering (rheo-SANS) and rheometry. The typical transient viscosity behavior of MLV formation has been discovered at low shear rate value of 0.5s(-1).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Deuterium Oxide / chemistry
  • Phase Transition
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Rheology
  • Surface-Active Agents / chemistry*
  • Temperature
  • Viscosity

Substances

  • Surface-Active Agents
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Deuterium Oxide