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Interfacial light scattering study in microemulsions

Conference · · Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6185016
Thermally excited waves at the interface between two fluids contain information about the structure and tension at this interface. A surface light scattering technique based on photon correlation spectroscopy has been developed ot probe the dynamics of these interfacial waves for microemulsions. The interfacial tension (IFT) as measured by this non-perturbing technique is consistent with the values obtained by conventional methods. The temperature and salinity dependence of ..gamma.., (IFT), in a 3-phase microemulsion system was studied and it was found that ..gamma.. approx. epsilon/sup 2 + -0/ /sup 5/, where epsilon is the reduced variable absolute value Tc-T and absolute value Sc-S with Tc and Sc representing the critical values of temperature and salinity, respectively. Furthermore, the correlation length, a, in the microemulsion phase has also been measured by dynamic light scattering. In the two phase regions it was observed that ..gamma.. approx. a/sup -2/, in accordance with the scaling law predictions. Thus the scaled salinity and temperature parameters influence the interfacial tension through their effect on the correlation length in the bulk microemulsion phase.
OSTI ID:
6185016
Report Number(s):
CONF-820419-
Conference Information:
Journal Name: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English