Temperature-controlled vesicle aggregation in the mixed system of sodium n-dodecyl sulfate/n-dodecyltributylammonium bromide

Temperature-controlled vesicle aggregation was investigated in a catanionic surfactant system of sodium n-dodecyl sulfate/n-dodecyltributylammonium bromide. Vesicle aggregation took place as the temperature reached the critical value (Tc). Tc can be adjusted by the variations of the total surfactant concentration and the mixed molar ratio. It was also found that the temperature variation above Tc can greatly influence the vesicle aggregation rate. The vesicle aggregation process was irreversible as long as T >/= Tc, whereas the vesicle disaggregation process occurred only below Tc.