The system: Water-p-xylene-l-aminooctane-octanoic acid

Summary The influence of the presence of a neat soap mesomorphic phase on the stability of emulsions is shown by investigations on a model system of water, p-xylene, octanoic acid and l-amino-octane. The mesomorphic phase could be formed in the system by increasing the emulsifier to oil ratio or by making the amine: acid ratio greater than above. In both cases, the stability of the emulsion increased suddenly when the system was changed in such a manner so that the mesomorphic phase was formed.The investigations have also shown the presence of optically anisotropic layers in the region of the oil phase adjacent to the interfaces for stable emulsions, where no mesomorphic phase can be formed at equilibrium. This is cnsidered to be due to the ordering influence of the interface, adding the small energy necessary to orientate the molecules.Maximum stabilizing power of the mesomorphic phase is also found to be at a maximum when the amino: acid ratio is about 11.With 6 figures