The shape of micelles of a complex soap causing the Toms effect

It is well known that a small addition of some substances to a fluid is the cause of Toms effect. In order to explain this effect various theories have been proposed which take into consideration the shape of microparticles in the additives (macromolecules and soapmicelles). We have investigated the shape and the size of micelles or their aggregates of a complex soap consisting of two components: carboetoxypentadecyltrimethylammonium bromide andα-naphthol. The electron microscope was used for direct observations. The shape of micelles was estimated indirectly from rheometric measurements. The direct observation shows that there exists a great variety of shapes and sizes while rheology indicates that the micelles are fibrillous. The smallest observed micelles of the shape of sticks have dimensions of ca. 0.05×0.01μm and the smallest globules approximately 0.02μm.