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Finger-like Pattern Formation in Dilute Surfactant Pentaethylene Glycol Monododecyl Ether Solutions

Finger-like Pattern Formation in Dilute Surfactant Pentaethylene Glycol Monododecyl Ether Solutions

Yoshihide Kubo, Yasuhiro Yokoyama, Shinpei Tanaka

J Chem Phys. 2013 Apr 7;138(13):134901.

PMID: 23574254

Abstract:

We report here peculiar finger-like patterns observed during the phase separation process of dilute micellar pentaethylene glycol monododecyl ether solutions. The patterns were composed of parallel and periodic threads of micelle-rich domains. Prior to this pattern formation, the phase separation always started with the appearance of water-rich domains rimmed by the micelle-rich domains. It was found that these rims played a significant role in the pattern formation. We explain this pattern formation using a simple simulation model with disconnectable springs. The simulation results suggested that the spatially inhomogeneous elasticity or connectivity of a transient gel of worm-like micelles was responsible for the rim formation. The rims thus formed lead rim-induced nucleation, growth, and elongation of the domains owing to their small mobility and the elastic frustration around them. These rim-induced processes eventually produce the observed finger-like patterns.

Chemicals Related in the Paper:

Catalog Number	Product Name	Structure	CAS Number	Price
AP4792158	Pentaethylene glycol		4792-15-8	Price

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