Study of micelle formation in solutions of alkylammonium carboxylates in apolar solvents by positron annihilation techniques

The positron annihilation technique was applied to the study of the self-association process in solutions of alkylammonium carboxylates in apolar solvents, such as cyclohexane and benzene. The results indicate that the positronium formation probability responds very sensitively to changes in the microenvironment in these solutions. A distinct cooperative effect of the solution resulting in abrupt changes in the number of thermal ortho-positronium atoms formed was observed and studied as a function of the length and structure of the hydrocarbon chain in the cationic and anionic parts of the surfactant molecules. While the chain length in the cationic portion of the surfactant seems to have little effect on the positronium formation probability, distinct differences can be observed when the structure of the carboxylate is changed. Furthermore, a profound effect in the physical property of the solutions was recognized when cyclohexane was replaced by benzene as a solvent. The results are discussed in terms of the existing models for self-association. 4 figures