Statistical mechanics of random bicontinuous phases

P. Pieruschka , S. Marčelja

We consider a random wave description of bicontinuous microemulsions, where the structure is specified by a correlation length ξ and a preferred wave vector k0. The entropy of the system is calculated as the information content of a random field with an experimentally determined spectral distribution. Together with the elastic energy which has been previously derived by Teubner, we can minimise the free energy of the system and thus estimate the value of the elastic modulus κ of the film. For example, in water — toluene — SDS/butanol microemulsions the parameters ξ and k0 obtained from fits to the neutron scattering data lead to values for κ of about two units of kT.

Domaines: Articles anciens

P. Pieruschka, S. Marčelja. Statistical mechanics of random bicontinuous phases. Journal de Physique II, 1992, 2 (2), pp.235-247. ⟨10.1051/jp2:1992127⟩. ⟨jpa-00247627⟩