ABSTRACT
Similar to most chemical systems of interest, the characterization of colloidal solutions requires the determination of the size, shape, structure, and stability of the particles present. This information is especially important for the understanding and utilization of organized assemblies of surfactants, in particular microemulsions, because the physical properties of the particles usually depend strongly on the thermodynamic conditions such as overall composition, temperature, and external force fields. This dependence is mainly due to the sensitivity to conditions of the monomer-aggregate equilibrium of the surfactant, which is responsible for the existence of the particles, and to the delicate balance of forces that maintain their integrity. For microemulsions, an additional complication arises from the compartmentalization of the systems, which is a source of possible phase transitions but is also a reason for most of their practical applications.
