A rheological study in the dilute regime of the worm-micelle fluid made of zwitterionic surfactant (TDPS), anionic surfactant (SDS), and brine

We present a rheological study for a system made of zwitterionic surfactant N-tetradecyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate (TDPS), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and water (0.5 M NaCl). We found that this system forms wormlike micelles. This study is focused in the dilute regime below the overlap concentration, where micelles are not entangled. The overlap concentration was determined using dynamic light scattering. The behavior of the apparent viscosity and the shear stress, both as a function of the shear rate, was determined for different zwitterionic surfactant concentrations, temperatures, and two surfactant ratios (R = [SDS]/[TDPS]). The shear-thickening transition and its temperature dependence was also studied. Finally, we were able to observe the shear-induced structures by using the scattered light from a sheet of light perpendicular to the flow that is installed in the gap of a transparent Couette cell filled with the micellar fluid.

Shear-induced structures visualized by light scattering during a thixotropic loop.Figure optionsDownload high-quality image (113 K)Download as PowerPoint slide