Dynamics of Surfactant Self-Assemblies explains the dynamics of micellar equilibria, tracking surfactant exchange, and micelle formation/breakdown processes. Highlighting the structural similarities of amphiphilic block copolymers to surfactants, this volume elucidates the dynamics of more complex self-assemblies that surfactants and amphiphilic block copolymers form in solutions.

The book first discusses self-assembling processes taking place in aqueous surfactant solutions and the dynamic character of surfactant self-assemblies. The next chapter reviews methods that permit the study of the dynamics of self-assemblies. The dynamics of micelles of surfactants and block copolymers, solubilized systems, microemulsions, vesicles, and lyotropic liquid crystals/mesophases are reviewed successively. The authors point out the similarities and differences in the behavior of these different self-assemblies. Much emphasis is put on the processes of surfactant exchange and of micelle formation/breakdown that determine the surfactant residence time in micelles, and the micelle lifetime. The last three chapters cover topics for which the dynamics of surfactant self-assemblies can be important for a better understanding of observed behaviors: dynamics of surfactant adsorption on surfaces, rheology of viscoelastic surfactant solutions, and kinetics of chemical reactions performed in surfactant self-assemblies used as microreactors.

Dynamics of Surfactant Self-Assemblies offers a unique and comprehensive review of the literature that exists on the dynamics of the various surfactant self-assemblies and a unified perspective on this topic. It provides researchers with a useful guide for the dynamics of the surfactant systems that they wish to investigate.

This book presents an up-to-date picture of the dynamics aspects of self-assemblies of surfactants and amphiphilic block copolymers. Early chapters introduce amphiphiles, surfactants, and self-assemblies of surfactants, and review techniques used to study the dynamics of self- assemblies. Later chapters deal with the dynamics of micelles of surfactants, microemulsions, and vesicles. Final chapters cover surfactant adsorption on surfaces, the rheology of viscoelastic surfactant solutions, and the kinetics of chemical reactions performed in surfactant self-assemblies used as microreactors. Zana is affiliated with the Institut C. Sadron, France.
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In order to interpret the experimental results obtained in surfactant science, researchers must have a good understanding of the dynamics of self-assemblies that surfactants and amphiphilic block copolymers can form. This text provides a comprehensive and up-to-date review of the dynamic aspects of these self-assemblies, the techniques used to study their behavior, and the topics for which this knowledge is important. The authors present a concise review of the large body of literature that exists on the topic of surfactant self-assemblies and a unified view of the dynamics of these systems, providing researchers with a useful guide for the systems that they wish to investigate.