A small-angle neutron scattering study of a shear-induced vesicle to micelle transition in surfactant mixtures

The effect of shear on the three regions of the phase diagram concerning micelle transition in surfactant mixtures was investigated using a small-angle neutron scattering technique. The three regions concerned are the vesicle phase, the coexisting vesicle-micelle phase and the supposed worm-like micellar phase. Experimental results showed that an increase in temperature and/or the addition of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide stimulates a vesicle to micelle transition.