Interfaces between phases in a lattice model of microemulsions

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Abstract
A lattice model which has recently been developed to aid the study of microemulsions is briefly reviewed. The local-density mean-field equations are presented and the interfacial profiles and surface tensions are computed using a variational method. These density profiles describing the interface between oil rich and water rich phases, both of which are isotropic, are structured and nonmonotonic. Some comments about a perturbation expansion which confirms these conclusions are made. It is possible to compute the surface tension to high numerical accuracy using the variational procedure. This permits discussion of the question of wetting of the oil-water interface by a microemulsion phase. The interfacial tensions along the oil-water-microemulsion coexistence line are ultra-low. The oil-water interface is not wet by microemulsion throughout most of the bicontinuous regime.

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