The interdependence of intra-aggregate and inter-aggregate forces

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Abstract
We examine the interdependence between forces responsible for the self-association of amphiphiles in aggregates such as micelles, microemulsions and bilayers and the forces occurring between such structures when they come close together. We first present a theoretical analysis of the origin and nature of the hydration force which appears as the most important interaction occurring between head-groups at very short distances. A Landau-Ginzburg approach allows us to link naturally the hydration force between the head-groups within an aggregate with that between two opposing bilayers. The single interaction potential obtained between amphiphilic head-groups allows demonstration of a quantitative correlation between the measured head-groups areas of isolated bilayers and the repulsive pressures between bilayers. The relevance of this interdependence to various other phenomena is discussed