Molecular Diffusion in a Microemulsion

Abstract
Pulsed-field-gradient NMR was used to examine translational diffusion of the oil, water, and surfactant components in a microemulsion. The diffusion of both oil and water shows a smooth variation along a line in the phase diagram where two-phase/three-phase/two-phase transitions are encountered, and the diffusion is unrestricted and three dimensional. Dynamic structural effects are needed to interpret the results. Surfactant diffusion reaches a peak in the three-phase region.