Small-Angle Neutron Scattering from Aqueous Solutions of C12E6 and C12E8: Critical Fluctuations and Micellar Growth

Static SANS measurements have been performed on 0.028 M C12E8 in D2O over the temperature range 20–74.2 °C. Little micellar growth is observed; increases in the scattered intensities in the low angle region are due to critical concentration fluctuations of correlation length g. We have also reexamined our SANS data for C12E6 in D2O, in light of other worker’s claims that a sphere-to-cylinder transition in micellar shape is occurring in these solutions. We discuss in detail the inferences about C12E6 micellar size drawn from the results of several different experimental techniques.