Liquid crystalline surfactant phases in chemical applications

Abstract

The importance of lyotropic liquid crystalline structures is shown for two selected surfactant applications,i.e. cosmetics and detergency. The properties of lyotropic liquid crystals are demonstrated for binary surfactant–water systems, ternary surfactant–oil–water systems and multicomponent systems. Detailed knowledge of the phase behavior is crucial for tailor-made product development.