Surface Properties of Molecular Aggregates of Micellar Size in Relation to Membrane Permeability and Adhesion

Abstract

The amorphous state is a borderline state of matter between micelles, which are, thermodynamic equilibrium systems in which concentrations of single molecules are in equilibrium with a molecular aggregate, and solid crystal structures. These amorphous systems have a high surface entropy owing to the disordered molecular arrays in their structure. This disorder can be produced by simple shear grinding of water-insoluble crystals, spray-drying under vacuum of solutions of the crystalline form or coprecipitation in water of associations consisting of large polar and non-polar oppositedly charged surfactants, such as alkyl sulfates and alkyl substituted amines.