Determining phase states in ternary system of Tetradecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromide (TTAB)+water+octanol and studying physical properties of mesophases

The present study determined mesophases caused by Tetradecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromide (TTAB)+water+octanol lyotropic system using polarizing microscopy. The system was found to be composed of nematic calamitic, nematic discotic, hexagonal E and lamellar D mesophases, after which phase diagram of the system was illustrated based on percentage concentrations in weight. Refractive index, electrical conductivity and surface tension of each mesophase were studied considering their concentration and temperature. Physical properties of mesophases were compared with each other to establish their similarities and differences. In addition, mechanical and magnetic deformations were applied to them and changes in characteristic structures and optical properties of mesophases studied based on time. Situations before and after deformations were compared to find that lyotropic mesophases were quite sensitive to external physical influences and physical properties varied over time.