Eur. Phys. J. E 4, 77-83
Swelling kinetics of a compressed lamellar phase
J. Leng, F. Nallet and D. Roux.Centre de recherche Paul-Pascal, CNRS, Av. Schweitzer, F-33600 Pessac, France leng@ph.ed.ac.uk
(Received 25 May 2000 and Received in final form 4 August 2000)
Abstract
We investigate how multilamellar vesicles prepared in a compressed
state under flow return to equilibrium. The kinetics is studied by
following the temporal evolution of the viscoelasticity after the
shear is stopped. It exhibits a two-step relaxation whose slower
stage is strongly affected by temperature. According to a simple
model, the temperature-dependent permeability of the lamellar phase is
deduced from the measurements. We propose to attribute the
permeability to handle-like defects, and its temperature dependence
to an increase of the defect density when the
lamellar-to-sponge phase transition is approached.
05.70.Ln - Nonequilibrium and irreversible thermodynamics.
61.30.Jf - Defects in liquid crystals.
83.70.Hq - Heterogeneous liquids: suspensions, dispersions, emulsions, pastes, slurries, foams, block copolymers, etc..
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2001
