Micelles, vesicles and microemulsions

A theory of self-assembly of surfactant molecules into micelles and bilayers is critically examined and extended to include vesicles and microemulsions. The notion of hydrophilic–lipophilic balance is quantified. The theory gives a unified account of type, size and shape of the aggregates which form under various conditions. Observed trends due to change in salt concentration, temperature and oil type, and due to the addition of cosurfactants, are correlated and emerge from a simple global framework.