Light Scattering of Oil-in-Water Globules in Nonionic Microemulsions

We present the results of light scattering and turbidity experiments along the initial part of the binodals in nonionic oil-in-water microemulsions. The data permit evaluating the mean radii of the oil globules at their (lower) stability limit. The results are consistent with those found by small angle neutron scattering, and by evaluating the radii of the globules from the initial slope of the binodals. In addition, we found the scattering to increase strongly upon raising temperature at fixed composition which indicates a decrease of the number density of the globules as one approaches the upper stability limit of the microemulsion.