Effect of benzyl alcohol on the rheological properties of CTAB/KBr micellar systems

The effect of benzyl alcohol on the rheological properties of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)/potassium bromide (KBr) micellar systems has been investigated. The addition of the alcohol induces the viscosity of 0.01 mol l−1 CTAB/KBr micellar system to go through a marked maximum. These results have been discussed in terms of 1H-NMR spectra of CTAB molecules in the aqueous systems included benzyl alcohol and KBr salt. It is argued that benzyl alcohol will be located in the interfacial region of CTAB/KBr micelles and promotes these micelles to be bigger with lower concentration of alcohol. This process makes the viscosity of the system rise. With increasing alcohol content continuously, it will be solubilized in the palisades of the micelles and induce these worm-like micelles to be transformed into rod and spherical ones.