We have numerically studied the nonlinear dynamics of aggregation of surfactant monomers in a micellar solution. The study has been done on the basis of a discrete form of the Becker-D̈oring kinetic equations for aggregate concentrations. The attachment–detachment coefficients for these equations were determined from the extended Smoluchowski diffusion model. Three typical situations at arbitrary large initial deviations from the final aggregative equilibrium with coexisting premicellar aggregates, spherical and cylindrical micelles have been considered. The first situation corresponds to micellization in the solution where initially only surfactant monomers were present. The other two situations refer to nonlinear relaxation in the cases of substantial initial excess and deficit of surfactant monomers in solution over their equilibrium concentration in the presence of spherical and cylindrical aggregates. The interplay between non-equilibrium time-dependent concentrations of premicellar aggregates, spherical
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)51722-51733
JournalRSC Advances
Volume4
Issue number93
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014

ID: 7009329