Volume 8, Number 2, p.p. 33–36
Aperiodic oscillations in pressure/area isotherms of mixed lipid Langmuir films
Stéphane Alexandre and Jean-Marc Valleton
FRE 3101 Université de Rouen – CNRS, 76821 Mont-Saint-Aignan cedex, France
A mixed Langmuir film of behenic acid and cholesterol has been elaborated on water. Oscillations were observed during compression of the film at a constant speed. These complex oscillations, obtained in condensed states, seem organized in two different régimes. Making use of results obtained with Brewster angle microscopy, the existence of pressure gradients organized along a privileged direction in this film is discussed.
Keywords:
behenic acid, cholesterol, Brewster angle microscopy, Langmuir films