Freeze-fracture observations in the Lα phase of a swollen surfactant in the vicinity of the L3 and the L1 phase transitions

Freeze-fractured specimens of the L,, pha~e of a swollen quasi-ternary surfactant (cetylpyridinium chloride/hexanol/btine), have been observed by electron microscopy. The textures show the same features as those oberved by optical microscopy, viz. defects with negative Gaussian curvature (focal conic domains of the usual type) close to the phase boundary with the L~ sponge phase, and defects with positive Gaussian curvature (focal conic domains of second species, mostly spherolites) close to the phase boundary with the Lj micellar phase. We have studied in more detail this latter region the density of spherolites increases as one approaches the