NMR self-diffusion coefficients are reported for three-component micromulsions formed from didodecyldimethylammonium bromide/water/alkane. For hexane through tetradecane the oil diffusion coefficients are approximately half as large as those of the bulk oils and independent of composition. Therefore, the systems are oil continuous through the entire one-phase region. The diffusion coefficients for the surfactant are small and independent of composition. The water self-diffusion coefficients decrease with added water for hexane through dodecane and change in a manner consistent with the abrupt conducting-nonconducting transition known to occur in this system. The microemulsions are bicontinuous in the conducting regions and disconnected water-in-oil droplets in the nonconducting regions of the phase diagrams. The phenomena reported clearly demonstrate the interplay between forces due to oil penetration and those due to head-group interactions which control curvature and therefore microemulsion structure.
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