MECHANISM OF PERMEATION OF GAS THROUGH NEWTON BLACK FILMS AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES

The permeability coefficients K for permeation of air through Newton black foam films (bilayer films) from sodium dodecyl sulfate plus sodium chloride aqueous solutions have been measured. The dependencies of the permeability coefficients on surfactant concentration C at temperatures 23, 25, 27, and 30-degrees-C have been obtained. The K values strongly depend on C at low concentrations, but they remain constant at higher C. The permeability increases with increasing temperature. The experimental data have been discussed on the basis of the nucleation theory of fluctuational formation of holes in amphiphile bilayers. The results are in favor of an essential contribution of hole-mediated permeability at low surfactant concentrations and higher temperatures.