The current state of the art of various aspects of micro emulsion
systems is reflected in this volume. Major topics discussed include:
general background on solubilized systems, phase diagrams and phase
equi- libria, bicontinuous microemulsions, Winsor's phases, theories and
models of complex self association structures, cry tical behaviour,
phase tran- sitions in lyotropic liquid crystals. I hope that this book
will serve its intended objective of reflecting our current
understanding of microemulsions both in theory and practice, and that it
will be useful to researchers, both novices as well as experts, as a
valuable reference source. I feel indebted to the people of the Ettore
Majorana Centre: the friendly atmosphere of the Erice centre provided a
very effective environ- ment to enjoy the company of colleagues and
friends during breaks and after sessions, and to discuss problems of
mutual interest. The courtesy, efficiency and devotion of the
secretarial and technical staff was also appreciated, and greatly
contributed to make the Workshop a smoothly run- ning one. The
Scientific Secretary Donatella Senatra Department of Physics University
of Florence (Italy) v INTRODUCTION The decision to publish. in a more
permanent form than heretofore. the Proceedings of the Workshop on
"Progress in Microemulsion" of the Inter- national School of Quantum
Electronics. which was held in Erice (Italy) from October 26 to November
1st. 1985. under the auspices of the "Ettore Majorana" Centre for
Scientific Culture. will prove to be a sound one.