Ternary fluid mixture confined between surfaces: Surface-induced phase transition and long-range oscillatory forces

Surface forces between a soft cellulose surface and a hard silica particle were measured in wet hexane with or without the addition of a surfactant. In the absence of a surfactant, the adhesion force was enhanced as a result of capillary condensation of water. The effect of the surfactant in reducing the adhesion force with increasing water content in a ternary fluid mixture of a surfactant, hexane, and water was systematically studied. Long-range oscillations of the force–distance curves are discussed in the light of various mesophase compositions in the bulk.