Direct measurements of the formation time of mixed micelles

The formation process of mixed micelles of two low critical micelle concentration amphiphiles, the gangliosides GM2 and GT1b, has been followed by laser light scattering. Measurements are performed in well-defined thermodynamic conditions, that is, at constant temperature and pressure. A simple model, based on standard relaxation methods, is capable of explaining the observed time evolution in terms of monomer exchange rates between micelles and solution.