Abstract: The influence of benzyl alcohol on the rheology and ¹H NMRspectra of CTABof CTAB/KBr micellar system has been investigated. The addition of benzyl alcohol induces the viscosity of 0.01 mol/L CTAB/KBr micellar system to go through a marked maximum. In terms of ¹H NMRspectra of CTAB, it is argued that a little amount of alcohol solubilized in the interfacial region of CTAB/KBr micelles will promote these micelles to be longer and overlapping. This process makes the viscosity of the system rise. With increasing alcohol concentration continuously, it will be dissolved in the palisades of micelles and induces the rod-like micelles to be transformed into small sphere ones and disentanglement. Then the viscosity of this micellar system decreases.

Key words: Benzyl alcohol, Rheology, Rod-to-sphere transition of micelle