Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 February 2011
: Liquid crystalline behavior is exhibited by many amphiphilic solutions as a result of the reversible formation of anisotropic aggregates. We model such a system by combining a phenomenological description of aggregation with a lattice statistics calculation of the configurational entropy of a polydisperse collection of hard rods and plates. In this model, nematic liquid crystalline phases of axial, planar and biaxial symmetry are possible. We present a calculated phase diagram, and corresponding particle size distributions, for the case when rod and plate growth are equally favored. Regions of stability are found for axial and planar phases, but not for biaxial phases.