New lyotropic nematics of double chain surfactants

The phase behaviour of N,N-dialkyl-N,N-dimethyl ammonium bromide double chain surfactants was investigated by polarization microscopy, ²H-N.M.R. spectroscopy, and surface and magnetic field alignment in order to find new lyotropic nematic systems. Decanol was utilized to cause a rod to disc transition in the nematic phase. The sign of the anisotropy of the diamagnetic susceptibility Δx was inverted by substituting the bromide counter-ion with the benzenesulphonate ion. The phase behaviour was modified within a wide range by varying the length of the two alkyl chains. Using these tools we were able to prepare any of the four kinds of uniaxial nematic phases: rod-like and disc-like aggregates with both negative and positive anisotropy of the diamagnetic susceptibility. Several new binary, ternary and quaternary systems of these double chain surfactants and some experiments are described to classify the different nematic phases.     

Supra-long chain surfactants with double or triple quaternary ammonium headgroups

Novel supra-long chain surfactants with double or triple quaternary ammonium salts (C(n)-2Am, C(n)-3Am, in which n represents a hydrocarbon chain length of 18, 20, and 22) were synthesized, and electrical conductivity and surface tension were used to characterize their properties depending on both the hydrocarbon chain length and number of hydrophilic groups. The Krafft temperatures decreased remarkably with an increase in the quaternary ammonium headgroups, resulting in a high solubility in water. The critical micelle concentration (cmc) increased with an increase in the number of quaternary ammonium moieties in the hydrophilic group, and the difference in the cmc was smaller for C(n)-2Am and C(n)-3Am than for C(n)-2Am and C(n)-Am of alkyltrimethylammonium bromide. The surface tension at the cmc was approximately 45 and 48 mN m(-1) for C(n)-2Am and C(n)-3Am with n=18-22, respectively. This indicated that the supra-long chain surfactants could not efficiently adsorb at the air/water interface and orient by themselves, as is known for conventional surfactants.     

Branched chain discotics Phase structure and orientation behaviour

Studies show that branching the side chains of hexakis(acoyloxy)-benzenes (HAB) and -cyclohexanes (HAChx) does not modify the structure of the discotic mesophase formed. Shear fields appear to act on entire columns, not on individual discs, thereby causing alignment of columns in the shear direction. X-ray diffraction patterns of samples at temperatures between 30°C and 40°C above the clearing temperature provide evidence for the presence of mesophase order.     

Nematic Phase of Polar Unsymmetrical Bent-Core Molecules

In liquid crystalline systems, the presence of polar groups at lateral or terminal positions is fundamentally and technologically important. Bent-core nematics composed of polar molecules with short rigid cores usually exhibit highly disordered mesomorphism with some ordered clusters that favourably nucleate within. Herein, we have systematically designed and synthesized two new series of highly polar bent-core compounds comprised of two unsymmetrical wings, highly electronegative −CN and −NO₂ groups at one end, and flexible alkyl chains at the other end. All the compounds showed a wide range of nematic phases composed of cybotactic clusters of smectic-type (N_cyb). The birefringent microscopic textures of the nematic phase were accompanied by dark regions. Further, the cybotactic clustering in the nematic phase was characterized via temperature-dependent XRD studies and dielectric spectroscopy. Besides, the birefringence measurements demonstrated the ordering of the molecules in the cybotactic clusters upon lowering the temperature. DFT calculations illustrated the favourable antiparallel arrangement of these polar bent-core molecules as it minimizes the large net dipole moment of the system.     

双烃链正,负离子表面活性剂复合物水溶液的表面化学性质研究

本文研究了具有双烃链的正、负离子表面活性剂混合水溶液的表面和液相性质、。负离子表面活性剂是琥珀酸二己酯磺酸钠[简写为(C6)2SNa],正离子表面活性剂是氯化二正辛基羟乙基甲基铵[(C8)2NCl]和氯化辛基羟乙基二甲基铵[C8NCl]。为了增加复合物的溶解度,在铵基上引入了羟乙基。测定了表面张力-浓度关系,用GIBBS公式计算表面吸附量和吸附分子面积。结果表明,由于正、负表面活性离子之间的强烈相互作用,所研究的两种混合物体系的表面活性远高于单独的表面活性剂。在等摩尔混合和离子强度0.1mol/kg情况下,(C6)2SNa-(C8)2NCl体系的吸附层组成是对称的(摩尔比为1:1),且在临界胶团浓度(cmc)以上析出新相,表明此cmc实质上是复合物的溶解度;而(C6)2SNa-C8NCl体系的吸附层为不对称组成(摩尔比非1:1),在cmc以上可能形成相当大的胶团,两种体系混合溶液的起泡性有极大差异。     

Phase behaviour of lyotropic liquid crystalline side chain polymers in aqueous solutions

Amphiphilic lyotropic liquid crystalline surfactants are synthesized displaying 10-undecenoic acid as hydrophobic and ethyleneglycol units as hydrophilic parts of the molecules. By addition reaction of the monomeric surfactants with poly [oxy(methylsilylene)], the surfactants are attached as side chains to the siloxane main chain. The phase behaviour of a polymer-water system and the corresponding monomer-water system is investigated by polarizing microscopy. The monomeric surfactant exhibits a liquid crystallineM ₁-phase of hexagonally packed, rod-like micelles in a concentration range of 49 to 70% surfactant. The liquid crystalline state of the polymeric surfactant is more stable, which is indicated by a broader temperature- and concentration range (35%–90% polymer surfactant). At lower concentration aM ₁-phase exists, which is separated by a cubic phase from a lamellarG-phase at higher concentration of the polymer surfactant. Compared to the monomeric system, the increased stability of the polymeric mesophase can be understood by the restriction of motions of the amphiphiles due to the linkage to the polymer main chain.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. F. H. Müller.The authors are greatly indebted to Wacker Chemie, D-Burghausen, FRG for kindly delivering the poly(hydrogensiloxane).     

Phase behaviour and morphology from a current viewpoint

The presentation is to give an overview of polymer morphology from the standpoint of recent developments with emphasis on the underlying phase transformations. In the latter context it is essential to recognize that with the exception of special systems having complex equilibrium surfaces, the conventionally considered morphology represents a non-equilibrium state, hence a metastable state of matter arising from phase transformation having been arrested at some stage before the transformation was complete. In respect to the term ‘complete’ distinction needs to be made between completeness of material conversion and attainment of the equilibrium phase size and shape, a distinction which acquires special significance in polymeric systems as will be illustrated and discussed.     

高分子液晶向列相的向错结构

高分子液晶态向错结构在正交偏振片下呈现出具有不同数目黑刷子的纹影织构，是由于分子指向矢取向排列上的不连续性所引起的一种光学效应。近年来，高分子液晶态向错结构的研究已取得了较大进展，发展和应用片晶装饰、条带织构装饰和表面裂纹装饰等技术可以在电镜和偏光显微镜下直接观察各种向错结构。本文简要介绍高分子液晶态向列相的向错和反转壁结构的几何学、高强度向错以及近年在实验上观察各类型向错形态的研究进展。     

Phase diagrams of self-assembled mono-tethered nanospheres from molecular simulation and comparison to surfactants

We perform Brownian dynamics simulations on model 3-D systems of mono-tethered nanospheres (TNS) to study the equilibrium morphologies formed by their self-assembly in a selective solvent. We predict that in contrast to flexible amphiphiles the nanospheres are locally ordered and there is an increase in the local order with an increase in concentration or relative nanoparticle diameter. We present the temperature vs concentration phase diagram for a system of TNS and propose a dimensionless scaling factor F(v) (headgroup volume/tether volume) that allows a comparison between the morphologies formed from TNS and traditional surfactants.     

Silicon‐modified surfactants and wetting: IV. Spreading behaviour of trisiloxane surfactants on energetically different solid surfaces

The spreading behaviour of defined trisiloxane surfactants of general formula [(CH₃)₃SiO]₂ CH₃Si(CH₂)₃(OCH₂CH₂) _nOCH₃ (n = 3–9) on five different solid surfaces has been investigated. Maximum spreading areas and rates are found on non‐polar or slightly polar surfaces of 30 to 40 mN m⁻¹ surface energy. Extremely low or high surface energies substantially reduce the spreading rates. On non‐polar surfaces rapid spreading is observed for 1 wt % solutions of the relatively short‐chained penta‐ and hexa‐ethylene glycol derivatives. On slightly polar surfaces dilute 0.1 wt % solutions of longer‐chained derivatives spread faster. This spreading pattern shift coincides with a change of the phase behaviour. Solutions of Silwet L77 do not prefer one specific surface, since 1 wt % solutions abruptly stop spreading after a few seconds and the maximum spreading rates are found for 0.1 wt % solutions. Therefore, Silwet L77 essentially belongs among the long‐chained derivatives. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Silicon-modified carbohydrate surfactants. IV. The impact of substructures on the wetting behaviour of siloxanyl-modified carbohydrate surfactants on low-energy surfaces

The siloxanyl-modified carbohydrate surfactants investigated consist of the four structural elements: (1) siloxanyl moiety; (2) spacer; (3) carbohydrate unit; and (4) modifying element. By static surface tension (γ_sν — γ_sβ α) measurements the contact angles of the aqueous surfactant solutions above the critical micelle formation concentration (cmc) on nonpolar perfluorinated surfaces (FEP^® plate) were determined. Although the siloxanyl units were found to have a high capacity to level out the interfacial properties, both surface tension and wetting tension react independently to defined changes in the chemical structure of the surfactant molecules. The results of spreading experiments on polyproylene show good correlation with the dependences found by wetting meaurements. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Kinetics of Nematic Phase Separation on Cooling the Isotropic Phase of Mesogenic Siloxane-Azomethine Polyether

The kinetics of nematic phase droplet growth as an isotropic melt of mesogenic siloxane-azomethine polyether was cooled was studied by polarizing microscopy. The results were processed statistically and described using the thermodynamics of irreversible processes. An analysis of the time dependences of statistical distribution parameters revealed the occurrence of two regimes of phase separation, (1) the formation of droplets and their growth and (2) coalescence of droplets. Both regimes were quantitatively described by the universal law of the growth of clusters.     

Studies on the emulsifying behaviour of some surfactants

Summary Emulsifying powers of various surfactants have been determined by bringing the emulsion systems at isoelectric point by polyvalent inorganic ions. Several useful binding parameters have been calculated.

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Zusammenfassung Es wurde die emulgierende Wirkung verschiedener Tenside untersucht. Dazu wurden die Emulsionen durch polyvalente anorganische Ionen auf den isoelektrischen Punkt gebracht. Aus den Konzentrationen, bei denen Ladungsumkehr erfolgte, wurden verschiedene Bindungsparameter abgeschätzt.

     

Phase behavior of polyampholytes from charged hard-sphere chain model

A molecular thermodynamic theory is developed for polyampholytes from the coarse-grained charged hard-sphere chain model. The phase behavior of polyampholytes with variations in sequence and chain length is satisfactorily predicted by the theory, consistent with simulation results and experimental observations. At a fixed chain length, the phase envelope expands as the sequence of charge distribution becomes less random. With increasing chain length, the phase envelope expands for diblock and random polyampholytes, but shrinks for zwitterionic polyampholytes. The predicted critical temperature, density, and pressure exhibit scaling relations with chain length for all the three (diblock, random, and zwitterionic) polyampholytes.     

Phase behaviour,structural properties and intermolecular interactions of systems based on substituted thiacalix[4]arene and nonionic surfactants

Supramolecular organised materials were prepared from nonionic surfactants and the following macrocyclic ionic liquids: n-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arenes containing quaternary ammonium fragments with amino acid substituents. Tetraethylene glycol monododecyl ether and decadiethylene glycol monododecyl ether were used as nonionic surfactants. They form lamellar and hexagonal mesophases in aqueous media, respectively. Liquid crystal and structural properties of these systems were studied. Intermolecular interactions of system components leading to formation of lyomesophases were estimated. Molecular structure of thiacalixarene contributes to the formation of a hydrogen bonding with surfactants. This process, in turn, initiates formation of a denser packed hexagonal structure.     

Novel viscoelastic systems from cationic surfactants and hydrophobic counter-ions: influence of surfactant chain length

In continuation of our previous investigations on the aqueous phase behavior of cetyltrimethylammonium 2-hydroxy-1-carboxy-naphthoate (CTA-2,1-HCN) (see J. Colloid Interface Sci. 288 (2005) 570), we have studied the phase behavior and the properties of the phases of the two shorter homologues, C(14)TA-2,1-HCN and C(12)TA-2,1-HCN. The phases were prepared from the alkyltrimethylammonium hydroxides RTAOH and the naphtholcarboxylic acid. By preparing the systems in this way the surfactant solutions contain no excess salt. With increasing counter-ion-surfactant ratio r we observed the same sequence of phases as for the previously studied C(16)-system, namely a L(1)-phase and a L(alpha)-phase with multilamellar vesicles (MLV). The single phases are separated by a two-phase L(1)/L(alpha) region. The phases were characterized with FF-TEM, rheological and SANS measurements. For both systems the viscosity of the L(1)-phases passes with increasing counter-ion/surfactant ratio over a maximum. The height of the maximum decreases strongly with decreasing chain length while the complex viscosity of the MLV-phase depends little on the chain length. For 100 mM solution both MLV phases behave like a weak gel and have a yield stress value. It is thus shown that it is possible to prepare viscoelastic surfactant solutions with a yield stress value from single chain surfactants with a dodecyl chain.     

Apolar Bimesogens and the Incidence of the Twist–Bend Nematic Phase

The nematic twist–bend phase (N_TB) was, until recently, only observed for polar mesogenic dimers, trimers or bent‐core compounds. In this article, we report a comprehensive study on novel apolar materials that also exhibit N_TB phases. The N_TB phase was observed for materials containing phenyl, cyclohexyl or bicyclooctyl rings in their rigid‐core units. However, for materials with long (>C7) terminal chains or mesogenic core units comprising three ring units, the N_TB phase was not observed and instead the materials exhibited smectic phases. One compound was found to exhibit a transition from the N_TB phase to an anticlinic smectic C phase; this is the first example of this polymorphism. Incorporation of lateral substitution with respect to the central core unit led to reductions in transition temperatures; however, the N_TB phase was still found to occur. Conversely, utilising branched terminal groups rendered the materials non‐mesogenic. Overall, it appears that it is the gross molecular topology that drives the incidence of the N_TB phase rather than simple dipolar considerations. Furthermore, dimers lacking any polar groups, which were prepared to test this hypothesis, were found to be non mesogenic, indicating that at the extremes of polarity these effects can dominate over topology.     

Phase and aggregation behaviour of alkylglycosides

Alkylmonoglucopyranosides are the main compounds of technical alkylpoyglucosides. New contributions to crystallisation and thermotropic properties, phase and aggregation behaviour are presented because of their central interest for understanding the technical products. Synchrotron and neutron scattering give a detailed insight into the micelle formation of pure compounds and to the sphere–rod transition as a function of added long chain alcohols. The phase behaviour of the surfactant systems and microemulsions is heavily influenced by traces of ionic surfactants.