A study of the gel structure in a nonionic O/W cream by differential scanning calorimetry

The structure of a simple O/W cream and its separate components were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. The results obtained for cetylstearylalcohol agree with those cited in literature. The thermal behaviour of the component poly(oxyethylene)₂₀ glycerolmonostearate (= PGM₂₀) was also investigated. It is pointed out that the thermal history of the PGM₂₀ batch may play an important role in a study concerning the structure of this surfactant. To both components water was added to study the effects of hydration. Hydration affected the transition temperatures of either component. The melting enthalpy per unit mass of cetylstearylalcohol was not influenced, in contrast with the melting enthalpy of the hydrocarbon fraction in PGM₂₀/water mixtures. It is supposed that hydration induces a tilt of the hydrocarbon chains with respect to the lattice plane in lamellar PGM₂₀/water mixtures. Cooling experiments indicated that, in samples containing sufficient water, 2 water molecules were tightly bound to the polyoxyethylene chains of the surfactant. The properties of simple creams containing cetylstearylalcohol, PGM₂₀ and water can be explained regarding their structure and considering the behaviour of the separate components.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Elsa Ullmann on the occasion of her 75th anniversary.     

Solutions of alkali soaps and water in fatty acids XIII. Circumstances that regulate the extension of theL 2-phase and the role of the acid-soaps rich in fatty acid for the occurrence of the phase

A basic requirement for that type ofL ₂-phase which exists in the system sodium octanoate-octanoic acid-water is the formation of acid-soaps. In order for the phase to be formed at all, the temperature must lie above the melting point of the fatty acid so that a reaction in non-aqueous milieu between neutral soap and fatty acid is possible. In order to obtain the characteristic shape and complete extension of the phase in direction of high water content the temperature must be so high that also the hydrated acid-soaps occur in fluid state. On the other hand the temperature cannot be so high that the acid-soaps become unstable.At temperatures at which the phase has obtained its full extension those circumstances differs which in different regions regulate the location of the phase borders; they depend on the composition of the acid soaps and on their amounts. In that part of the phase where the molar ratio between octanoic acid and sodium octanoate lies between 2 and 3 and where one has a continuous transition from reversed to normal structure only the two acid octanoates 1 NaC₈ 2 HC₈ x H₂O and 1 NaC₈ 3 HC₈ x H₂O occur and both are at 20 °C in fluid state.At water contents from about 22 % to 40 % the hydrate-water molecules belonging to the first mentioned soap are capable of contributing actively to the formation of large aggregates of acid-soap, a process which however is counteracted by the inmixing of the latter acid-soap. This mixture of the two acid-soaps decides in this region where the border of the phase will lie in direction towards an increased content of sodium octanoate; the result is that in spite of the fact that the hydration is increased, the border is only slowly displaced towards a higher content of fatty acid. As soon as the hydration of the acid octanoates has been completed and the additional water occurs as unbound bulkwater, the location of the phase boundary will no longer be influenced by the water content — now it will be the amphiphilic composition of the acid-soaps that determines the location of the border and it remains at the molar ratio 2.5 between octanoic acid and sodium octanoate at water contents from about 40% and up to 82%.In the direction of decreasing content of neutral sodium octanoate and increased content of water theL ₂-phase both at the highest content of fatty acid and the highest contents of water will be in equilibrium with the water-richL ₁-phase; in the first mentioned region with theL ₁-phase below the lac where at the border it is saturated with octanoic acid and in the latter region with theL ₁-phase just above the lac, where the dilute sodium octanoate solution contains dissolved 1 NaC₈ 1HC₈ x H₂O. In the large central part of theL ₂-phase, from about 20 % to about 86 % of water, the location of the border is dominated by the acid octanoate 1 NaC₈ 3 HC₈ x H₂O and that makes an equilibrium with theL ₁-phase impossible; instead one has an equilibrium via a two-phase zone between the amphiphile-rich region of theL ₂-phase and its water-rich region. In the first region the location of the border is regulated by the decreasing capability of the hydrated acid octanoate 1 NaC₈ 3 HC₈ x H₂O to dissolve octanoic acid; in the latter it is regulated by the fact that 1 NaC₈ 3 HC₈ x H₂O is the most fatty acid-rich acid-soap that is formed and that the octanoic acid is very little soluble in water and in the aqueous solution of this acidsoap.The middle part of theL ₂-phase, especially the region between about 55 % and 82 % of water, constitutes a direct continuation of the liquid crystalline lamellarD-phase. The liquid crystalline character of theD-phase is lost at the transition, but the lamellar organization is retained. That the molecules at least up to a water content of about 40 % are of the original reversed type and have an elongated shape with a central part of hydrated polar groups, from which core the hydrocarbon chains extend in two opposite directions, is the reason to that they, at crowding, form transient layer-like agglomerates of tightly packed more or less parallel molecules; this facilitates the transformation to coherent double amphiphilic layers, in which all molecules lie with the hydrated polar groups outwards toward coherent domains of bulk-water, without another liquid phase occurs.     

Changes of mesophase structure of BRIJ 96/water mixtures on addition of liquid paraffin

The influence of the addition of liquid paraffin (LP) on the structure of the lamellar (L ) and hexagonal (H₁) mesophases formed in mixtures of water (W) and BRIJ 96 (B) was studied. Mesophases were identified using polarization microscopy and small angle x-ray diffraction (SAXD). Repeat spacings were also determined with SAXD. Depending on theW/B ratio, addtion ofLP toL gives a large, almost linear one-dimensional swelling or an initial swelling followed by a gradual transition to H₁.L with a highLP-content gives a diffraction pattern showing only the first order diffraction maximum, possibly a result of undulations of the layers. The lamellar structure, however, was confirmed using freeze fracture electron microscopy (FFEM). Addition ofLP to H₁ gives an initial swelling followed by a transition to a transparent, highly viscous, isotropic phase, called the gel-phase (G). The diffraction pattern obtained fromG yields little information on its structure. A large swelling ofG withLP was observed. From the degree of swelling as a function of hydrocarbon content it was inferred that this phase consists of spherical aggregates forming a close-packed structure. Using FFEM, textures were visualized resembling those obtained from the isotropic mesophase (I₁) in water-surfactant mixtures. Finally, geometrical factors are discussed that may play a role in the formation of the gel-phase.     

Amorphous solid-like distribution of polydisperse particles of colloidal clay and microcrystalline cellulose in deionized suspension

A metallurgical microscope is used to directly observe the amorphous solid-like structures of deionized suspensions of highly polydispersed colloids in sedimentation equilibrium. The colloids used are colloidal clay of bentonite and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). The two-dimensional distance distribution functions of the amorphous solid-like structures at relatively diluted and concentrated suspensions resemble those of the liquid-like and gas-like structures of monodispersed spheres, respectively. The center-to-center interparticle distances (D) in the amorphous solid-like structures are explained by the effective hard-sphere model; a colloidal particle is coated with electrical double layers. The maximum length of the width of the double layers (Debye length,D ₁) observed is ca. 1n at very dilute suspensions.D andD ₁ continue to decrease as the initial concentration of the particles increases, and from these data rigidities are estimated to be 0.12 and 0.09 Pa for bentonite and MCC suspensions, respectively. The log [viscosity] of bentonite suspensions begins to increase linearly as log [shear rate] decreases with a slope close to –1, which supports the solid-like nature of the suspensions. These experimental results show that electrostatic interparticle repulsion and the elongated Debye-screening length around the particles are both essential for the appearance of the amorphous solid-like structures.     

Dependence of the activity of a rhizopus lipase on microemulsion composition

Enzymatic hydrolysis of a model triglyceride, palm oil, was carried out with lipase fromRhizopus sp. in microemulsions with varying water content. The microemulsions were based on a nonionic surfactant, pentaethylene glycol monododecyl ether (C12 EO5), buffered water solution and an oil component consisting of isooctane and palm oil at a weight ratio of 20:1. The structure of the microemulsions was characterized using Fourier transform pulsed-gradient spin-echo¹H NMR. The rate of reaction decreased as the water content of the reaction medium was increased. The self-diffusion coefficient of water, D_w was found to be constant within the interval 1–20% water. The difference in reactivity is believed to be due to a difference in structure of the palisade layer between water and hydrocarbon microdomains. The nonionic surfactant was demonstrated to be unsuitable for enzymatic reactions since only partial hydrolysis was obtained in all experiments. The surfactant, however, did not cause enzyme deactivation, even at very high concentrations.     

A structural study of the mesophases of two oxyethylene alkyl ether-decane-water systems,a comparison between technical grade C12EO〈7〉 and pure C12EO6

As part of a study polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers (C _m EO _n ), water and decane, the phase diagram and the structures of the mesophases of pure C₁₂EO₆ and technical grade C₁₂EO₇ were compared. The constructed phase diagrams of the two systems show a great resemblance except for one difference: the viscous isotropic phase is only present in the C₁₂EO₆ phase diagram.The swelling behavior of the lamellar and hexagonal phases was studied with smallangle x-ray scattering. Both the lamellar and hexagonal phases showed an ideal swelling behavior and no differences between the lamellar and hexagonal phases of the two systems were detected.With freeze-fracture electron microscopy the hexagonal and lamellar phases were visualized. No differences in the textures of the lamellar phases were found, however, the micrographs of the hexagonal phases of the two systems clearly showed different textures. While in the hexagonal phase of the C₁₂EO₆ system only infinite long rods were visualized, short interrupted rods were found in the hexagonal phase of the C₁₂EO₇ system.     

Change of water structure by solvents and polymers Part 4: Albumin-water solutions with acetylsalicylic,hydrochloric and ascorbic acid,lysine- and ammonium chloride and with dextrane and sorbit

Viscosity measurements were made in the temperature range of 10 °–40 °C. The equation= _o exp(B/(T-T _o )) was used with the parameterT ₀ as structure indicator, which is called the limiting temperature. For instance, hydrocarbons, as liquids with quasifree molecules, haveT ₀=O; water as a highly structured liquid hasT ₀= 140–150 K.The polymer investigated was ovalbumin in aqueous solution in a concentration comparable to that of blood. Acetylsalicylic acid produces a protein conformation which breaks the water structure in solution at a pH of within the in vivo region.The question of whether only the acidity determines the water structure breaking properties of the protein is investigated by acidifying albumin-water solutions with hydrochloric acid, lysine chloride and ascorbic acid. All these acids exhibit similar effects. A stronger influence is observed for ammonium chloride. Its interaction with ovalbumin produces a strong structure-breaking effect. The most powerful water structure breaker in albumin-water solutions is dextrane. In a concentration of 10 % it changes the polymer conformation so that the water structure is broken to such an extent that the solution behaves as an almost quasifree liquid withT ₀=O.     

X-ray diffraction studies on homologous thallium soaps below the temperature range of the neat phase 1. Calculation and comparison of the structure parameters of unit cells

The results of X-ray diffraction patterns of homologous thallium soaps TlC _n (n-8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20 and 22) in dependence on the temperature showed that the structures of the phases below the temperature range of the liquid-crystalline neat phase (so called phase C₁, phase C₂, phase I, phase II) are crystalline-like, not liquid-crystalline.As function of the chain length of the fatty acid group, we found the following phase sequences to be a function of temperature: TlC₈: phase Ineat phase: TlC₉–Tl₁₄: phase C₂phase IIphase Ineat phase; TlC₁₅, TlC₁₆: phase C₁phase IIphase Ineat phase; TlC₁₇–TlC₂₂: phase C₁phase IIneat phase.From the X-ray patterns of the thallium soaps were calculated the lattice parameters and the unit cells of these homologues at various temperatures. The comparison between the lattice parameters of the homologues showed, surprisingly, that these parameters were independent of chain length and temperature. This X-ray data are the basis for the following development of structure models of the phase C₁, phase C₂, phase I, and phase II, including the neat phase (see Part 2).     

Peroxidase oxidations of hydroquinone and p-cresol in AOT reversed micelles

The enzymatic activities of horseradish peroxidase solubilized in reversed micelles of bis(2-ethylhexyl)sodium sulfosuccinate formed in octane at various _o values ( _o=[H₂O]/[AOT]) were investigated by studying the catalytic oxidation of hydroquinone and p-cresol. These enzymatic reactions obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The turnover number of the enzymatic reaction of hydroquinone solubilized in the water pool increased with a decrease in _o value. On the other hand, the dependence of the turnover number of the enzymatic reaction of p-cresol solubilized in octane on the _o value was similar to that in the case of hydroquinone, although even at higher _o values the turnover number was smaller than that in water. Furthermore, it was suggested by spectrophotometric and circular dichroism measurements that the conformational change of enzyme induced the change in enzymatic activity.     

Association of poly-(L-lysine) homologues in sodium carbonate solution

The molecular weights of isopoly(L-Iysine), poly(L-ornithine), and poly(L-, -diaminobutylic acid), the homologues of poly (L-lysine), were determined by the sedimentation equilibrium method in aqueous solutions of 1.0 M NaCl or 0.1 M Na₂CO₃. In every sample the molecular weights in the presence of carbonate ions was twice that in NaCl solution. In a previous paper we reported that poly(L-lysine) behaved as a dimer at concentrations higher than 0.4 g/dl in the presence of carbonate ions and as a monomer in dilute solution, and these two forms were related by a monomer-dimer equilibrium. The homologues did not have a monomer-dimer equilibrium relationship under the conditions of the measurements that we carried out. The CD spectrum of isopoly(L-lysine) in water showed a uniform increase with a decrease in the wave length in the presence of carbonate ions. However, in the alkaline region in NaOH solution, the spectrum changed and a small minimum at 212 nm was found. When additional carbonate ions were added a large minimum at 205 nm was observed. This result can be explained by a change in the conformation from a random coil to a regular structure. We could not compare isopoly(L-lysine) with other polypeptides, because it does not have peptide bonds. The CD spectra of poly(L-ornithine) and poly(L-, -diaminobutylic acid) in NaOH or Na₂CO₃ solutions showed only slightly regular structures. It was also confirmed that the dimer-structures of the poly (L-lysine) homologues do not have regular structures.This paper was presented at the VI. Symposium on Analytical Ultracentrifugation, Marburg, FRG, February 16–17,1989.     

Dynamic shear compliance of polymer melts and networks in dependence on crosslinking density

Mechanical relaxation processes in polymer melts and networks are discussed. This is performed by decomposing master curves of the dynamic shear compliance into i) glass relaxation with its plateau complianceJ _eN ; ii) shearband process with its relaxation strengthJ _B , which is reciprocal to the total crosslink densityp _c ; and iii) flow relaxationJ _F and viscous flow (for uncrosslinked melts only). Plateau complianceJ _eN > is exponentially reduced only by effective crosslinks (p _c ^* p _c /30). This behavior is understood on the level of a meander superstructure, which includes shearbands. The observed saturation inJ _eN at higher dicumylperoxide (DCUP) crosslinking-which doesn't appear with radiation-can be explained by the lack of chemically induced effective crosslinks across the interfaces among meander cubes. This lack may be a consequence of DCUP molecules concentrating at the interfaces and thereby preventing the contact and radical recombination between chains at adjacent meander faces.Crosslink densitiesp _c (per monomer), determined from the reduction of shearband relaxation strength, vary linearly with the crosslinking agent and read: p_c2.4 · 10^–2 Dose/MGy andp _c 0.97 · 10^–2 DCUP/phr for radiation and DCUP crosslinking, respectively. This implies, e.g., that a dose of 0.4 MGy (40 Mrad) is equivalent to 1 part DCUP phr in a crosslinking polyisoprene. From activation-curve analysis it follows that3 r/d stays constant, and _s - _so (free energy of formation of a segment-dislocation) andQ _y -Q _yo (activation energy for segmental jumps) vary with the square ofP _c , as does the glass temperaturT _g -T _go from DSC measurements.     

Theory of swelling of a crosslinked substance in equilibrium with a solvent in various phases

In this paper the thermodynamic theory of a body in a liquid, crystalline or vaporized solvent is treated. The equilibrium swelling curves are discussed for the different states of the solvent. The slopes of the swelling curves are dependent on the differential enthalpy of dilution of the solvent and, additionally, on the enthalpies of vaporization, crystallization and sublimation of the solvent related to the state of the swelling agent. The slopes of the swelling curves are determined by the differential heat of vaporization, the differential heat of solution of the solvent or the differential heat of fusion according to the state of the swelling agent. Directly below the melting pointT _m,1, or directly above the boiling pointT _b,1 of the solvent the swelling curves change their slopes with a sharp bend. This phenomenon can be used to determine (₁/w ₁) at constant temperature and pressure, which means the change of the chemical potential ₁, with the change of the weight fractionw ₁ of the solvent. Using a simplified statistical thermodynamic relation it is possible to describe the principal courses of the swelling curves in all states of the solvent.     

Molecular motions in poly(diethyl siloxane) studied by solid-state29Si NMR

Molecular motions in poly(diethyl siloxane) were studied by solid-state²⁹Si-NMR in the temperature range 180–350 K. In this temperature range two solid phases ₁ and ₂, a mesophase _m, and an amorphous isotropic phase exist. The nature of the chain mobility in the different phases was deduced from the resulting changes in the NMR line-shape governed by anisotropic chemical shift. In the intermediate solid phase ₂ its anisotropy is reduced by 25% compared with the low temperature phase ₁ due to the onset of oscillations around the chain axis and conformational transitions. In the mesophase _m the polymer chain rotates about its long axis yielding an axially symmetric chemical shift tensor opposite in sign to that in the ₁, ₂ phases. The broad transition of the mesophase into the isotropic phase is accompanied by an increase in a narrow Lorentzian line arising from the amorphous phase. The results are compared with previous¹H NMR, Raman-spectroscopy and x-ray measurements.After completion of this work we learnt that PDES has recently also been studied through¹³C-MAS and²⁹Si-NMR by Möller et al. [13].     

Catalase monolayers at the air/water interface I. Reversibilities and irreversibilities

/A-isotherms of catalase monolayers established at the air/water-interface are discussed quantitatively on the basis of molecular data: A relationship between a critical value of the surface pressure, the corresponding molecular area, and the molecular dimension of the molecules at the interface is proposed. It is shown that the unfolding of molecules at the water surface is pH-dependent. For each pH-value there is a distinct degree of unfolding; the molecules keep their globular state at neutral pH. Establishment at the surface of bulk solutions corresponding to globular and partly unfolded states, respectively, catalase molecules keep their original configuration on changing the pH-value of bulk-phase. The monolayers are confirmed to show reversibility with regard to lateral changes of state as well as irreversibility with respect to desorption of molecules.A model is proposed to explain the nature of the critical/A-value occurring in the/A-isotherms: on compression beyond _c, molecular segments are transferred from the surface into the bulkphase via a subsurface layer. From the experiments it is concluded that the surface pressure is determined, not only by the surface itself, but also by this subsurface layer.     

Phase diagrams and structures of lecithin/water systems with branched lecithin components

The influence of chain branching on the phase transition parameters and structures of the homologous series of 1-(x-methylpalmitoyl)-2-hexadecyllecithins in the water-saturated two-phase region (50 wt.% water) were studied by differentialscanning-calorimetry as a function of the position x of methyl branching. With increasing x a linear decrease in the enthalpies and alternating temperatures of main transition were observed. The phase diagram of the ternary system 1-(3-methyl-palmitoyl)-2-hexadecyllecithin/1,2-dipalmitoyllecithin/water (50 wt.% water) showed that both components are completely miscible within the high-temperature phase (L -phase). However, in the low-temperature phase (gel phase), the components are partially miscible only. It follows that gel phases with interdigitated chains and those with tilted chains are not completely miscible. The phase diagram of the ternary system 1,2-di-(8-methylpalmitoyl)-lecithin/1,2-dipalmitoyllecithin/water (50 wt.% water) showed that both components are completely miscible within the high-temperature phase and low-temperature phase. Within the concentration range between the mole fraction x=0.91 and x=0.97, a drop-like course in the phase diagram was obtained.     

Effects of pressure and solvent on the diffusion of aromatic compounds through polymers

The diffusion of six azo and five anthraquinone derivatives through nylon 6, poly(ethylene terephthalate) and secondary cellulose acetate films were studied under high hydrostatic pressures of up to 3000 bar and at temperatures 80–130 °C, by analyzing the diffusion profiles yielded in a stacked multiple film, placed in the solution of the diffusant. It was found that the diffusion coefficient,D, of the diffusant decreased with increasing pressure, giving a linear relationship between InD and the pressure, the slope of which gave the activation volume for the diffusion,V . It was revealedV increased linearly with increasing intrinsic molecular volume of the diffusant,V _w , the slopes being different between the azo and the anthraquinone derivatives. The ratio ofV toV _w (V /V _w ) ranged from 0.13 to 0.93, depending in a sensitive manner on the degree of swelling of the polymer matrix which in turn was varied by the solvent. The overall results could be explained in accordance with the formulation,V _{f, local} +V =V _w , whereV _{f, local} represents the free volume contribution. It was proposed thatV _w is increased by solvation when the solvent is good for the diffusant.     

Phase diagram of the system dihexadecylphosphatidylcholine/dihexadecyl-phosphatidic acid/water/NaOH at pH=14

Differential-scanning-calorimetry, freeze-fracture electron microscopy, and³¹P-NMR spectroscopy were used to study the lyotropic and thermotropic properties of the system dihexadecylphosphatidylcholine/dihexadecylphosphatidic acid/water/ NaOH in dispersion with excess water at pH=14. The phase diagram showed that both phospholipids are demixed nearly completely in the gel phase. The coexistence of theP and theB -phase in the mixtures was pointed out in the freeze-fracture electron micrographs by the ripple structure (P -phase) and by the lamellar structure (B -phase).     

Solutions of alkali soaps and water in fatty acids. XII. Correlations between the acid sodium octanoates in the isotropic liquidL 2-phase at water contents from 82% down to 10% and those in adjacent liquid crystalline phases

A close connection exists between the isotropic L₂-phase and the liquid crystalline lamellar D-phase. This connection is evidenced both with respect to similar compositions of their acid sodium octanoates and concerning the structure of the phases.The two-phase zone between these phases is very narrow, from 82 % down to about 55 % of water, it then widens slowly to about 40 % and thereafter very rapidly to 22 % of water; below the latter value it remains broad. The border of the L₂-phase is in the whole region from 82 % to 22 % of water located at molar ratios between octanoic acid and sodium octanoate of somewhat above 2.0; the border of the D-phase lies at the same values down to a water content of 40 %. The acid octanoate 1 NaC₈ 2 HC₈ x H₂O plays thus a considerable role in the phase transition all the way down to a water content of 22 %. As long as free bulk-water exists in both phases the structures in them remain alike; this similarity is greatest as long as the amount of bulk-water is so large that it suffices to form coherent domains. At contents of water below 40 %, that is after the disappearance of the bulk-water and when a decrease in the content of water begins to affect the hydration of the acid octanoates, the structural similarity between the phases disappears rapidly.     

XPS analysis (ESCA) of the surface composition of poly(styrene/2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) microspheres produced by emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization

Polymer microspheres composed of various compositions of styrene and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) were produced by batch emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization. The HEMA content at the surface, [HEMA] _s , of the microspheres powdered by freeze-drying was determined by both quantitativeC ^1s /O ^1s analysis andC ^1s peak shape analysis of the x-ray photoelectron spectroscopic spectra. When the HEMA content in the microsphere, [HEMA] _p , was less than about 5 mole%, the [HEMA] _s values determined by the two different methods showed good agreement. At [HEMA]_p above 5 mole %, [HEMA]_s values determined by the first method were about 15 mole % greater than those determined by the second. They both showed a similar tendency with the [HEMA] _s being higher than the [HEMA] _p , e.g., when [HEMA] _p was 1 mole %, [HEMA] _s was 11 mole %. The intensity of the satellite peak due to the ^* transition of the benzene ring of the styrene component decreased with an increase in [HEMA] _p , to zero at 5 mole % of [HEMA] _p . These results indicate that the HEMA component is localized at the surface.Part CVIII of the series Studies on Suspension and Emulsion.