Viscoelastic solution of long polyoxyethylene chain phytosterol/monoglyceride/water systems

We have studied the rheology and structure of a mixed long polyoxyethylene chain phytosterol (PhyEO₃₀) and monoglyceride (monolaurin (ML) or monopalmitin (MP)) surfactants in an aqueous system. Both ML and MP are insoluble in 10 wt.% PhyEO₃₀ solution at normal room temperature, but their solubility is found to increase with the rise of temperature and an isotropic solution is formed at higher temperature. A maximum viscosity as a function of temperature appears as ML or MP is solubilized in the micellar solution of PhyEO₃₀. With increasing temperature, viscosity increases rapidly for higher monoglyceride content and forms viscoelastic solution. The oscillatory rheological behavior of the viscoelastic solution can be described by Maxwell model at low-frequency region, which is the typical pattern of entangled wormlike micelles. Upon successive increase in temperature, the viscosity decreases and ultimately a phase separation occurs. Small-angle X-ray scattering measurements were performed to provide a supportive structural evidence for the rheological data.