Study on Polymorphism of Monoglycerides. V.

Abstract

Liquid crystal obtained from a mixed system of monopalmitin and water was examined for phase diagram, growth mechanism of liquid crystal and morphological changes during phase transition, using a polarizing microscope and DSC.1) With concentration of monoglyceride in the range of 9973%, a reversed middle phase was formed, and it became a neat phase with 8030% concentration. At concentrations below 70%, a viscous isotropic phase appeared in the high temperature region and this transited to a neat phase with lowering of temperature. With monoglyceride concentration below 40%, the stable range of the neat phase and viscous isotropic phase transited gradually to a lower temperature side, and the liquid crystal disappeared at about 23% concentration of monoglyceride.2) The reversed middle phase observed in the region of high concentration of monoglyceride grew by the crossed aggregation of a rod-like pattern. It was similar to the growth of usual smectic liquid crystal.On the other hand, the neat phase served in the low concentration range is considered to grow, as the nuclei was generated from the monomolecular film and micelle formed in the viscous isotropic phase.