We report the properties of molecular gels comprised of ammonium alkanoates as low molecular mass gelators (carbon chain length n = 12, 14, 16 and 18). Polarizing microscopic studies show that the self-assembled fibrillar networks of the gels consist of spherulitic objects. Rheological measurements of 5 wt % ammonium alkanoates in toluene gels will be presented. Some of the gels were thixotropic and exhibited fast recovery times after being destroyed by high shear. Correlations between the molecular structures of the low molecular mass gelators and the properties of their gels, including critical gelator concentrations and gel melting temperatures will be presented.

Gelation studies and thixotropic properties of molecular gels based on ammonium alkanoates as low molecular mass gelators

255th National Meeting (2018)

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