Rheology of systems containing cetrimide-cetostearyl alcohol: variation with temperature

Abstract

Abstract The viscoelastic gel in the continuous phase of a liquid paraffin in water emulsion (stabilized by the mixed emulsifier cetrimide-cetostearyl alcohol) is similar to that formed by dispersing cetrimide and cetostearyl alcohol in water. The effect of temperature changes on the rheological properties of the emulsion and ternary system have been examined in continuous shear and in creep, and variations in the viscosities and compliances have been correlated with thermal phase transitions determined microscopically. The emulsion and ternary system were of maximum consistency at approximately 38° and 43° respectively; these temperatures respresent the transition from frozen smectic to liquid crystalline phase. At higher temperatures, the compliances rose and the viscosities fell as the network weakened and finally dissolved to form an isotropic solution.