Yielding and flow of solutions of thermoresponsive surfactant tubes: tuning macroscopic rheology by supramolecular assemblies

Soft Matter Pub Date: 2014-02-17 DOI: 10.1039/C3SM53001A

Abstract

In this article, we show that stimuli-induced microscopic transformations of self-assembled surfactant structures can be used to tune the macroscopic bulk and interfacial rheological properties. Previously, we had described the formation of micron-sized 12-hydroxystearic acid tubes having a temperature-tunable diameter in the bulk, and also adsorbing at the air–water interface. We report now a detailed study of the bulk and interfacial rheological properties of this solution of thermoresponsive tubes as a function of temperature. In the bulk, the structural modifications of tubes with temperature lead to sharp and non-monotonous changes of rheological behavior. As well, at the air–water interface, the interfacial layer is shifted several times from rigid-like to fluid-like as the temperature is increased, due to morphological changes of the adsorbed interfacial layer. The temperature-induced variations in the fatty acid supramolecular organization and the richness in structural transitions at this microscopic level lead to unique rheological responses in comparison with conventional surfactant systems. Also, this study provides new insights into the required packing conditions for the jamming of anisotropic soft objects and highlights the fact that this system becomes glassy under heating. Due to these unique macroscopic properties both in the bulk and at the interface, this simple system with stimuli-responsive viscoelasticity is of interest for their potential applications in pharmacology or cosmetic formulations.

Graphical abstract: Yielding and flow of solutions of thermoresponsive surfactant tubes: tuning macroscopic rheology by supramolecular assemblies
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