Study on the microstructure and rheological property of fish oil lyotropic liquid crystal

Fish oil lyotropic liquid crystal was prepared by Tween80, ethyl oleate and water. The microstructure and dynamic rheological properties of different liquid crystal phases and the phase diagrams were observed, with the aid of polarizing optical microscopy, small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and rheological techniques. Results showed that the lamellar phases with various repeat spacing (d) and hexagonal phases occurred in different compositions. Temperature affected the microstructure of lamellar phase and heating made the lamellar phase change to hexagonal phase. Rheological study proved the fish oil lamellar lyotropic liquid crystals to be gel-like fluid and hexagonal phases to have viscoelastic behavior. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.