Rod-like micelles thicken CO(2).
A new approach to thicken dense liquid CO(2) is described using the principles of self-assembly of custom-made CO(2) compatible fluorinated dichain surfactants. Solutions of surfactants in CO(2) have been investigated by high-pressure phase behavior, small-angle neutron scattering (HP-SANS) and falling cylinder viscosity experiments. The results show that it is possible to control surfactant aggregation to generate long, thin reversed micellar rods in dense CO(2), which at 10 wt % can lead to viscosity enhancements of up to 90% compared to pure CO(2). This represents the first example of CO(2) viscosity modifiers based on anisotropic reversed micelles.
School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK.
Kieran
K
Trickett
Dazun
D
Xing
Robert
R
Enick
Julian
J
Eastoe
Martin J
MJ
Hollamby
Kevin J
KJ
Mutch
Sarah E
SE
Rogers
Richard K
RK
Heenan
David C
DC
Steytler