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.
Trickett
Kieran
K
School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK.
Xing
Dazun
D
Enick
Robert
R
Eastoe
Julian
J
Hollamby
Martin J
MJ
Mutch
Kevin J
KJ
Rogers
Sarah E
SE
Heenan
Richard K
RK
Steytler
David C
DC