Opacity changes during the sol-gel transformation of soap-pinene systems

Abstract

Measurements of the opacity changes with time taking place during the gel-formation of some soap-pinene systems yield opacity-time curves which change their nature considerably with variations in concentration. The curves obtained for systems of high concentrations are S-shaped whereas those for low soap content show a distinct change in direction after the S-shaped stage is reached. The curves for sodium oleate and sodium stearate gels in pinene are very similar in their general characteristics but the opacity values for the sodium palmitate-pinene systems remain constant throughout the process of gel-formation. An attempt has been made to correlate the data with the manner in which the size, number and degree of solvation of the colloidal particles change during gelation.