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China Surfactant Detergent & Cosmetics ›› 2025, Vol. 55 ›› Issue (5): 563-572.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2097-2806.2025.05.004

• Basic research • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Study of the phase behavior of liquid crystals formed in lecithin systems

Wanping Zhang1,Jie Chen1,Shanshan Wang2,Jie Gu2,Zhi Lv2,Qianjie Zhang1,*()   

  1. 1. Flavor and Cosmetics Department, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai 201418, China
    2. Shanghai Inoherb Cosmetics Co. Ltd., Shanghai 200080, China
  • Received:2024-05-16 Revised:2025-05-08 Online:2025-05-22 Published:2025-06-11
  • Contact: *E-mail: zhangqj_sit@126.com.

Abstract:

The studies of the phase behavior of lecithin systems are of great significance for understanding the formation mechanism of liquid crystal systems. Such studies include the phase transition under different conditions as well as the aggregate structure induced by intermolecular interactions. To find the rule for the formation of liquid crystal structure of soybean lecithin, the effects of co-emulsifiers on the phase changes for different mass fractions of lecithin at different temperatures were investigated in the form of binary phase diagrams. The results showed that after mixed with cholesterol, soybean lecithin at mass fraction range of 20%-35% at room temperature could form liquid crystal exhibiting regular and bright Maltese crosses. The effects of oil type and content on the formation of liquid crystal structure of lecithin systems were studied by pseudo-ternary phase diagram. It was found that for the case of a single oil, those ester oils (e.g., GTCC and JOJOBA) would contribute to the formation of liquid crystal structure in the emulsion. The phase region of liquid crystal-structured emulsion was the largest area for the case of 16%-20% mixed oils (m(white oil)∶m(GTCC)∶m(JOJOBA)=1∶1∶1), and the Maltese crosses denoting liquid crystal structure were bright. The oscillatory rheological test showed that the linear viscoelastic region of liquid crystal emulsion was larger than that of ordinary emulsion, indicative of better stability.

Key words: soybean lecithin, binary phase diagram, ternary phase diagram, liquid crystal

CLC Number: 

  • TQ423