The innovation engine for new materials

Avni Bhatt

Avni Bhatt

Major: 

Biochemistry-Molecular Biology

University: 

University of California, Santa Barbara

Mentor(s): 

Mansi Seth
Arun Ramachandran

Faculty Sponsor(s): 

L. Gary Leal

Faculty Sponsor's Department(s): 

Chemical Engineering

Project Title: 

EFFECT OF TAIL SATURATION ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF CHARGED SURFACTANT VESICLES

Project Description: 

Commercial household suspensions such as detergents and fabric enhancers can undergo gradual phase separation, eventually leading to product failure. In order to produce stable products, an understanding of the underlying mechanism of this phase separation phenomenon is of key importance. The ability to control phase separation can be aided by our understanding of the mechanical properties of charged surfactant vesicles, which are the building blocks of several household suspensions. In this study, we use the technique of Micropipette Aspiration to examine the effect of tail saturation on two important mechanical properties, the bending ( ) and area expansion ( ) moduli. Mechanical properties of vesicles made from 100% unsaturated cationic di(tallow ethyl ester)dimethyl ammonium chloride (DEEDMAC) are compared to those of vesicles made from a mixture of 75% unsaturated and 25% saturated DEEDMAC by weight. Preliminary results suggest that there is no measurable difference in the bending moduli of the single and mixed surfactant vesicles at this composition. Additional experiments at higher concentrations of saturated DEEDMAC are required to elucidate the effects of tail saturation on the bending modulus of mixed vesicles. Our improved understanding of such correlations provides a better platform for the design of stable vesicle suspensions.