Biophysical Journal 55: 47-52 (1989)
© 1989 the Biophysical Society

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Caffrey, M Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Caffrey, M

A lyotrope gradient method for liquid crystal temperature-composition-mesomorph diagram construction using time-resolved x-ray diffraction.

Department of Chemistry, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210.

ABSTRACT

A new method for rapidly constructing isobaric temperature-composition-mesomorph (T-C) diagrams is described. The method involves establishing a lyotrope concentration gradient in a liquid crystal lengthwise in an x-ray capillary tube. At a fixed temperature such a sample corresponds to an isotherm in the corresponding isobaric T-C diagram. The concentration gradient is conveniently established by bringing the two components into contact in the capillary and allowing limited diffusion of one component into the other. Phase boundaries are located and phases are identified and structurally characterized continuously along the length of the capillary using time-resolved x-ray diffraction. Repeating the measurement on the same sample at a series of temperatures in the range of interest completes that T-C diagram. The method has been used to construct the T-C diagram for detergent/water and lipid/water binary and ternary systems in the 20-120 degrees C range. They agree well with and extend the results obtained by conventional methods.