Organogels of 12-hydroxystearic acid (HSA) have been investigated to emphasize solvent-dependent
relationships between rheological properties and nanostructures in this class of physical gels. Different
length scales are considered: macroscopic with optical opacity, rheology, phase diagram data; nanoscopic
with small-angle neutron scattering experiments and molecular with 1H NMR data. HSA networks are
shown to be rigid fibrillar networks with rigid junction zones and behave as elastoplastic materials. Shear
elasticities, yield stresses, and deformation behaviors appear connected to the crystallinity of networks
through the cross-sectional shapes of fibers. Kinetics of molecular aggregation and flowing properties are
also used to compare three classes of HSA gels (toluene, dodecane, nitrobenzene). The melting transitions
as well as the concentration dependence of yield stresses exhibit remarkable behaviors analyzed in a
context of molecular nanomaterials.
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