Gels and Gelformation

Colloidal Gel Structures

(Wolfgang Ostwald)

Semisolids, consisting of at least two components:

The first component, being in the solid state,
builds up a coherent three-dimensional network
-also called matrix, texture or constituent phasein which the second component (normally a solvent) is
immobilized.

Gels
Since both phases completely
interpenetrate (bi-coherent system),
a differentiation between the inner and
outer phase cannot be made.

Classification of Gels according to

Constituent or matrix phase
Solvent phase
Crosslinkage

Classification of Gels
Basis

Type

Solvent phase
Solid-liquid

Solid-gas
Solid-solid

Examples
Hydrogel (water solvent)
Organogel (organic solvent)
Liogel (oily solvent)
Alcogel (alcohol solvent)
----------------------------------Xerogel (air)
Aerogel (air)
----------------------------------Polymer-gel (polymer)

Classification of Polymer Gels

Basis
Crosslinkage

Type
Covalent

Noncovalent

Examples
Chemical gelation:
Covalent crosslinking
------------------------------Physical Gelation:
- Coulombic interaction
- Hydrogen bonding
- Coordinate bonding
- Hydrophobic bonding

Classification of Gels
Basis

Type

Constituent
phases

Surfactant
bilayers

Polymers

Examples
o/w Creams
w/o Creams
Amphiphilic Creams
-----------------------------------Natural gels:
Protein gels and
Polysaccharide gels
Synthetic gels:
Organic polymer gels and
inorganic gels
Hybrid gels:
natural and synthetic polymers

Gel structures of creams

o/w creams
w/o creams
Amphiphilic creams

Colloidal structures of o/w creams

Model system for cetostearyl creams:
- Emulsifying Wax*
9,0% wt/wt
- Liquid paraffins
10,5% wt/wt
- White Petrolatum
10,5% wt/wt
- Water
70,0% wt/wt
*Emulsifying Wax itself consists of :
Cetyl sulfate sodium
5% wt/wt
Stearyl sulfate sodium
5% wt/wt
Cetyl alcohol
45% wt/wt

Colloidal structures of w/o creams

A general formula of a w/o system:
- Lanolin*
3,0% wt/wt
- Cetostearyl alcohol
0,25% wt/wt
- White Petrolatum
46,75% wt/wt
- Water
50,0% wt/wt
* with cholesterol as the most important ingredient

Colloidal structures of amphiphilic creams

Formulation of an amphiphilic basic cream:
- Glyceryl stearate
4,0% wt/wt
- Cetyl alcohol
6,0% wt/wt
- medium chain triglycerides 7,5% wt/wt
- White Petrolatum
25,5% wt/wt
- PEG-20 glyceryl-stearate
7,0% wt/wt
- Propyleneglycol
10,0% wt/wt
- Water
50,0% wt/wt

Colloidal structures of amphiphilic creams

Self-assembled structures
Do-it-yourself cosmetic formulations

Polymer Gels
Polymer Gels are cross-linked networks
swollen with a liquid
Gels have both liquid-like and solid-like
properties

Polymer Gels
(The Language of Colloid and Interface Science)

A suspension or polymer solution that

behaves as an elastic solid rather than a
liquid.

Typical rheological behaviour of gels:

storage modulus (G`) > loss modulus (G``)

How we can come to gels ?

Chemical gelation
(covalently crosslinked polymer networks)
Ion exchanging resins
Hydrogels, e.g. HEMA copolymers used for
soft contact lenses
Superabsorptive resins

Physical gelation
(noncovalently crosslinked polymer
networks)

Via hydrogen bonds

Via Coulombic bonds
Via hydrophobic bonds
Via Van der Waals bonds

Three classes of gels

Molecularly connected
Phase connected (adhesive)
Phase connected (continuous)