Topological solitons in aliphatic systems with a restricted translational mobility

• Published in: Chemical physics Vol. 539; p. 110959
• Main Authors: Lazarenko, Maxim M., Alekseev, Alexander N., Alekseev, Sergei A., Yablochkova, Kateryna S., Bokhvan, Sergyi I., Demidiuk, Olexiy F., Lazarenko, Mykhailo V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-11-2020
• Subjects: Phase transitions; Relaxation process; Topological soliton; Triolein; Triricinolein; Tristearin; Relaxation process; Triricinolein; Topological soliton; Phase transitions; Tristearin; Triolein
• ISSN: 0301-0104
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphys.2020.110959

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The paper discusses the features of molecular motion mechanisms in crystals of triacylglycerols. Topological solitons in tristearin crystals nucleate on methyl groups and propagate along the molecule, reorienting the ester group. The motion of these polar ester groups leads to a relaxation process initiation. As soon as topological solitons reach a steric hindrance, they reflect from it. In triolein molecules, topological solitons that originate on methyl groups do not reorient the ester group, as their motion is blocked by a double bond in the aliphatic chain. As a result, the intensity of the relaxation process is low. In triricinolein molecules topological solitons originating on methyl groups also fail to reorient ester groups due to the double bond in the aliphatic chain that acts as an obstacle. However, they reorient the hydroxyl group in front of the double bond. The relaxation process in triricinolein is much more intense than in triolein.