Rheology of novel self-thickening cationic gemini surfactant solutions

A new cationic Gemini surfactant (25-HP-25) was synthesized with eruamidopropyl dimethylamine and epichlorohydrin, and its solution is self-thickening. The rheological properties of 25-HP-25 and 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl eruamidopropyl dimethyl ammonium acetate (EDAA) solutions were compared. The solution of EDAA behaves as Newtonian fluid (1 s−1 < γ < 1000s−1). Whereas the 25-HP-25 micelle solution (2 wt%) exhibits higher viscosity, which is about three hundred times than that of EDAA solution at low shear rate (γ < 1 s−1). Especially, the 25-HP-25 solution shows obvious thixotropy, and with the increase of concentration, the viscoelasticity becomes better. Furthermore, the compaction of network structures has been confirmed by cryo-field emission scanning electron microscopy (cryo-FESEM) micrographs. This work is expected to enrich the research field of self-thickening surfactant.