Polymorphic Phase Transitions in Bulk Triglyceride Mixtures

Triacylglycerols (TAGs) are among the most important ingredients in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. Many physical properties of such products, incl. morphology, texture rheology, determined by phase behaviour included TAGs. Triglycerides also special interest for production solid lipid nanoparticles, applied controlled drug delivery encapsulation bioactive ingredients. In this paper, we study polymorphic complex TAG mixtures, composed 2 to 6 mixed TAGs, differential scanning calorimetry X-ray scattering techniques, aiming reveal general rules their upon cooling heating. The results show that two or more coexisting phases form solidification $(\alpha$, $\beta'$ and/or $\beta)$, number which depends strongly on rate components mixture. No completely miscible $\alpha$- $\beta'$-phases were observed. structure stable $\beta$ polymorphs, formed subsequent heating solidified samples, does not depend thermal history samples. For all mixtures studied, observed one-component domains, with binary domains composition do specific ratio other words, a mixture $k$ saturated TAGs $(2k-1)$ different phases. These conclusions provide some predictive power when analysing transition mixtures.