Thermoreversible gelation of isotropic and liquid crystalline solutions of a 'sticky' rodlike polymer

Thermoreversible gelation of rodlike poly(γ-stearyl-α-L-glutamate) in n-dodecane has been studied by differential scanning calorimetry, polarized light microscopy, visual observations, and temperature ramped fluorescence photobleaching recovery. Solutions spanning a wide range of concentrations can produce gels. In solutions that are initially liquid crystalline, long-range features such as cholesteric twist appear to be frozen by gelation. Although gelation is rapid, some of the polymer molecules retain significant mobility, allowing the gels to 'cure' slowly.