Using Hansen solubility parameters to rationalize organogel formation – HSPgel

Organogels are gels that are obtained when a limited amount of a low molecular weight gelator (LMWG) is dispersed in a liquid where it self-assembles into elongated fibrillar structures, that form an entangled network. A key limitation for this technology is that finding a specific LMWG for a particular application is currently based on trial and error: there are no rules to predict which, among many hundreds of potential LMWGs, might form a gel in a predetermined liquid or liquid mixture typical of industrial formulations. The objective of the HSPgel project is to rationalize how the gelation sphere of a LMWG is affected by structural variations of this LMWG. It will enable us to propose general rules on how to adapt the structure of a known LMWG to reach gelation of a liquid of interest. The results from the HSPgel project will be highly relevant for the design of new applications in the fields of lubricants, petrochemical fluids, personal care, printing or coatings.