Melting mechanisms of n-alkanecarboxylates (CnH2n+1CO2–; n⩽ 6)

Abstract

Chemically stable ionic melts can now be prepared from alkali salts of short-chain aliphatic acids. In view of the interest of these liquids, systematic data have been obtained on the first melting points T_f and on the transition points T_cl(if any), from ‘liquid crystal’ to optically isotropic melts, of n-alkanecarboxylates (n⩽ 6) with the monovalent cations Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs. No evidence could be obtained for the existence of mesophases of ‘liquid crystal’ type, for salts of lithium. Temperature ranges for mesophase melts of salts containing all the other cations extend well over 100 °C in many cases, before their isotropic melts are reached.