Pressure-induced crystallization of triacylglycerides

Abstract

We report on the impact of high pressures on the crystallization of pure triolein and triolein–trilaurin mixtures. We detect growth rates and induction times of single crystals under a high pressure application with a polarization microscope. Statistical studies on the induction time were carried out studying light scattering and transmittance. Similar to supercooling in temperature-induced crystallization, we find a superpressuring in pressure-induced crystallization. In binary mixtures, the inverse induction time indicates a threshold concentration close to the melting point of one component, beyond which it depends linearly on concentration.