Abstract
The conductivity of gels and emulsions containing cetrimide, cetostearyl alcohol, liquid paraffin and water has been studied over the temperature range +35 to −10°C. All samples froze at temperatures below −5°C and exhibited hysteresis on rewarming to room temperature with an initial increase in conductivity up to 15°C followed by a decrease to 25°C. The amount of hysteresis was dependent on the cetostearyl alcohol content and appeared to be related to changes in the microstructure of the liquid crystalline network.