Revisiting pure component wax esters as basis of wax‐based oleogels

Abstract Current research on wax‐based oleogels indicates wax esters to be the key component in many natural waxes. This necessitates understanding the properties of pure wax esters to unravel the gelling mechanism in wax‐based oleogels. Therefore, available literature data on pure wax esters is summarized and critically reviewed. The detailed analysis of the pre‐existing data on crystallographic (SAXS) and thermal properties, facilitates the interpretation of subsequently performed experiments: Specific wax esters with different carbon numbers and symmetries were studied as such and in oleogels formed in combination with medium chained triglyceride oil at inclusion levels of 10% (w/w). They were characterized regarding their thermal (differential scanning calorimetry [DSC]) and viscoelastic (oscillatory rheology) behavior. It is found that all observations concerning pure wax esters behave systematically, linking molecular makeup, crystal structure, and behavior. The experimental study of oleogels structured by four different binary mixtures of wax esters revealed that substantial chain length differences induce separate crystallization (CN30 + 36 and CN30 + 42). Mixtures of wax esters with only limited chain length difference (≤ 2 carbon atoms) reconfirmed earlier speculations on mixing behavior and crystal structure. Applying mixtures of wax esters only differing in their position of the ester bond (CN36 [14_22] + CN36 [22_14]) indicated ideal mixing behavior in the solid phase of the gels. Surprisingly, the data revealed that additional thermal events occur at specific mixing ratios, predominantly at 1:1 (w/w). Their supposed relation to compound formation certainly needs further confirmation. Rheological analysis confirmed that sequential crystallization results in highest firmness values for the systems studied.