CONSTRUCTION OF A DEFECT-DIMINISHED FATTY-ACID CRYSTALLINE MONOLAYER BY A MULTISTEP CREEP METHOD BASED ON ITS AREA-CREEP CHARACTERISTICS

A novel preparation method to obtain a defect-diminished fatty acid cr ystalline monolayer, that is, a multistep creep method, was proposed o n the basis of area-creep mechanisms of the monolayer on the water sur face. The fatty acid monolayer prepared by the multistep creep method was morphologically homogeneous and mechanically stable even at a high surface pressure, while the monolayer prepared by a conventional cont inuous compression method without an area-creep process was easily col lapsed. The crystallographical regularity of the crystalline monolayer prepared by the multistep creep method was remarkably progressed comp ared with that of the monolayer prepared by the continuous compression method. Therefore, the multistep creep method is applicable for the c onstruction of the defect-diminished monolayer.