The behaviour of stearic acid neutralised by triethanolamine to form soap and its acid–soap has been examined by infrared spectroscopy. It was found that not only could the neutralisation behaviour be characterised, but the thermotropic behaviour could also be followed. The neutralisation confirmed the formation of a fixed stoichiometeric ratio, 2: 1, acid– soap. When following the thermotropic behaviour the break up of the acid–soap could be ...
