Polymorphic crystallization behavior
in mixture systems of three
triacylglycerols (1,3-distearoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycerol
(SOS), 1,3-dioleoyl-2-stearoyl-sn-glycerol (OSO),
and trilauroylglycerol (LLL)) was examined via differential scanning
calorimetry (DSC), synchrotron radiation X-ray diffractometry (SR-XRD),
and polarized optical microscopy (POM). These three triacylglycerols
are widely employed in confections, cosmetics, and other applications.
They exhibited immiscible eutectic behavior, in which SOS and OSO
formed molecular compound (MCSOS/OSO) crystals with a 1:1
compositional ratio. In each mixture system, the polymorphic form
of LLL crystallizing during cooling switched from metastable β′
to stable β soon after crystallization of MCSOS/OSO in the β form. This behavior contrasts strongly with that
of a pure system, in which LLL preferentially crystallizes in the
β′ form, not directly in the β form. Strong interactions
between LLL and MCSOS/OSO may dominate the polymorphic
crystallization of LLL even if LLL and MCSOS/OSO do not
form a miscible mixture. The present study provides new preparation
concepts for novel types of functional fats impervious to structural
deterioration during polymorphic transformations from metastable to
stable forms.