Colloidal networks of fat crystals

Abstract

The following paper traces the development of the study of colloidal networks of fat crystals. The work starts with traditional pre-fractal particle network models of fat crystal networks. Due to its central importance in the study of colloidal networks of fat crystals (and other colloidal aggregates), a short exposition of fractal geometry is provided. The development of fractal aggregation models as well as models that describe the rheology of networks of these fractal aggregates is introduced. Later sections of the paper show the application of these aggregation and mechanical models specifically to fats. Finally, recent work in elucidating the nanostructural elements of fat crystal networks and aggregates of these nanostructures is provided.