Hydrogen bond fluctuations and dispersive interactions of alcohol/alkane mixtures. An ultrasonic relaxation study

The relaxation behaviour of 1-hexanol/n-heptane and 1-dodecanol/n-tetradecane mixtures has been studied at some compositions using ultrasonic attenuation spectrometry in the frequency range 0.4–3000 MHz. All mixtures reveal a relaxation term due to hydrogen network fluctuations. It is discussed in conjunction with the principle dielectric relaxation of alcohol/alkane mixtures, indicating a dynamically micro-heterogeneous liquid structure. The spectra of the long-chain alcohol system display an additional relaxation due to the structural isomerisation of the hydrocarbon chains. In terms of a torsional oscillator model this relaxation reveals the effect of molecular ordering on the enthalpy of activation.