Organogel formation rationalized by Hansen solubility parameters: dos and don'ts.

Some organic compounds gelate liquids by forming a network of anisotropic fibres. Hansen solubility parameters can be used to predict the range of liquids that are likely to be gelled by any given gelator. We critically review the various approaches recently proposed in the literature. In particular, we discuss the shape of the gelation domain, the relevance of the Teas plot representation and the use of group contribution calculations. We also propose an improved scheme for the solubility tests, and a detailed procedure for the determination of the gelation domain.