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Phase inversion of particle-stabilised perfume oil-water emulsions: experiment and theory

Binks, Bernard P.; Fletcher, Paul D. I.; Holt, Benjamin L.; Beaussoubre, Pascal; Wong, Kenneth

Authors

Paul D. I. Fletcher

Benjamin L. Holt

Pascal Beaussoubre

Kenneth Wong



Abstract

Phase inversion of fumed silica particle-stabilised emulsions of water and perfume oil can be effected in three ways. The transitional inversion from water-in-oil (w/o) to oil-in-water (o/w) occurs upon increasing the particle hydrophilicity for 9 oils of different polarity and structure. Results are compared for systems in which particles are pre-dispersed in one of the bulk phases and for those in which a novel powdered particle method is used. Using a simple theory involving the surface energies of the various interfaces, the contact angle theta of a particle with the oil-water interface is calculated as a function of the particle hydrophilicity. Assuming phase inversion occurs at theta - 90 degrees, very good agreement is obtained for all oils between the calculated and experimental particle hydrophilicity required for inversion in the case of the powdered particle method. Inversion from o/w to w/o induced by simply increasing the particle concentration is shown to be as a result of changes in the aggregation state of the particles influencing their wettability. Finally, catastrophic phase inversion from w/o to o/w is achieved by increasing the volume fraction of water, and multiple emulsions form around inversion in a system containing only one particle type. Results of the latter two inversion routes are combined to develop an emulsion compositional map allowing a variety of emulsions with different characteristics to be described by varying the relative amounts of the three components.

Citation

Binks, B. P., Fletcher, P. D. I., Holt, B. L., Beaussoubre, P., & Wong, K. (2010). Phase inversion of particle-stabilised perfume oil-water emulsions: experiment and theory. Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP, 12(38), 11954-11966. https://doi.org/10.1039/c0cp00558d

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jun 24, 2010
Online Publication Date Aug 23, 2010
Publication Date Oct 14, 2010
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
Print ISSN 1463-9076
Electronic ISSN 1463-9084
Publisher Royal Society of Chemistry
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 12
Issue 38
Pages 11954-11966
DOI https://doi.org/10.1039/c0cp00558d
Keywords Colloidal particles; Interfacial-tension
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/396263