Colloid-stabilized emulsions: behaviour as the interfacial tension is reduced

Paul Clegg, E M Herzig, Andrew B Schofield, T S Horozov, B P Binks, Michael Cates, Wilson Poon

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

We present confocal microscopy studies of novel particle-stabilized emulsions. The novelty arises because the immiscible fluids have an accessible upper critical solution temperature. The emulsions have been created by beginning with particles dispersed in the single-fluid phase. On cooling. regions of the minority phase nucleate. While coarsening, these nuclei become coated with particles due to the associated reduction in interfacial energy. The resulting emulsion is arrested, and the particle-coated interfaces have intriguing properties. Having made use of the binary-fluid phase diagram to create the emulsion we then make use of it to study the properties of the interfaces. As the emulsion is re-heated toward the single-fluid phase the interfacial tension falls and the volume of the dispersed phase drops. Crumpling, fracture or coalescence can follow. The results show that the elasticity of the interfaces has a controlling influence over the emulsion behaviour.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)S3433-S3438
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Physics: Condensed Matter
Volume17
Issue number45
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 16 Nov 2005

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • MONOLAYERS
  • PARTICLES

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