Bituminous emulsions and their characterization by atomic force microscopy
We present a new method for observing oil-in-water emulsions with a continuous water phase and a dispersed bitumen phase. The fine polydispersed bitumen micelles were adsorbed to an atomically smooth mica substrate and imaged in solution by atomic force microscopy in a liquid cell. The height of the adsorbed bitumen sheet in wet and dry states can be measured and the homogeneity of film formation by coalescence can be determined. Localization of surfactant onto and between bitumen micelles is also visualized.
Loeber
L
UMR 6522 CNRS and Universite de Rouen, 76821 Mt. St. Aignan Cedex, France; Universite du Havre, Laboratoire de Chimie, 76600 Le Havre Cedex, France; SCR-Beugnet, Av. Morane Saulnier, 78142 Velizy Cedex, France; TOTALFINA Raffinage et Marketing, Cent.
Alexandre
S
Muller
G
Triquigneaux
J
Jolivet
Y
Malot
M