Principles of emulsion stabilization with special reference to polymeric surfactants.
This overview summarizes the basic principles of emulsion stabilization with particular reference to polymeric surfactants. The main breakdown processes in emulsions are briefly described. A section is devoted to the structure of polymeric surfactants and their conformation at the interface. Particular attention is given to two polymeric surfactants that are suitable for oil-in-water (O/W) and water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions. For O/W emulsions, a hydrophobically modified inulin (HMI), obtained by grafting several alkyl groups on the backbone of the inulin (polyfructose) chain, is the most suitable. For W/O emulsions, an A-B-A block copolymer of polydroxystearic acid (PHS), the A chains, and polyethylene oxide (PEO), the B chain, is the most suitable. The conformation of both polymeric surfactants at the O/W and W/O interfaces is described. A section is devoted to the interaction between emulsion droplets containing adsorbed polymer surfactant molecules. This interaction is referred to as steric stabilization, and it is a combination of two main effects, namely, unfavorable mixing of the A chains, referred to as the mixing interaction, Gmix, and loss of configurational entropy on significant overlap of the stabilizing chains, referred to as elastic interaction, Gel. The criteria for effective steric stabilization are summarized. O/W emulsions based on HMI are described, and their stability in water and in aqueous electrolyte solutions is investigated using optical microscopy. Very stable emulsions can be produced both at room temperature and at 50 degrees C. The reason for this high stability is described in terms of the multipoint anchoring of the polymeric surfactant (by several alkyl groups), the strong hydration of the inulin (polyfructose) chains, and the high concentration of inulin in the adsorbed layer. W/O emulsions using PHS-PEO-PHS block copolymer can be prepared at a high volume fraction of water, varphi, and these emulsions remain fluid up to high varphi values (> 0.6). These emulsions also remain stable for several months at room temperature and at 50 degrees C. The last two sections are concerned with the problems of creaming or sedimentation and phase inversion. Creaming or sedimentation can be prevented by the use of "thickeners" in the continuous phase. These molecules produce non-Newtonian systems that will have a high residual or zero shear viscosity. The latter, which may exceed 1000 Pas, can also be prevented by control of the bulk (or elastic) modulus of the system. Phase inversion in O/W emulsions can also be prevented using HMI, since this polymeric surfactant is not soluble in the oil phase. As long as coalescence and Ostwald ripening are prevented, the emulsions can remain stable for very long times both at room temperature and at 50 degrees C.
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