title: Phase inversion of the Pickering emulsions stabilized by plate-shaped clay particles.
abstract: We investigated the phase inversion of Pickering emulsions stabilized by plate-shaped clay particles. Addition of water induced a phase inversion from a water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion to an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion when the amount of the oil phase exceeded a limiting amount of oil absorption to solid particles. On the other hand, a phase inversion from a powdery state to an O/W emulsion state through an oil-separated state is observed when the amount of an oil phase is less than the limiting amount of the oil absorption. Interestingly, the oil separated is re-dispersed as emulsion droplets into the O/W emulsion phase. This type of phase inversion, which is a feature of the Pickering emulsions stabilized by the clay particles, is caused by a change in the aggregate structures of particles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Yamagata University, 4-3-16 Jonan, Yonezawa 992-8510, Japan. nonoy@yz.yamagata-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yoshimune
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nonomura
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kobayashi