Steady-state droplet size in montmorillonite stabilised emulsions

The formation of hexadecane-in-water emulsions stabilised by montmorillonite platelets was studied. In this system the platelets form a monolayer around the droplets and the droplet size decreases with increasing platelet volume fraction. However, the number of platelets present exceeds that require...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Soft matter 2016-01, Vol.12 (3), p.6481-6489
Main Authors: Ganley, William J, van Duijneveldt, Jeroen S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Coalescence
Coalescing
Droplets
Emulsification
Emulsions
Mathematical models
Montmorillonite
Platelets
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Summary:The formation of hexadecane-in-water emulsions stabilised by montmorillonite platelets was studied. In this system the platelets form a monolayer around the droplets and the droplet size decreases with increasing platelet volume fraction. However, the number of platelets present exceeds that required for monolayer coverage. The kinetics of emulsification were investigated and coalescence of droplets during turbulent mixing was found to continue even after the droplets had reached their ultimate size. Non-spherical droplets, resulting from arrested coalescence, were not observed suggesting that particles may be desorbing from the interface during the turbulent flow. A kinetic model based on a competition between droplet break-up and coalescence, mediated by particle adsorption and desorption, reproduces experimental trends in droplet diameter. The model can be used to predict the most efficient formulation to minimise droplet diameters for given materials and mixing conditions and sheds light on the processes occurring during emulsification in this system. The formation of hexadecane-in-water emulsions stabilised by montmorillonite platelets was studied. Particle desorption needs to be taken into account to predict the steady-state droplet size distribution.
ISSN:1744-683X
1744-6848
DOI:10.1039/c6sm01377e