Characterizing Emulsions Stabilized with Nanoparticles of Varying Wettability

 

Scientific Achievement

The surfaces of simple, spherical silica nanoparticles were modified with a variety of hydrophobic and hydrophilic modifiers and the resulting particles were characterized and used to stabilize emulsions. The resulting emulsions were then analyzed in an attempt to understand how the particle properties (type of surface modification, degree of modification, etc) affected the emulsion properties (droplet size, emulsion type, etc.)

Significance and Impact

Determining how particle properties and procedural techniques affect the properties of solid-stabilized emulsions is instrumental in gaining a fundamental understanding of how and why these emulsions form in a variety of industrial situations.

Research Details

• Additional information regarding this work has been published, DOI: 10.1021/ie504311p

 

 

 

 

Figure: Droplet size histograms for emulsions stabilized by silica nanoparticles that have been modified by one of three different alkyl silanes and initially dispersed in the aqueous phase (top) or oil phase (bottom).