Particle-stabilized emulsions (known as Pickering emulsions) exhibit high kinetic stability towards coalescence, and are currently extensively studied as templates for complex materials. The existing thermodynamic description of Pickering emulsions is related to the particles dimensions, to the interfacial curvatures and to the wetting characteristics of the employed particles. Based on the studies of particle-stabilized emulsions from PDMS with linear and complex architectures (branched, cross-linked chains) we found that the stability of Pickering emulsions is additionally influenced by the structure of liquid/liquid interface. The interfacial broadening can be expressed in terms of the interfacial tension and of bending rigidity of the oil-water interface. We demonstrate this phenomenology using PDMS-based emulsions with hydrophobically modified inorganic particles and with amphiphilic micelles from semicrystalline block copolymers. These systems are further designed towards thermo-responsive capsules and coatings.

Particle-stabilized emulsions as templates for thermostimulable capsules

243rd National Meeting (2012)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.