Formation of liquid crystal and other non-fluid phases in emulsions containing non-ionic surfactants

Abstract

The relation between the phase distribution of components and the nature and properties of dispersions formed in a four-component system containing dodecane, water and two homogeneous non-ionic surfactants has been investigated by phase-rule techniques. Phase equilibrium diagrams for the four ternary systems were investigated and the phase boundaries for the various regions formed in these systems were defined by synthetic and analytical methods. In some of the ternary diagrams a narrow three-phase region occurs where ‘gel’ or liquid crystal as well as two isotropic liquid phases are present. Dispersions containing the gel phase were very stable. The four-component system has not been fully investigated due to the presence of extensive liquid crystal phases and three-phase regions. However, some distribution data for the quaternary system was obtained. In the presence of sufficient amounts of the short chain non-ionic surfactant C10H21(O.CH2.CH2)3OH, a three-liquid phase region occurs where multiple drops readily form.