Experimental work on interconnected super-emulsions

Condensed Matter lunchtime seminar

Experimental work on interconnected super-emulsions

  • Event time: 1:00pm
  • Event date: 23rd April 2007
  • Speaker: Eva Herzig (University of Edinburgh)
  • Location: Room 2511,

Event details

It is often desirable to mix two components that don't like to be mixed, like oil and water. This can be achieved by using a third stabilising component and suspending one phase in the other. These so-called emulsions surround us in everyday life. Mayonnaise and paint are common emulsions. Generally they occur widely in the pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic, oil and recycling industry. Stratford et al [1] have presented computer simulations which suggest a novel type of emulsion can be obtained by exploiting the spinodal phase separation kinetics of demixing liquids. This then results in an interconnected bicontinuous emulsion which has many new exciting material properties. After a long and painful process we have now achieved the creation of these 3-dimensional super-emulsions experimentally. I will show why they are unique compared to already available materials and endeavour to justify why it is interesting to study them from a scientific point of view.

[1] Stratford et al., Science, 209, 2005, pp 2198-2201

About Condensed Matter lunchtime seminars

This is a weekly series of informal talks given primarily by members of the institute of condensed matter and complex systems, but is also open to members of other groups and external visitors. The aim of the series is to promote discussion and learning of various topics at a level suitable to the broad background of the group. Everyone is welcome to attend..

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