Structure and rheology during catastrophic phase inversion of Pickering emulsions stabilized with fumed silica particles
Abstract(#br)Oil in water Pickering emulsions undergoing catastrophic phase inversion were investigated. Two polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) oils of various viscosity have been emulsified in water and stabilized with fumed silica particles. The concentration of particles and the oil volume fraction were varied from 0.1 to 1 wt% and from 10 to 90 vol%, respectively. Upon increasing the oil content, a phase inversion occurred from oil-in-water to water-in-oil as evidenced from macroscopic and microscopic observations.