Issue |
J. Phys. II France
Volume 2, Number 3, March 1992
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Page(s) | 401 - 424 | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/jp2:1992141 |
J. Phys. II France 2 (1992) 401-424
Creaming of emulsions: the role of depletion forces induced by surfactant
J. Bibette, D. Roux and B. PoulignyCentre de Recherche Paul Pascal, C.N.R.S., Avenue A. Schweitzer, 33600 Pessac, France
(Received 13 May 1991, revised 22 October 1991, accepted 27 November 1991)
Abstract
We show that excess surfactant, or salt, in the bulk phase of an oil in water ionic emulsion has strong consequences on the
thermodynamical behavior of the dispersion. Static light scattering experiments have been performed to investigate the attractive
interaction induced by micelles according to a depletion mechanism. This interaction can be largely reduced by adding salt.
This depletion interaction leads to a phase transition which is characterized as a fluid-solid transition. The long range
ordering of the droplets dense phase is characterized by visible light diffraction. The experimental phase diagram is quantitatively
analysed as a transition between a perfect gaz and a harmonic solid. An analytical model is worked out from which we analyze
the general phase diagram in terms of the volume fraction of the droplets, of the depth of their interaction potential and
of the ratio
, where
is the range of the interaction and
the droplet diameter. Cuts of the phase diagram at constant
feature a liquid-gas or a liquid-solid transition.
05.70F - 64.70D - 82.70K
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