Abstract
We have studied the stability of W/O high internal phase emulsions(HIPE) containing water, cetyl dimethicone copolyol and oils varying magnesium sulfate in the range 0 to 0.5 wt% and oil polarities, respectively. The rheological consistency was mainly destroyed by the coalescence of the deformed water droplets. The greater the increase of complex modulus was, the less coalescence occurred and the more consistent the concentrated emulsions were. The increasing pattern of complex modulus versus volume fraction has been explained with the resistance to coalescence of the deformed interfacial film of water droplets in concentrated W/O emulsion. The stability is dependent on: (i) the choice of the oil is important, the requirements coincide with the requirements for the formation of the rigid liquid crystalline phases; and (ii) addition of salts the aqueous phase opposes the instability due to coalescence. Increasing the salt concentration increases the refractive index of the aqueous phase. It lowers the difference in the refractive index between the oil and aqueous phases. This decreases the attraction between the water domains, thus increasing the stability.