Structure and stability of double emulsions

TL;DR

This paper investigates the equilibrium shapes and stability of double emulsions, combining theoretical models and experiments to classify morphologies based on surface tensions and volume ratios, including transitions in interface curvature.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive diagrammatic framework for predicting double emulsion morphologies and experimentally verifies the morphological transitions related to surface tension and volume ratios.

Findings

Identified regimes of complete, partial, and non-engulfing configurations.

Mapped the surface tension parameters leading to Janus droplets.

Confirmed the morphological transition related to interface curvature.

Abstract

We propose diagrams representing the equilibrium morphologies of two immiscible liquid droplets brought into contact. We study the dependence of the shape of the droplets on the surface tensions and ratio of volumes. We study theoretically and experimentally the regimes of the parameters corresponding to complete engulfing (one of the droplets completely absorbed by the other one), non-engulfing (in which the droplets remain separated) and partial-engulfing (intermediate configuration in which all three interfaces are present). We specify the values of surface tensions corresponding to a Janus droplet, i.e., a perfectly spherical droplet composed of two sub-volumes occupied by two different phases and separated by a curved interface. We further calculate and experimentally verify a morphological transition between the states with positive and negative curvature of this interface depending on the ratio of volumes and on the equilibrium contact angle.