Effects of complex internal structures on rheology of multiple emulsions through a generalized boundary integral method

TL;DR

This paper develops a generalized boundary integral method to analyze how complex internal structures affect the rheology of multiple emulsions, revealing effects of asymmetry, internal droplet dynamics, and structural destabilization on viscosity and potential drug delivery applications.

Contribution

A novel boundary integral approach for modeling multiple emulsions with complex internal layers and droplets, accounting for structural changes and asymmetry effects on rheology.

Findings

Internal structures influence emulsion viscosity and stability.

Asymmetry induces interface merging and targeted droplet release.

Structural destabilization affects emulsion rheology and potential applications.

Abstract

As fine templates to prepare microcapsules, multiple emulsions with complex internal structures have been generated through microfluidics. To study effects of layers, inner droplets and asymmetry of internal structures on rheology of multiple emulsions, a generalized boundary integral method is developed to investigate multiple emulsions with orderly structures up to n layers and up to mi droplets in the i-th layer. Under a modest extensional flow, the complication of internal structures and the collision among inner droplets will subject the particle to stronger shears. However, the particle will ease the added tension through the simplification of internal structures (destabilization) such as coalescence or release of inner droplets. Since the rheology of multiple emulsions is sensitive to internal structures and their change, modelling them as the core-shell droplets to obtain viscosity equation should be modified by introducing the variable "time". Asymmetric internal structures will induce oriented contact and merging of the outer and inner interface. The start time of the interface merging can be controlled by adjusting the viscosity ratio and enhancing the asymmetry, which is promising in the controlled release of inner droplets for targeted drug delivery.