The rheology of some oil-in-water emulsions stabilized by condensed complex films

The rheology of emulsions containing oleyl, lauryl or cetostearyl alcohol as the oil-soluble component has been examined. As the concentration of fatty alcohol was increased, three main types of behaviour were found. These could not be explained by the particle size distribution, phase weight ratio or internal phase viscosity. It is suggested that migration of oil-soluble component and subsequent formation of viscous gels in the aqueous phase accounted for the observed behaviour. The effects of temperature, type of oil phase and chemical constitution of water-soluble components, have also been examined.