Rheology of Decamethylceclopentasiloxane (cyclomethicone) W/O Emulsion System

A highly dispersed W/O emulsion of silicone oil (cyclomethicone)/water system was prepared with a nonionic surfactant. The surface and interfacial tension between the oil and water were characterized in terms of the droplet size distribution and viscosity change of the emulsion. When the dispersed phase concentration was relatively high, the viscosity of the emulsion was rapidly increased and the droplet size of the emulsion was decreased. The rheological behavior of the emulsion system showed non-Newtonian and shear thinning phenomena depending upon the content of the dispersed phase. The droplet size of the emulsion was decreased with increasing surfactant content and water concentration. The relative viscosity of the emulsion was better predicted with the Choi-Schowalter model than with the Taylor model. The value of the complex modulus increased with increasing surfactant concentration. The linear viscoelastic region was expanded with a dispersed phase concentration. According to the change in the viscosity, the behavior was classified into three distinct regions: [I] linear viscoelastic, [II] partially viscoelastic, and [III] viscous. The creep/recovery behaviors in each region were characterized.