Pickering Emulsion Stabilized by Self-Assembled Micelles of Amphiphilic Random Copolymer P(St-co-DM)

Self-assembled polymeric micelles can be used as efficient particulate emulsifiers. Styrene (St) and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DM) were used to synthesize the amphiphilic random copolymer P(St-co-DM). This copolymer self-assembles into spherical polymeric micelles. The polymeric micelles show surface activity and pH sensitivity for producing Pickering emulsion. The experiment shows that the stability of the emulsion increases with the micelle concentration. The emulsion can only be formed when the salt concentration is below a certain limiting value. Using the white oil as the oil phase, polymeric micelles have emulsification in a large pH range. The emulsifying performance of the polymeric micelles could be enhanced by raising the water/oil volume ratio.