Encapsulation dispersed phase

Figure 4c illustrates interfacial polymerisation encapsulation processes in which the reactant(s) that polymerise to form the capsule shell is transported exclusively from the continuous phase of the system to the dispersed phase—continuous phase interface where polymerisation occurs and a capsule shell is produced. This type of encapsulation process has been carried out at Hquid—Hquid and soHd—Hquid interfaces. An example of the Hquid—Hquid case is the spontaneous polymerisation reaction of cyanoacrylate monomers at the water—solvent interface formed by dispersing water in a continuous solvent phase (14). The poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate) produced by this spontaneous reaction encapsulates the dispersed water droplets. An example of the soHd—Hquid process is where a core material is dispersed in aqueous media that contains a water-immiscible surfactant along with a controUed amount of surfactant. A water-immiscible monomer that polymerises by free-radical polymerisation is added to the system and free-radical polymerisation localised at the core material—aqueous phase interface is initiated thereby generating a capsule sheU (15). 

The chemical treatment methods reduce dispersability property, of drilling fluids through the increase of size of cuttings which improves separation and prevents the buildup of colloidal solids in the mud. These methods include ionic inhibition, cuttings encapsulation, oil phase inhibition (with oil-base muds), and flocculation. The mechanical solids removal methods are based on the principles presented in Table 4-55. 

In interfacial polymerization, monomers react at the interface of two immiscible liquid phases to produce a film that encapsulates the dispersed phase. The process involves an initial emulsification step in which an aqueous phase, containing a reactive monomer and a core material, is dispersed in a nonaqueous continuous phase. This is then followed by the addition of a second monomer to the continuous phase. Monomers in the two phases then diffuse and polymerize at the interface to form a thin film. The degree of polymerization depends on the concentration of monomers, the temperature of the system, and the composition of the liquid phases. 

Multiphase morphology in which dispersed phase domains of one polymer contain and completely encapsulate many phase domains of a second polymer that may have the same composition as the continuous phase domain. 

If the organic solution of diacid chloride is recast as a dispersed phase in an emulsion with the aqueous solution of diamine as the continuous phase, the polymer membrane forms around the dispersed phase droplets, effectively making polyamide shell capsules around the organic phase. Of course, the relative volumes could be reversed so that the aqueous phase was encapsulated if so desired. 

It is also possible to generate microcapsules through interfacial polymerization using only one monomer to form the shell. In this class of encapsulations, polymerization must be performed with a surface-active catalyst, a temperature increase, or some other surface chemistry. Herbert Scher of Zeneca Ag Products (formerly Stauffer Chemical Company) developed an excellent example of the latter class of shell formation (Scher 1981 Scher et al. 1998). He used monomers featuring isocyanate groups, like poly(methylene)-poly(phenylisocyanate) (PMPPI), where the isocyanate reacts with water to reveal a free primary amine. Dissolved in the oil-dispersed phase of an oil-in-water emulsion, this monomer contacts water only at the phase boundary. The primary amine can then react with isocyanates to form a polyurea shell. Scher used this technique to encapsulate pesticides, which in their free state would be too volatile or toxic, and to control the rate of pesticide release. 

Crosslinked polyacrylamide latexes encapsulating microparticles of silica and alumina have also been prepared by this method [179], Three steps are involved a) formation of a stable colloidal dispersion of the inorganic particles in an aqueous solution containing acrylamide, crosslinker, dispersant, and initiator b) HIPE preparation with this aqueous solution as the dispersed phase and c) polymerisation. The latex particles are polyhedral in shape, shown clearly by excellent scanning electron micrographs, and have sizes of between 1 and 5 pm. 

Polysaccharide dispersions phase-separate spontaneously, a phenomenon called aging. Phase-separation may be induced in special systems, under controlled conditions (e.g., encapsulation), to industrial and commercial advantage. 

In this section the concentrated emulsion polymerization method is employed to encapsulate submicron inorganic powders. In a first step, a stable colloidal dispersion of the powder in an aqueous solution of a monomer containing an appropriate dispersant and a suitable initiator was prepared. This colloidal dispersion was subsequently employed as the dispersed phase of a concentrated emulsion whose continuous phase, decane, contained a surfactant. 

Yilmaz, G., Jongboom, R.O.J., Fell, H., and Hennink, W.E. (2001). Encapsulation of sunflower oil in starch matrices via extrusion effect of the interfacial properties and processing conditions on the formation of dispersed phase morphologies. Carbohydr. Polym. 45, 403-410. 

Drop stabilization methods rely on the immediate stabilization of drops by encapsulation with thin polymer films or surfactants [219-221] a photomicrographic method has been employed usually after encapsulation of drops. However this method cannot always be used due to incompatibility of the encapsulating materials with some systems. The method also has the disadvantage of the influence of the chemical treatment on drop size. A special sampling apparatus has been developed to withdraw a sample of dispersed phase from the mixing vessel to stabilize drops with a surfactant and to force the dispersed sample through a capillary with a photometer assembly to measure both droplet size and concentration [222]. 

SEBS-g-MA (2% MA) (0-20 parts) or PS-g-MA mechanical properties / PC dispersed phase encapsulation by SEES c 1996... 

A key paper involving the experimental interfacial aspects of polymer blends discussed the blends of more than two components wherein a polymeric constituent will concentrate at the interface between two of the blend constituents [Hobbs et al., 1988]. Employing the concepts of interfacial relationships, it was shown that a ternary component can concentrate at the interface between the other constituents and allow for compatibilization of dissimilar and incompatible components. As an example, it was shown that in the ternary blend of PMMA/PC/PBT, PC encapsulates PMMA as a dispersed phase in a matrix of PBT. PC, which exhibits partial miscibility with PMMA and PBT thus compatibil-izes PMMA/PBT blends. 

Both interfacial polycondensation and polyaddition involve two reactants dissolved in a pair of immiscible liquids, one of which is preferably water, which is normally the continuous phase, and the other one is the dispersed phase, which is normally called the oil phase. The polymerization takes place at the interface and controlled by reactant diffusion. Researches indicate that the polymer film occurs and grows toward the organic phase, and this was visually observed by Yuan et al. In most cases, oil-in-water systems are employed to make microcapsules, but water-in-oil systems are also common for the encapsulation of hydrophilic compounds. Even oil-in-oil systems were applied to prepare polyurethane and polyurea microcapsules. ... 

---