Preparation of Microcapsules Containing Water Droplets Stabilized with Solid Powder and Application to Blowing Agent

摘要

We have tried to prepare the microcapsules containing water droplets stabilized with solid powder by utilizing the (W/O)/W emulsion. The water droplets as core material were stabilized in the monomer droplets with titanium dioxide (TiO2) as a particulate surfactant. Before adding the TiO2 powder into the monomer phase, the powder was modified with triethoxyvinylsilane to adjust the degree of hydrophobicity and to promote adhesion on the interface between the inner water phase and the monomer phase in the (W/O) emulsion. It was investigated how the degree of hydrophobicity of the TiO2 powder affected the stability of water droplets in the (W/O) emulsion and the (W/O) droplets in the (W/O)/W emulsion. Moreover, the microcapsule diameters were measured before and after the expansion operation where the water droplets microencapsulated were applied as a blowing agent. The expansion ratio was increased with increase in the stability of the water droplets and the amount of water microencapsulated.