Multiple emulsions and techniques for the formation of multiple emulsions
AssigneePresident and Fellows of Harvard College
InventorsDavid A. Weitz, Shin-Hyn Kim, Alireza Abbaspourrad
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Abstract
Multiple emulsions and techniques for the formation of multiple emulsions are generally described. A multiple emulsion, as used herein, describes larger droplets that contain one or more smaller droplets therein. In some embodiments, the larger droplet or droplets may be suspended in a carrying fluid containing the larger droplets that, in turn, contain the smaller droplets. As described below, multiple emulsions can be formed in one step in certain embodiments, with generally precise repeatability, and can be tailored in some embodiments to include a relatively thin layer of fluid separating two other fluids.
Claims15
An article, comprising:
- a collection of particles, each particle comprising a shell comprising a polymer and at least partially containing a fluid, wherein:
- (a) the particles have an average diameter of less than about 1 mm,
- (b) at least about 90% of the particles within the collection have a shell with an average thickness of less than about 0.05 times the average cross-sectional diameter of the particle, and/or have a shell with an average thickness of less than about 1 micrometer, and
- (c) substantially all of the polymer within the shells has a glass transition temperature of at least about 85° C. and/or substantially all of the polymer within the shells is at least partially soluble in octane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.