Process of microencapsulation and products thereof

A process of making microcapsules having transparent capsule shells containing a hydrophobic liquid which is characterized by:

• 1. forming an emulsion comprising an outer hydrophilic phase and droplets of a hydrophobic liquid suspended therein as the inner hydrophobic phase, said outer hydrophilic phase comprising a hardenable wall forming polymeric material dissolved in an aqueous solvent;
• 2. contacting said emulsion with a break-up fluid which is not a solvent for said polymeric material, which is substantially immiscible with the polymeric material solvent, and which is capable of dividing said emulsion into separate capsules having an inner hydrophobic phase and an outer hydrophilic phase;
• 3. then hardening the hydrophilic phase of said capsules with a hardening liquid which is substantially miscible with the break-up bath, which is not a solvent for said polymeric material, and which is, of itself or in combination with another liquid, substantially immiscible with said polymeric material solvent.