Alternative Pathway for the Stabilization of Reactive Emulsions via Cross-Linkable Surfactants

Highly reactive emulsions were stabilized by employing a surfmer analogous concept. An interfacial reaction between an emulsion droplet and a cross-linkable reactive surfactant was used to provide colloidal stability and simultaneously maintain the majority of the reactive groups. Polyaddition-type reaction between epoxy and amine was chosen as a model system to spontaneously and covalently bond the surfactant to the emulsion droplets. The interfacial reaction was monitored via isothermal titration calorimetry analysis. With this method, the increased colloidal stability could be attributed to a reaction rather than a pure physical adsorption. The maintained reactivity of the emulsion droplets enables consecutive conversions with coreactive components, e.g., for cross-linking reactions, corrosion protection, or functional coatings.