Emulsification -Elaboration and study of emulsions

The term emulsion probably comes from the Latin "emulgere", meaning to milk. Today, the term designates a system comprising at least two immiscible liquids, one of which is dispersed in the other, in a more or less stable form. Strictly speaking, an emulsion is thermodynamically unstable. In practice, stabilities of up to several years can be observed. Stabilization of the system depends both on the energy expended in dispersing one liquid in the other, and on the know-how of the formulator, who is responsible for selecting the stabilizers.

The manufacture of emulsions has been known since antiquity, but their scientific study only dates back to the beginning of the 20th century . In the space of 100 years or so, the knowledge and use of emulsions in various applications has taken on an extraordinary scope. This article attempts to provide a concise description of both the physics of emulsions and a practical aspect of the development and study of these systems.