Kararlılaştırılmış, parçacıklı emulsiyon kalıplama tekniği ile fonksiyonel kompozit zar tasarımı

Encapsulation of functional agents within micro-capsules is an attractive technique for controlled delivery where the delivered material is either valuable or corrosive. Emulsion templates are well known to be used for this purpose where the dispersed spherical droplets include functional capsules upon being loaded with functional agents. The challenge of stabilizing immiscible droplets in continuous medium was addressed by particle-stabilized emulsion system, widely known as Pickering emulsions. Partial wetting of the solid particles by the two immiscible liquids leads to self assembly of particles at the liquid- liquid interface during emulsification, providing more stable water-in-oil emulsions compared to the emulsions prepared by known surfactants. The resultant colloid system demonstrated enhanced mechanical strength and viscoelastic behavior. The technique introduced here involves incorporation of micron-sized aqueous phase consisting of functional anti-icing agents into hydrophobic SBS (Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene) copolymer medium and stabilization of the mixture with slightly hydrophobic nanoparticles using emulsion templating method. Partially hydrophobic silica nanoparticles are used to form Pickering emulsion. Gelation of the aqueous dispersed phase is further investigated for additional stability and enhanced control for the release of the anti-acing agent. Aqueous agarose solution is used as a representative gel structure, and the stable emulsion is casted as a membrane upon drying. The membrane is characterized with respect to microstructure and surface water contact angle (WCA). Rheological studies demonstrated that nanoparticle shells around functional beads enhance mechanical strength. The hydrophobicity and thermoplastic nature of SBS polymer allows for incorporation of the composite into other mediums such as bitumen, thus opens possibility to functional delivery of anti-icing agents through mediums which would otherwise not be compatible with polar agents.