Phase inversion of liquid-liquid despersions produced by shear or turbulrnce

Abstract

The purpose of the research was the investigation of the phase-inversion phenomenon in liquid-liquid dispersions by examining the various parameters that could affect it, trying to understand its mechanism and draw some general conclusions on the behaviour of liquid-liquid dispersions in relation to it. The experimental investigation of phase inversion was done by using two different methods to produce the liquid-liquid dispersions. In the first method, the dispersions were produced by shearing the liquids between two parallel plates, one rotating and the other being stationary. In the second method, the dispersions were produced by the turbulent flow of the liquids in a horizontal tube. Phase inversion was examined in relation to the properties of the liquids and the experimental conditions. It was observed visually in the first method and by examining the electrical conductivity of the dispersions in the second method.Following a general introduction to the phenomenon of phase inversion, a literature review of previous research work on the phenomenon is presented first, together with some theoretical aspects related to it. A detailed description of the experimental methods and materials used is presented next, followed by a brief theoretical analysis of the mode of flow of the liquids in the two different methods used. Finally, the results and correlations obtained from the experimental investigation of phase inversion are presented,followed by a detailed discussion and the conclusions drawn.