Hello,
I am currently researching O/W Emulsions using 80% by volume silicone oil and 20% by volume water and surfactant. To make this emulsion, I am using a high energy emulsifier and pouring the water-surfactant solution into the oil and it is coming out as a lotion-like consistency. When putting this under an optical microscope, I am unable to use slide covers because it ends up smushing the oil droplets against the surface.
Does anyone have a good way of observing the droplet sizes? I tried using spacers, but the imaging still comes out weird. Open to any suggestions.
Hi!
To observe droplet sizes in your high-internal-phase O/W emulsion without distortion, use a spacer slide (e.g., adhesive well slides or double-sided tape) to create a fixed chamber height, and seal the edges with nail polish or silicone grease. Alternatively, use a concave well slide to avoid compression and preserve droplet morphology during optical microscopy.
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