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When we shake linseed oil and lime water in a bottle, a yellow milky opaque liquid is formed; this liquid is an emulsion. We can often observe this phenomenon when oil is shaken with certain solutions. If we shake oil with plain water, no emulsion forms. A third substance is required to form an emulsion; We call this substance an emulsifier. In many cases, soap can serve as an emulsifier, as can certain organic substances with a very complicated composition. For example, we can simply shake or tap oil with an adhesive solution to form an emulsion. Egg yolk also contains such substances; As is practically done in mayonnaise, we can beat large amounts of oil with an egg yolk to form an emulsion.

An emulsion is a mixture of oil and an aqueous solution, where the oil is so finely distributed in the water that the small oil droplets remain floating. Conversely, it is also possible to divide water in oil so finely that a stable emulsion is formed; this inverted emulsion is used in certain cosmetic preparations. The stability of an emulsion often depends on small impurities and although scientific research has already shed a lot of light on this, in practice people are still faced with inexplicable riddles from time to time. In recent years, however, emulsifiers, i.e. substances that enable the formation of an emulsion, have been brought onto the market, which enable such stable and insensitive emulsions that their manufacture has become much simpler. However, practical experience is generally still necessary. The novice can obtain this relatively cheaply by experimenting with small quantities.

An emulsion should not be heated to temperatures above its boiling point, as this will cause the water to boil and the emulsion to become unstable. Cooling below freezing also causes the disintegration of an emulsion as a result of the water freezing out. Therefore, if one wants to make an emulsion of substances that have a melting point higher than 100°C, the substance must first be combined with a solvent or another substance, which will bring the melting point below 100°C. Only then can the substance be combined with the water and the emulsifier.

Emulsions are used in an enormous number of industries and the number of applications in the home is also countless, although we are often not aware of it. When you add butter to the vegetable, an emulsion is created; Milk is an emulsion, as is mayonnaise and many other foods. Most beauty preparations are emulsions, as are cleaning preparations, insecticides, lubricants, etc.

Especially with emulsions, the correct proportions are highly dependent on the type of materials used. The indicated recipes were developed with substances made in certain factories. Small deviations are often necessary to obtain an absolutely useful result. These deviations must be determined by small tests.

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Ammonium linoleate as emulsifier

This substance forms a yellow paste that smells clearly of ammonia and is made by neutralizing the fatty acids from linseed oil with ammonia. In all recipes this product can usually be replaced by linseed oil fatty acid, which is combined with the required amount of ammonia during preparation. The ammonium linoleate is generally used for emulsifying plant oils, fish oils, waxes, fats, resins and hydrocarbons. If the substance to be emulsified has a melting point higher than 100°C, the substance is first dissolved in white spirit, benzene, ethylene chloride or turpentine oil. Alcohol should be avoided as alcohol tends to make emulsions unstable. Acids, esters and salts should also be avoided.

When preparing an emulsion of ammonium linoleate, the linoleate must first be soaked in water overnight. The next day the linoleate is kneaded with water until it has formed a thin homogeneous solution. The indicated amount of fat or oil is then added to this solution while stirring vigorously and stirred until the emulsion is completely homogeneous. Waxes and fats with a low melting point are first melted and then added as oil to the emulsifier, which is heated beforehand. Work is safest when both substances are heated to 95°C. When making wax emulsions it is necessary to use a high-speed electric stirrer.

Emulsions containing hydrocarbons have a much lower flash point than the starting material and clean very well.

Triethanolamine stearate as emulsifier

This preparation is commercially available as a light brown colored waxy mass and can be made by neutralizing stearic acid in a molten state with triaethanolamine. To make an emulsion, the stearate is first melted together with the fat or oil. The molten mixture is then slowly added to the required amount of warm water.

Diglycol stearate as an emulsifier

This substance is a slightly colored waxy mass, is virtually odorless and does not react alkaline. Part of this substance with 10 to 30 dl of boiling water gives a white milky emulsion, which is very stable. This emulsion is an excellent carrier for substances such as titanium white, carbon black, graphite, quartz powder and other abrasives. In addition, the emulsion can absorb and emulsify other insoluble oils. For example, 10 dl of diglycol stearate can stably emulsify 40 to 50 dl of lubricating oil, paraffin and pine oil with 40 to 500 dl of water.

The oil or wax is melted together with the glycol stearate, the water is heated almost to boiling and gradually reduced to stir well with the wax melt mixed.