Study on the formation and stabilization of natural wax emulsions

The research successfully produced stable nanoemulsions by incorporating nonionic emulsifiers and environmentally friendly natural waxes. The primary focus of the study was to investigate the specific contributions of nonionic emulsifiers toward enhancing the stability of emulsions. The examination of emulsion properties in the study sheds light on how both formulation and processing methods impact the overall characteristics of the emulsions. The process of natural wax formation in the study involved using a mixture containing 10 wt% of natural wax, and 12 wt% of a complex emulsifier with a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) value of 9.86. The emulsification was carried out at a temperature of 95 °C, with a stirring speed of 900 r/min, and an emulsification time of 10 min. The wax emulsion is stabilized by a nonionic emulsifier that creates a protective film at the interface between the water and wax. This film effectively prevents the two substances from separating, thus maintaining the stability of the emulsion. The amount of nonionic emulsifier in the interfacial film can be changed by adjusting the HLB value, the ratio of emulsifier, and the ratio of natural wax. In this way, the thickness and area of the interfacial film can be varied to regulate the particle size, zeta potential, and viscosity of the emulsion. When only the emulsification process is adjusted, the properties of the emulsion have the same trend.