Abstract
Abstract The ability of Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM) to provide electron images of volatile and/or insulating samples without need for sample preparation allows imaging of liquid surface at resolutions substantially beyond those obtainable with optical microscopy. The system chosen for study was a dispersion of di-iso-heptyl-phthalate (DHP) in water, stabilised with a mixed surfactant system comprising equal masses of Tween 20 (Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate) and Span 20 (Sorbitan monolaurate) at an effective HLB of 12.75. DHP was chosen for its unsaturated electronic structure, which improves secondary electron contrast in the ESEM, and for the similarity of its density (995 kgm-3) to water. Emulsions, containing between 25 and 80 vol% DHP and 0-3 wt% surfactant were produced in a Silverson mixer fitted with an emulsor screen. Samples were placed in a brass holder on a Peltier cooling stage and cooled to 2°C.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call