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Is it correct to apply the Bancroft’s rule to a blend of surfactants?
Bancroft’s rule states that water-soluble surfactants will, most of the time, result in o/w emulsions, while lipophilic surfactants tend to produce w/o emulsions. Is it possible to make the same approximation for a mixture of surfactants by using their combined HLB as a measure of their combined solubility? A high HLB should imply a more water-soluble blend, while a mixture with a low HLB is more soluble in the oily phase
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1 Reply
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Your assumption is the truth which we’ve been told for decades. However, it’s just an approximation which often holds true but isn’t exact science… it’s full of exceptions and there are also more reliable tools around.As a rule of thumbs for everyday life, it’s okay to use (just don’t be disappointed if it doesn’t work).
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