Demulsifier

Any agent added to an emulsion that causes or enhances the rate of separation of an emulsion into its constituent liquid phases.

Emulsifier

An agent that acts to stabilize an emulsion. The emulsifier may make it easier to form an emulsion and to provide stability against aggregation and possibly against coalescence.

Emulsion

A dispersion of droplets of one liquid in another, immiscible liquid, in which the droplets are of colloidal or near-colloidal sizes.

Microemulsion

A special kind of stabilized emulsion in which the dispersed droplets are extremely small (<100 nm), and which is thermodynamically stable.

Oil Hydrosol

An oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion in which the oil droplets are very small and the volume fraction of oil is also very small.

Solid Emulsion

A colloidal dispersion of a liquid in a solid, such as opal or pearl.

For additional definitions and explanations, more complete dictionaries are available. See:

Dictionary of Colloid and Interface Science

The Language of Colloid and Interface Science

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