ABSTRACT
Ternary mixtures of water, surfactant, and oil, which spontaneously self-assemble to form isotropic, low viscosity liquid phases, are called microemulsions. The ternary phase behavior of mixtures of hydrocarbon surfactants, water, and organic oils has been extensively studied, and the principles governing such systems are well understood. The trisiloxane surfactants shown in the accompanying diagram are used in many commercial applications such as wetting agents, agricultural adjuvants, and paint additives. Despite their wide usage, study and understanding of these siloxane surfactants have been mostly limited to their wetting behavior and surface activity. Emulsification of silicone oils, especially polydimethylsiloxane, by hydrocarbon surfactants is extensively described in the patent art and in the literature. Methods and compositions to prepare microemulsions of amine functional silicone polymers are also well known. K. R. Anderson et al. prepared monodisperse emulsions of silicone oil by hydrolysis of dimethyldiethoxysilane.
