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Re: w/o and o/w emulsions

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,

Indeed you are missing the point entirely. Actually a W/O emulsion has a

larger quantity of water in it than most O/W emulsions. The point of

difference is the structure of the emulsion and the feel on the skin. O/W

emulsions are what most creams and lotions are comprised while cold cream,

which is very greasy is a W/O emulsion.

If you read my original post further you would have seen that I further

characterized the differences: pH, conductivity, cooling effects etc...

Young

KY Labs

Innovators of Fine Personal Care Products

www.kylabs.com

w/o and o/w emulsions

Hi,

I really don't see the significance between the w/o and o/w emulsions. I

have copied kevin's statement below:

" Emulsions systems are classified into two broad groups; Oil in Water(O/W)

and Water in Oil(W/O). By far O/W emulsions are the most common type used

today. With them the water or external phase is the continuous phase and the

oil is the internal or dispersed phase. A water in oil emulsion is the exact

opposite. "

I need to know what point I am missing. It appears that the oil-in-water

emulsion is simply a formulation using a high percentage of water, such as a

lotion. And a water-in-oil emulsion is a formulation that has a small

percentage of water to oil, such as a cream. What is the significance? Are

we talking about a different type of preparation? For example, when I make

lotion I typically heat both oil and water phases, but add the water to the

oil--but I have a high percentage of water (80%) so I am assuming that my

lotion is an o/w. If this is correct, then I understand the o/w piece.

Could

you give an example of a w/o?

Also, I did look in the files section, but did not see anything on

emulsions.

Thank you,

Angie in SC

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funny to see other people on here at this time in the morning :-)

Dianne in WA

Re: w/o and o/w emulsions

> Oh JULES! THANK YOU! [yeah, I'm still up] how was Tony? <sly grin>

>

> > the oil was just broken up into teeny pieces and smothered in water!

>

> that's what made me 'get' it.

>

> > So for W/O emulsions, the water is broken up, and smothered in oil!

> (sounds

> > charming doesn't it?) Which is why W/O emulsions feel greasier - coz the

> > greasy bit is on the outside!

>

> THANK YOU! [and the chemists are asleep] lol

>

> what time is it there? it's 1:20 a.m. here.

>

> Janine

>

>

>

>

>

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Hi Angie, I didn't really get it either, until I happened to be ready

something while eating some rocky road.. LOL. So here goes, the

unscientific version.

Oil in Water (O/W) Think nuts in chocolate. The chocolate is the continuous

phase, ie, all over the place. The nuts are the internal phase, ie covered

by the external or continues phase. I cant remember what it was that I was

reading, but I suddenly got it, that the oil and water did not actually

blend together to create new types of molecules, but that in O/W emulsions,

the oil was just broken up into teeny pieces and smothered in water!

So for W/O emulsions, the water is broken up, and smothered in oil! (sounds

charming doesn't it?) Which is why W/O emulsions feel greasier - coz the

greasy bit is on the outside!

Hope I haven't just confused you more, but it made sense to me. And I hope I

haven't just completely appalled the chemists.

cheers,

Jules in Oz

> Hi,

> I really don't see the significance between the w/o and o/w emulsions. I

> have copied kevin's statement below:

> " Emulsions systems are classified into two broad groups; Oil in Water(O/W)

> and Water in Oil(W/O). By far O/W emulsions are the most common type used

> today. With them the water or external phase is the continuous phase and

the

> oil is the internal or dispersed phase. A water in oil emulsion is the

exact

> opposite. "

>

> I need to know what point I am missing. It appears that the oil-in-water

> emulsion is simply a formulation using a high percentage of water, such as

a

> lotion. And a water-in-oil emulsion is a formulation that has a small

> percentage of water to oil, such as a cream. What is the significance?

Are

> we talking about a different type of preparation? For example, when I

make

> lotion I typically heat both oil and water phases, but add the water to

the

> oil--but I have a high percentage of water (80%) so I am assuming that my

> lotion is an o/w. If this is correct, then I understand the o/w piece.

Could

> you give an example of a w/o?

> Also, I did look in the files section, but did not see anything on

emulsions.

> Thank you,

> Angie in SC

>

>

>

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Oh JULES! THANK YOU! [yeah, I'm still up] how was Tony? <sly grin>

> the oil was just broken up into teeny pieces and smothered in water!

that's what made me 'get' it.

> So for W/O emulsions, the water is broken up, and smothered in oil!

(sounds

> charming doesn't it?) Which is why W/O emulsions feel greasier - coz the

> greasy bit is on the outside!

THANK YOU! [and the chemists are asleep] lol

what time is it there? it's 1:20 a.m. here.

Janine

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yeah, and WE better get to bed or it'll be awful trying to get up in the

morning. I go thru my emails and bookmarks at nite, trying to get things

cleaned up. but I'm hittin' the hay now.

Janine

oregon, medford, podunk town. I would've called it a village, but I think

there's too many others in oregon that have that description. <g>

> funny to see other people on here at this time in the morning :-)

> Dianne in WA

>

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Hello Everyone,

Thanks for the response about the w/o and o/w emulsions. The rocky road

analogy was helpful, but I do still have some questions. Maurice/, are

you there? I read the article in links and found it excellent on several

points, and I do understand the difference between the two types of

emulsions, but still don't really understand what preparation would involve

to lead to one or the other. Perhaps someone could better define the

" dispersed phase " or internal phase and the " dispersion medium " or external

phase--if there is a different preparation. For example, when I make a

lotion, I add my water phase to my oil phase after heating---what type of

emulsion am I making? I am sure there is a simple explanation that I am

missing! I would really appreciate some clarification on this.

Thanks,

Angie in SC

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wrong Jules, Janine...I was the one in the chat (Jules in Vancouver)

last night, not Jules in Australia who has epiphanies while eating ice

cream....*grin*

And I had a lovely time with Tony...as I do every Friday night, when

my husband is asleep...

*grin*

(Tony's my best friend...we haven't been 'involved' for about 16

years...)

Jules in Vancouver

> Oh JULES! THANK YOU! [yeah, I'm still up] how was Tony? <sly grin>

>

> > the oil was just broken up into teeny pieces and smothered in

water!

>

> that's what made me 'get' it.

>

> > So for W/O emulsions, the water is broken up, and smothered in

oil!

> (sounds

> > charming doesn't it?) Which is why W/O emulsions feel greasier -

coz the

> > greasy bit is on the outside!

>

> THANK YOU! [and the chemists are asleep] lol

>

> what time is it there? it's 1:20 a.m. here.

>

> Janine

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