Textured microcapsules through crystallization. Wilson-Whitford, S., R., Jaggers, R., W., Longbottom, B., W., Donald, M., K., Clarkson, G., J., & Bon, S., A., F. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 13(4):5887-5894, 2021.
Textured microcapsules through crystallization [pdf]Paper  Textured microcapsules through crystallization [link]Website  abstract   bibtex   40 downloads  
This work demonstrates the fabrication of surface textured microcapsules formed from emulsion droplets which are stabilized by an interlocking mesh of needle-like crystals. Crystals of the small organic compound decane-1,10-bis(cyclohexyl carbamate) are formed within the geometric confinement of the droplets, through precipitation from a binary-solvent dispersed phase. This binary mixture consists of a volatile solvent and non-volatile carrier oil. Crystallization is facilitated upon supersaturation due to evaporation of the volatile solvent. Microcapsule diameter can be easily tuned using microfluidics. This approach also proves to be scalable when using conventional mixers, yielding spikey microcapsules with diameters in the range of 10-50 µm. It is highlighted that the capsule shape can be molded and arrested by jamming using recrystallization in geometric confinement. Moreover, it is show that these textured microcapsules show a promising enhanced deposition onto a range of fabric fibers.

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