Adsorption Dynamics in Pickering Emulsions

We investigate the adsorption dynamics of colloidal particles to a liquid/liquid interface. Such an analysis is important in the formation of Pickering emulsions. Using a free energy formulation that has been used for adsorption of surfactants, we obtain the time evolution of the surface coverage and dynamic surface tension. We estimate the characteristic time for adsorption, and show that it corresponds to a diffusion-limited adsorption case. The asymptotic values of the surface coverage and surface tension with respect to their equilibrium values is shown to decrease as t−1/2. We also show that the equilibrium equation of state relating surface tension to surface coverage holds also in nonequilibrium situations.