Physical Principles of Formulation

 Today's formulator should be well acquainted with the chemical and physical theoretical underpinnings of formulation. These include knowledge of the types of interactions that can occur in complex mixtures. This course addresses the physical principles of formulation with respect to polymers and macromolecules, surfactants, dispersions and emulsions. Upon completion of the course, each participant would be expected to possess an understanding of the theoretical basis of formulating with these materials. 


The course is divided into four parts, each of which will be taught over the course of half a day :

Part 1: The physical principles of formulating with polymers

  • An introduction to polymers
    • Polymer classification
    • The characteristics conferred by polymer architecture
  • Polymer solubility and miscibility
    • Solubility parameter
      • Hildebrand parameter
      • Hoy-Hansen Approach
      • Teas diagrams and how to use them
    • Flory-Huggins Basics
      • What is the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter and how can it be used in
        practical applications.
        • What are the limitations of Flory-Huggins
    • Phase Diagrams and how they can be used as predictors of formulation behavior
  • The relationship between physical properties and polymer architecture
  • Polymer adsorption at interfaces
  • Self assembly of polymers
  • Rheology modifiers -- performance and selection

Part 2: The physical principles of formulating with surfactants

  • An introduction to surfactants
    • Surfactant classification
    • Structure-property relationships in surfactants
    • Adsorption at interfaces – what can be learned by measuring surface and
      interfacial tension
    • Micellization and self-assembly into mesomorphic supermolecular structures
      • Micelle stuctures and the properties that they confer
      • Lyotropic liquid crystals and gels
    • Mechanisms of wetting, spreading, adhesion and cleaning

Part 3: The physical principles of dispersions and emulsions

  • The nature of solid dispersions: dispersion, flocculation, aggregation and agglomeration
  • The electrical double layer – DLVO theory and its applications
  • Steric Stabilization — The theory and where it is used
  • Dispersion Rheology—from Einstein Theory to Yield Stress
  • Solids dispersion and the practical evaluation of dispersants
  • Emulsions
    • Classification of emulsions
    • The selection of emulsifiers
      • HLB and PIT
    • Emulsion rheology and stability
    • Practical aspects of emulsions and scale-up considerations

Part 4: Bringing it all together

  • Demonstrations of the physical principles applied to examples from the recent patent literature and from the field.

Learn more:  http://www.usm.edu/waterborne/shortcourses.htmlwww.usm.edu/waterborne/shortcourses.html

New Orleans, LA