In the field of microcapsule technology, emulsifiers have long been regarded as formula accessories, but they are actually key "designers" that dominate the morphology and stability of microcapsules. Recently, industry technical observations show that neglecting the precise matching between emulsifiers and the system is the main cause of instability phenomena such as emulsion stratification and coalescence, and its importance far exceeds traditional cognition.
    As special surfactants, emulsifiers rely on their amphiphilic structure of "hydrophilic and lipophilic" to build a stable protective film at the oil-water interface. Through multiple mechanisms such as reducing interfacial tension, forming elastic interfacial films, and providing electrostatic repulsion and steric hindrance, they enable the originally mutually exclusive oil and water phases to achieve long-term stable dispersion. Characteristics such as the Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB) value and hydrophobic chain length in their molecular structure directly determine the emulsion type (oil-in-water O/W or water-in-oil W/O) and droplet size distribution.
    In practical applications, the selection of emulsifiers must follow a strict logic: first determine the emulsion type, then calculate the required HLB value weighted by the oil phase components, select the matching emulsifier type according to the "like dissolves like" principle, and finally improve the interfacial film stability through compound synergy. For example, oil-in-water emulsions require emulsifiers with high HLB values (8-18), while water-in-oil systems rely on products with low HLB values (3-8). In microcapsule preparation, emulsifiers are even the "chief engineers" that regulate droplet generation, interfacial mass transfer and curing into shells throughout the process, directly affecting the encapsulation efficiency and product consistency.
    Currently, emulsifiers have been widely used in daily chemicals, food, medicine and other fields. From emulsion-type skin care products to drug delivery systems, their performance optimization has become a core breakthrough to improve product quality. Industry experts emphasize that regarding emulsifiers as key functional ingredients rather than accessories is a core prerequisite for realizing large-scale and stable production of microcapsule technology.

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