Is the combination of two particles with different degrees of hydrophobicity an alternative method for tuning the average particle hydrophobicity

A systematic investigation into the equivalence between two methods of tuning average particle hydrophobicity: varying the extent of chemical anchoring of alkyl chains onto the surface of a single particle (chemical method) and mixing particles of different hydrophobicity (mechanical method), in stabilization of highly concentrated water-in-oil emulsions with an overcooled dispersed phase, in the presence of low-molecular-weight conventional surfactant (Sorbitan Monooleate - SMO), has been made. Two single particles with different degrees of surface treatments, expressed in terms of hydrophobicity index (HI), HI = 0.97 and HI = 1.34 were used (chemical method). Equivalent twin mixtures were produced by using specific ratios between fumed silica nanoparticles of HI = 0.60, 1.34 and 3 (mechanical method): HI = 0.97: (HI = 1.34)/(HI = 0.60) = 50/50 or (HI = 3)/(HI = 0.60) = 15/85 and HI = 1.34: (HI = 3)/(HI = 0.60) = 31/69. Each single or twin mixture was combined with different amounts of SMO in the range of 0–10 wt%.