Oil-in-water (o/w) emulsions of LNR with number average
molecular weight of 10 000 and 50 000 were prepared using sodium
dodecyl sulphate and hexanol as the
emulsifier and co-emulsifier respectively. The emulsion droplet size and its distribution for various emulsifier compositions were studied by using particle size analyser and optical microscopy. Results obtained showed that the droplet size of emulsion of LNR with higher
molecular weight is greater than that of the lower molecular weight. Within the composition range of emulsifier used, emulsion of LNR with lower molecular weight required less emulsifier to form monomodal droplet size distribution. However, all emulsions prepared showed the characteristics of macroemulsion since that the droplet size greater than 1 micron is formed in all samples. The rheological properties of LNR emulsion with molecular weight of 10 000 and 50 000 were investigated using steady state and oscillatory measurements. The storage modulus G’ and loss modulus G” of the samples were obtained as a function of frequency and temperature. It was found that tangent delta for LNR emulsion with lower molecular weight is greater than that of the higher molecular weight. This showed that LNR emulsion of lower molecular weight was more stable. All samples obtained were stable up to 70°C.