Aqueous foam stabilized by dispersed surfactant solid and lamellar liquid crystalline phase.

Foaming properties of dilute aqueous solutions of pentaglycerol monostearate (C(18)G(5)) and pentaglycerol monooleate (C(18:1)G(5)) have been studied at 25 degrees C. The aqueous C(18)G(5) system formed highly persistent foams, which did not rupture for several days. Foamability and foam stability were increased on increasing the surfactant concentration in both C(18)G(5) and C(18:1)G(5) systems. The C(18:1)G(5)/water system showed lower foam stability compared to the C(18)G(5)/water system. Aqueous phase behavior of the C(18)G(5) and C(18:1)G(5) systems showed the dispersion of alpha-solid and L(alpha) phase respectively in water rich region at 25 degrees C. Stable foam in the C(18)G(5)/water system was mainly due to the finely dispersed small surfactant solid particles. The average particles diameter of alpha-solid and L(alpha) dispersion is found less than 1 mum and it decreases with increasing surfactant concentration. There is no appreciable difference in the particle size of the alpha-solid and L(alpha) dispersion; however, the foam stability differs largely. Foam stabilized by lamellar liquid crystal dispersion in C(18:1)G(5)/water system, is less stable compared to the foam stabilized by the surfactant solid dispersion in C(18)G(5)/water system. The foamability and foam stability of the surfactant systems show poor correlation with the dynamic surface tension properties.