Stabilization of water/oil/water multiple emulsions by polymerization of the aqueous phases.

In order to improve the stability of w/o/w multiple emulsions which have isopropyl myristate as the non-aqueous 'oil' phase, either the internal aqueous phase of the multiple system or the secondary (outer or continuous) aqueous phase can be gelled. Production, by gamma-irradiation, or cross-linked polyacrylamide or poloxamer gels in the aqueous phases of the emulsions leads to systems which have a greater intrinsic stability than untreated multiple emulsions. If the internal aqueous phase is gelled this prevents coalescence. When the continuous outer phase is gelled an opaque emulsion is produced in which the disperse w/o droplets are held in a hydrophilic polymer network from which the droplets are released on contact with water.