[Terminology] HLB number
Hydrophile-Lipophile Balance Number (HLB number) denotes the relative strength of the hydrophilic group and the lipophilic group in the surfactant.
HLB number is often used as an indicator for the selection of emulsifiers, for example, when HLB number is between 3 and 6, the surfactant is used as W/O emulsifier, and when HLB number is between 8 and 18, the surfactant is used as O/W emulsifier.
It is generally believed that the HLB number has additive property, so the HLB number of the mixed surfactant can be calculated.
HLB number has a certain guiding significance for the selection of emulsifiers, but it can not determine the emulsifying capacity of emulsifiers and the stability of emulsions.