Is the Maxwell–Garnett continuum model valid to predict the thermal conductivity of particle-stabilized (Pickering) emulsions?

An experimental heat transfer measurement apparatus is constructed to measure the thermal conductivity in two-phase systems using an internal standard. This apparatus is validated and used to obtain the thermal conductivity of glass-bead-stabilized oil-in-water (o/w) emulsions. The experimentally obtained values are found to be in good agreement with the predictions from the Maxwell–Garnett continuum model, thus confirming that no preferential heat-transfer route is formed through the glass beads in the emulsions.