title: Phase transition of n-alkane layers adsorbed on mica.
abstract: Thin (thickness h approximately 3 nm) films of n-octadecane and n-hexadecane adsorbed on mica surfaces from vapor close to their bulk melting points (T(m)) have been studied in a surface force apparatus. Using data on the growth rate of capillary condensates between the mica surfaces in contact and measurements of h, we have identified a transition in the structure of the adsorbed films a few degrees above T(m). As T decreases the alkane layers appear to undergo a transition to a more ordered structure, akin to the postulated "surface freezing" of long-chain liquid n-alkanes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Mathematics, Research School of Physical Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kohonen
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Christenson