Liquid-vapor isotherm in a closed single-component system with droplets or bubbles in smooth crevices.
A thermodynamic model in order to study a single-component system where droplets or bubbles are inside smooth crevices is presented. Liquid-vapor interface curvature radius can change its sign as the droplet or bubble volume change. The results suggest that there is always dispersed phase inside smooth crevices of microscopic dimensions, even in the expected single-phase region. Thus, the occurrence of an anti-ripening phenomenon is predicted from a microscopic point of view; meanwhile the occurrence of a ripening phenomenon is energetically favorable at a macroscopic scale. The relevance of these results on the heterogeneous nucleation process is analyzed.
Lago
Marcelo
M
Heavy and Extra-heavy Crude Exploitation Department, PDVSA-Intevep S.A., Caracas, Venezuela. lago791@bellshouth.net
Martin
Rafael
R
Araujo
Mariela
M