title: Interfacial profiles in fluid/liquid systems: a description based on the storing of elastic energy.
abstract: An analytical expression for the interfacial energy is found by solving a Poisson equation and assuming a Boltzmann distribution of volume elements forming the fluid/liquid system. Interfacial phenomena are treated as a result of the response of a liquid when it makes contact with other fluid phase, in order to reach thermal and mechanical equilibrium. This model gives a quantitative description of the interface, obtaining values for its molar, force and energy density profiles. Also, our model allows the determination of the proportion of the fluids present in the interfacial zone, the values of interfacial tension and thickness. In the case of water+n-alkanes systems, the tensions are in agreement with the behavior shown by the experimental data. Finally, the values for interfacial thickness predicted from molar density profiles are lower than the range of influence of the elastic energy and elastic field.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudios Interdisciplinarios de la Física (CEIF), Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC), Caracas, Venezuela. acastell@ivic.gob.ve
authors.forename: Aly J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Castellanos-Suárez
authors.forename: Jhoan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Toro-Mendoza
authors.forename: Máximo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: García-Sucre
mesh_terms: D000473:Alkanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008956:Models, Chemical; D013500:Surface Tension; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000473:Alkanes; D014867:Water