Electric-field-induced nucleation: a phenomenon used for determining the boundary of stability of liquids

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The limit of absolute thermodynamic stability and tensile strength of liquids (n-hexane, n-pentane and iso-pentane) have been determined using the phenomenon of electric-field-induced nucleation. An extrapolation of the curves of critical voltage applied to the liquid against temperature to the points of zero critical voltage gives the limiting value of the superheat temperature at a given pressure. The locus of these limiting values in the p-t plane, terminating at the critical point, gives the boundary of absolute thermodynamic stability (spinodal) of the liquid. The electrical forces at the interface corresponding to various critical voltages have been proposed to give the limiting negative pressures (tensile strengths). The energy contributed by the electric field over the volume of a vapour nucleus of critical size is in agreement with the value of the thermal energy required for the formation of the nucleus of the same size de novo in a liquid.

This publication has 17 references indexed in Scilit: