PHASE TRANSITIONS OF WATER AND XENON ADSORBED IN POROUS VYCOR GLASS

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Abstract
Measurements of the expansion of porous Vycor glass containing fixed quantities of adsorbed water indicate that in every instance a phase transition starts below −50 °C, with the main change occurring below −160 °C. Two other anomalies of the length variation were observed near −22 °C and −7 °C when the amount of adsorbed water exceeded the value equivalent to two monolayers. The length of the adsorbent after completion of a temperature cycle was different from the initial length. This is thought to be due to damage suffered by the glass and to the fact that the length of the adsorbent is different for adsorption and desorption although the quantity adsorbed may be the same.The phase transition of adsorbed xenon takes place below the normal triple point and is a function of surface concentration as shown by length variations and equilibrium pressures for fixed quantities adsorbed. All transitions are gradual and hysteresis is exhibited by the isosteres. The adsorption isotherms for xenon – Vycor glass show a decreasing adsorptive capacity and a contraction of the hysteresis loop with lower temperature. The inadequacy of the capillary condensation theory of adsorption in relation to these results is discussed.

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