Nucleation in non-critical binary systems

Abstract

A theory of nucleation for non-critical binary systems (solvent+solute) is developed on the basis of the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau approach for non-conserved order parameter. It is demonstrated that metastable state relaxation occurs in such a way that solute in the new solute rich phase redistributes periodically over entire solution volume. The time-dependent period of this heterogeneous spatial solute structure together with induction time are found and analyzed analytically. A static structure factor for light scattering in the metastable state is derived in the form of an oscillating function of the wave vector.