THE THERMODYNAMICS OF PROCESSESOF NEW-PHASE FORMATION

Abstract

CONTENTS I. Introduction 386 II. Two thermodynamic treatments of metastablestates 386 III. The concept of the nucleus of a new phase 387 IV. Calculation of the work of formation of a newphase by means of thermodynamic potentials 388 V. The formation of a new phase under isobaric–isothermal conditions 389 VI. Limiting supersaturation 390 VII. The formation of a new phase under isochoric–isothermal conditions 392 VIII. The isochoric–isothermal condensation of a vapour 393 IX. The formation of a new phase under isobaric–isentropicconditions 395 X. The formation of a new phase under isochoric–isentropicconditions 396 XI. The heterogeneous formation of new phases 396