NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Nucleation theory - Is replacement free energy needed?It has been suggested that the classical theory of nucleation of liquid from its vapor as developed by Volmer and Weber (1926) needs modification with a factor referred to as the replacement free energy and that the capillary approximation underlying the classical theory is in error. Here, the classical nucleation equation is derived from fluctuation theory, Gibb's result for the reversible work to form a critical nucleus, and the rate of collision of gas molecules with a surface. The capillary approximation is not used in the derivation. The chemical potential of small drops is then considered, and it is shown that the capillary approximation can be derived from thermodynamic equations. The results show that no corrections to Volmer's equation are needed.
Document ID
19830062069
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Doremus, R. H.
(Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, United States)
Date Acquired
August 11, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1982
Subject Category
Thermodynamics And Statistical Physics
Meeting Information
Meeting: Materials processing in the reduced gravity environment of space; Annual Meeting
Location: Boston, MA
Start Date: November 16, 1981
End Date: November 18, 1981
Sponsors: NASA
Accession Number
83A43287
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available