Metastable, Sub-Triple Liquids: Thermodynamics and Phase Transition Dynamics

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

This project is a theoretical study of metastable liquids at temperatures and pressures which are simultaneously lower than the triple point temperature and pressure (sub-triple liquids): a stable liquid cannot exist below the triple temperature. The proposed work consists of a computer simulation study of a unique and previously unexplored rapid phase transition whereby a sub-triple liquid relaxes to form an equilibrium vapour-solid mixture. The thermodynamics and stability limits of sub-triple liquids are important to the understanding of fluid transport in plants, where liquids are frequently under tension and below their freezing point. The phenomenon of loss of tensile strength at low temperatures (tensile instability) has very important consequences in the general area of cavitation, and in any application where liquids close to their freezing point are subject to tensile stresses (impeller blades, ship propellers).