Drop in a metastable vapor. Laplace equation, surface tension, and

ARIEL G. MEYRA; GUILLERMO J. ZARRAGOICOECHEA; VICTOR A. KUZ

FLUID PHASE EQUILIBRIA

Elsevier

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2005 vol. 235 p. 191 - 195

0378-3812

A van der Waals mean field theory is applied to a Lennard-Jones fluid for studyingdrop formation in a supersaturated vapor. A spherical surface separates the fluidparticles  in two homogeneous regions. The model provides densities, radii, minimumradii and  excess pressure. By comparing the excess pressure with that given by theLaplace equation, surface tension is worked out. Its dependence on drop size, densities, andtemperature, and its asymptotic values to planar interface are found. The modelreveals the existence of an absolute minimum drop and drops with densities closeto the supersaturated vapor.