Phase diagrams complex

So far we have considered only a single component. However, reservoir fluids contain a mixture of hundreds of components, which adds to the complexity of the phase behaviour. Now consider the impact of adding one component to the ethane, say n-heptane (C7H.,g). We are now discussing a binary (two component) mixture, and will concentrate on the pressure-temperature phase diagram. 

The example of a binary mixture is used to demonstrate the increased complexity of the phase diagram through the introduction of a second component in the system. Typical reservoir fluids contain hundreds of components, which makes the laboratory measurement or mathematical prediction of the phase behaviour more complex still. However, the principles established above will be useful in understanding the differences in phase behaviour for the main types of hydrocarbon identified. 

Ternary Alloys. Almost ah commercial ahoys are of ternary or higher complexity. Ahoy type is defined by the nature of the principal ahoying additions, and phase reactions in several classes of ahoys can be described by reference to ternary phase diagrams. Minor ahoying additions may have a powerflil influence on properties of the product because of the influence on the morphology and distribution of constituents, dispersoids, and precipitates. Phase diagrams, which represent equhibrium, may not be indicative of these effects. 

Phase diagrams can be used to predict the reactions between refractories and various soHd, Hquid, and gaseous reactants. These diagrams are derived from phase equiHbria of relatively simple pure compounds. Real systems, however, are highly complex and may contain a large number of minor impurities that significantly affect equiHbria. Moreover, equiHbrium between the reacting phases in real refractory systems may not be reached in actual service conditions. In fact, the successful performance of a refractory may rely on the existence of nonequilibrium conditions, eg, environment (15—19). 

Phase transitions in adsorbed layers often take place at low temperatures where quantum effects are important. A method suitable for the study of phase transitions in such systems is PIMC (see Sec. IV D). Next we study the gas-liquid transition of a model fluid with internal quantum states. The model [193,293-300] is intended to mimic an adsorbate in the limit of strong binding and small corrugation. No attempt is made to model any real adsorbate realistically. Despite the crudeness of the model, it has been shown by various previous investigations [193,297-300] that it captures the essential features also observed in real adsorbates. For example, the quite complex phase diagram of the model is in qualitative agreement with that of real substances. The Hamiltonian is given by... 

Of course, LC is not often carried out with neat mobile-phase fluids. As we blend solvents we must pay attention to the phase behavior of the mixtures we produce. This adds complexity to the picture, but the same basic concepts still hold we need to define the region in the phase diagram where we have continuous behavior and only one fluid state. For a two-component mixture, the complete phase diagram requires three dimensions, as shown in Figure 7.2. This figure represents a Type I mixture, meaning the two components are miscible as liquids. There are numerous other mixture types (21), many with miscibility gaps between the components, but for our purposes the Type I mixture is Sufficient. 

Cast irons, although common, are in fact quite complex alloys. The iron-carbon phase diagram exhibits a eutectic reaction at 1 420 K and 4-3 wt.<7oC see Fig. 20.44). One product of this eutectic reaction is always austenite however, depending on the cooling rate and the composition of the alloy, the other product may be cementite or graphite. The graphite may be in the form of flakes which are all interconnected (although they appear separate on a... 

Most phase diagrams, however, are more complex than those shown in Figs 20.38 and 20.39. Thus in most eutectic systems there is some appreciable... 

Recently Suglobova et al. (3, 4, 5) reported structural data, phase diagrams, and enthalpies of reaction of several complex fluorides of uranium(V) with alkali metals. Their observations indicate that the enthalpy of stabilization represented by the equation... 

The phase diagram of the Li-Au system reveals a great deal of complexity, with separate intermetallic phases being formed based on thermal analysis supported by x-ray diffraction at specific compositions. Annealing, sometimes over long time periods, has been undertaken in some cases. 

By studing this phase diagram carefully, you can see how the individual phases relate to each other. As you can see, a phase diagram can become quite complicated. However, in most ceises involving real compounds, the phase diagrams are usually simple. Those involving compounds like silicates can be complex, but those involving alloys of metals show simple behavior like limited solubility. 

Spectroscopic and phase-diagram studies suggest complex formation between tetrachloromethane and chloroform with alkylbenzene donors, and... 

This work raises some interesting issues. The first is that the stoichiometry of a complex is not necessarily the most obvious. For example, it was reported initially that phthalic acid formed a 2 1 complex with alkoxystil-bazole [34], when in fact a careful study carried out by constructing a binary phase diagram (Fig. 11) revealed the complex to have a 1 1 ratio of the two components [35]. The reluctance of the system to form the more obvious 2 1 complex may relate to the presence of intramolecular hydrogen bonding or could even relate to the change in the pfCa of the second acid proton on com-plexation. 

Fig. 11 Binary phase diagram between phthalic acid and decyloxystilbazole. (Crc and Cra are the crystal phase of the complex and the acid, respectively E is the crystal smectic E phase). Adapted from [35]...

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