Phase diagrams description

The series provides consistent phase diagram descriptions for individual ternary systems. The representation of the equilibria of ternary systems as a function of temperature results in spacial diagrams whose sections and projections are generally published in the literature. Phase equilibria are described in terms of liquidus, solidus and solvus projections, isothermal and quasibinary sections data on invariant equilibria are generally given in the form of tables. 

Figure A3.3.2 A schematic phase diagram for a typical binary mixture showmg stable, unstable and metastable regions according to a van der Waals mean field description. The coexistence curve (outer curve) and the spinodal curve (iimer curve) meet at the (upper) critical pomt. A critical quench corresponds to a sudden decrease in temperature along a constant order parameter (concentration) path passing through the critical point. Other constant order parameter paths ending within tire coexistence curve are called off-critical quenches.

Fig. 10 shows the phase diagram of the ZGB model with global reconstructions. For the standard ZGB model a narrow reactive regime within the range Fi. < < F2A is observed, as discussed above in the description of... 

Chapters 7 to 9 apply the thermodynamic relationships to mixtures, to phase equilibria, and to chemical equilibrium. In Chapter 7, both nonelectrolyte and electrolyte solutions are described, including the properties of ideal mixtures. The Debye-Hiickel theory is developed and applied to the electrolyte solutions. Thermal properties and osmotic pressure are also described. In Chapter 8, the principles of phase equilibria of pure substances and of mixtures are presented. The phase rule, Clapeyron equation, and phase diagrams are used extensively in the description of representative systems. Chapter 9 uses thermodynamics to describe chemical equilibrium. The equilibrium constant and its relationship to pressure, temperature, and activity is developed, as are the basic equations that apply to electrochemical cells. Examples are given that demonstrate the use of thermodynamics in predicting equilibrium conditions and cell voltages. 

In what follows, we use simple mean-field theories to predict polymer phase diagrams and then use numerical simulations to study the kinetics of polymer crystallization behaviors and the morphologies of the resulting polymer crystals. More specifically, in the molecular driving forces for the crystallization of statistical copolymers, the distinction of comonomer sequences from monomer sequences can be represented by the absence (presence) of parallel attractions. We also devote considerable attention to the study of the free-energy landscape of single-chain homopolymer crystallites. For readers interested in the computational techniques that we used, we provide a detailed description in the Appendix. ... 

This chapter introduces additional central concepts of thermodynamics and gives an overview of the formal methods that are used to describe single-component systems. The thermodynamic relationships between different phases of a single-component system are described and the basics of phase transitions and phase diagrams are discussed. Formal mathematical descriptions of the properties of ideal and real gases are given in the second part of the chapter, while the last part is devoted to the thermodynamic description of condensed phases. 

Non-stoichiometry in solid solutions may also be handled by the compound energy model see for example a recent review by Hillert [16]. In this approach the end-member corresponding to vacancies is an empty sub-lattice and it may be argued that the model loses its physical significance. Nevertheless, this model represents a mathematically efficient description that is often incorporated in thermodynamic representations of phase diagrams. 

The Clapeyron equation, Equation (5.1), yields a quantitative description of a phase boundary on a phase diagram. Equation (5.1) works quite well for the liquid-solid phase boundary, but if the equilibrium is boiling or sublimation - both of which involve a gaseous phase - then the Clapeyron equation is a poor predictor. 

As for many other materials, phase diagrams are roadmaps not only for the description of these substances and of their reactions, but also for their processing and for research and development planning. The systematic experimental determination of phase diagrams, their assessment and compilation and their thermodynamic optimization and calculation are the essential steps in the development of materials science and make up one of the bases of the intermetallic disciplines. 

Of course it will be impossible, in a few pages, to give a complete description of phase diagram science, and only an outline of some noteworthy aspects will be presented. Notice that the phase diagrams presented first are equilibrium diagrams. These represent an important reference point and describe the final state (stable state) which can be reached in a reaction of the substances involved. Slow (or very... 

As an example of more complex systems and descriptions, the Ni-Mg system is shown in Fig. 2.32 (adapted from Levinsky 1997). In (a) an isobaric section of the diagram is shown (a low pressure has been considered in order to have a certain extension of the gas phase which consists essentially of Mg vapour). In Fig 2.32(b) there is an isothermal section of the diagram at 700°C. Notice, for different values of pressure, the change in the sequence of phases stable at different compositions. A value of the pressure close to atmosphere is approached at the top of the figure. In Fig 2.32(c) the usual Tlx diagram is shown. This can be considered an isobaric phase diagram if pressure is relatively low but still higher than the sum of the equilibrium partial pressures of the components. 

Calculation, thermodynamic optimization of phase diagrams. The knowledge of phase equilibria, phase stability, phase transformations is an important reference point in the description and understanding of the fundamental properties of the alloys and of their possible technological applications. This interest has promoted a multi-disciplinary and multi-national effort dedicated not only to experimental methods, but also to techniques of optimization, calculation and prediction of... 

The state of the art has been summarized by Colinet (2003) who reported a description of the ab initio calculation methods of energies of formation for intermetallic compounds and a review of the aluminium-based compounds studied. In its conclusions, this paper underlined that the complete ab initio calculation of complex phase diagrams is not close at hand. However, calculation of phase diagrams in systems, where experimental data are missing, could, in the future, be performed by combination of CALPHAD routines and ab initio calculations of formation energies or mixing energies. 

It has already been noticed (see 3.9.4) that according to the mentioned concepts several ternary compounds may be considered as the result of a sort of structural interaction between binary compounds. As a consequence some regular trend could also be predicted for their occurrence in their phase diagrams and in the description (and perhaps modelling) of their thermodynamic properties. A few details about this type of structural relationships will be considered in the following and, in this introduction, examples of blocks of simple structural types and of their combination in more complex types will be described. 

The more components in a system, the more complex are the phase equilibria and it is more difficult to represent phases graphically. Descriptions of multi-component solid-liquid diagrams and their uses have been given by Mullin 3, Findlay and Campbell , Ricci , Null(10) and Nyvlt 11 1 and techniques for predicting multi-component solid-liquid phase equilibria have been presented by Hormeyer et alS12 Kusik el al.(n), and Sander et al.(U). 

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