Optical studies of a binary miscibility gap system

• Published in: Journal of colloid and interface science 1985-03, Vol.104 (1), p.185-192
• Main Authors: Witherow, William K, Facemire, Barbara R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemistry; Chemistry And Materials (General); Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Liquid-liquid equilibria; Liquid-solid equilibria; Liquid-vapor equilibria; Others (including liquid-liquid-vapor equilibria); Phase equilibria
• ISSN: 0021-9797; 1095-7103
• DOI: 10.1016/0021-9797(85)90022-0

Model transparent fluids are being studied to develop a better understanding of phase separation processes in binary miscibility gap metal alloys. The model selected for the reported work is diethylene glycol-ethyl salicylate. This system is well characterized with respect to its phase diagram, density, surface and interfacial tensions, viscosity, and other pertinent physical properties. Minority phase growth, coalescence, and droplet motions are observed using holographic microscopy which is capable of recording particle densities up to 10 7 particles/cm 3 and is able to resolve particles as small as 2 to 3 μm in diameter throughout the entire volume of the test cell. Sequential holograms allow determination of droplet size distribution changes throughout the total volume with respect to time and temperature. This allows a direct method for testing various theories of droplet growth and ripening phenomena.