THERMODYNAMIC PRINCIPLES OF CONDENSATION KINETICS ON THE SOLUBLE NUCLEI OF A SURFACTANT

Strict relationships have been established between the experimentally measurable thermodynamic parameters that are necessary in order to describe the effects of the condensation kinetics of a supersaturated vapor on the soluble nuclei of a surfactant. These expressions are not restricted to a particular form of adsorption isotherm for the matter comprising a nucleus on the surface of a nucleating droplet. Using the relationships obtained, an algorithm is formulated for the calculation of the thermodynamic characteristics of the condensation kinetics as functions of the external parameters involved in the condensation problem. This algorithm is employed for the construction of asymptotic thermodynamic characteristics in two limiting cases: (i) very low coverage of the surface of a droplet by adsorbed matter comprising nuclei and (ii) virtually complete adsorption of all the matter comprising the nuclei on the surface of a droplet. It is shown that both limiting cases can be encountered in practice.