The thermodynamics of bubbles

Abstract

This paper outlines those concitions annanded by the laws of thermodynamics for equilibriza betwoen the vapor in a bubble and the surrounding liquid and then employs these concepts with a nucleation theory in an atteapt to arrive at an expression relating the nucleating superheat in a pure liquid to other fluid properties. The first part of the paper deals with the phase equilibrium across a curved interface and same of its consequences. In the second part recourse is made to the kinetic theory of wHeterophaseR thermal fluctuations given by Frankel for nucleus formation which is extended and employed to derive a relationShip between a superheat at nucleation and other fluid properties.