| The vapor phase condensation of four metals was studied experimentally using a gas evaporation condensation chamber. Series of experiments were performed at constant total pressure. The roles of diffusion and nucleation in the chamber were investigated and a model employed to account for the effect they have on the experiment. Onset supersaturations of lithium, sodium, potassium, and calcium vapors were measured and compared to classical nucleation models with varying success. Additionally, an investigation involving the application of a homogeneous nucleation scaling model to metallic condensation studies revealed that certain invalid assumptions used in previous works led to improper conclusions regarding the behavior of metallic and refractory material condensation as a class. Using a more reliable database of material properties has resolved a previously unexplained paradox between the model and classical nucleation theory. Further, results suggest that a parameter found in the scaled theory, known as the Eotvos temperature coefficient, provides much of the information needed to understand nucleation phenomena in general. In addition to more experimental work, it is recommended that future work be spent on understanding this coefficient from a more fundamental point view. |
