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Triphase Separation of a Ternary Symmetric Highly Viscous Mixture
Andrea Lamorgese1, Roberto Mauri2
1Departmento di Ingegneria dell'Energia, dei Sistemi, del Territorio e delle Costruzioni, Università of Pisa, Largo Lazzarino 1, 56122 Pisa, Italy.
Entropy (Basel, Switzerland)
|December 3, 2020
Summary
Phase separation in ternary liquid mixtures shows complex kinetics. Diffusion drives separation into three phases, but symmetry is broken, leading to unequal component segregation over time.
Area of Science:
- Physical Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Computational Physics
Background:
- Understanding phase separation in multicomponent mixtures is crucial for materials design.
- Ternary liquid mixtures exhibit complex phase behavior, particularly under non-equilibrium conditions.
- Previous models often simplify the complex interplay of components during segregation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the diffusion-driven phase separation kinetics in a symmetric, three-component liquid mixture.
- To analyze the segregation process using a diffuse-interface model.
- To explore symmetry-breaking events and their impact on component separation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a diffuse-interface model for partially miscible ternary liquid mixtures.
- Incorporated the one-parameter Margules correlation for enthalpic contributions.
- Employed a square-gradient (Cahn-Hilliard-type) assumption for nonlocal interactions.
- Simulated the governing equations in 3D to capture segregation dynamics.
Main Results:
- Observed simultaneous growth of three phases initially.
- Identified a symmetry-breaking event leading to accelerated separation of one component.
- Revealed delayed phase separation for the other two components post-symmetry breaking.
- Demonstrated asymmetry in component separation depths throughout the triphase segregation process.
Conclusions:
- Phase separation in this ternary system is inherently asymmetric, despite initial symmetric conditions.
- The diffuse-interface model effectively captures complex segregation kinetics and symmetry breaking.
- Numerical simulations provide valuable insights into the dynamics of multicomponent phase transitions.
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