Microstructural evolution under the Cahn–Hilliard equation, demonstrating distinctive coarsening and phase separation.
Spinodal decomposition is a mechanism by which a single thermodynamic phase spontaneously separates into two phases (without nucleation).[1] Decomposition occurs when there is no thermodynamic barrier to phase separation. As a result, phase separation via decomposition does not require the nucleation events resulting from thermodynamic fluctuations, which normally trigger phase separation.
Spinodal decomposition is observed when mixtures of metals or polymers separate into two co-existing phases, each rich in one species and poor in the other.[2] When the two phases emerge in approximately equal proportion (each occupying about the same volume or area), characteristic intertwined structures are formed that gradually coarsen (see animation). The dynamics of spinodal decomposition is commonly modeled using the Cahn–Hilliard equation.
Spinodal decomposition is fundamentally different from nucleation and growth. When there is a nucleation barrier to the formation of a second phase, time is taken by the system to overcome that barrier. As there is no barrier (by definition) to spinodal decomposition, some fluctuations (in the order parameter that characterizes the phase) start growing instantly. Furthermore, in spinodal decomposition, the two distinct phases start growing in any location uniformly throughout the volume, whereas a nucleated phase change begins at a discrete number of points.
Spinodal decomposition occurs when a homogenous phase becomes thermodynamically unstable. An unstable phase lies at a maximum in free energy. In contrast, nucleation and growth occur when a homogenous phase becomes metastable. That is, another biphasic system becomes lower in free energy, but the homogenous phase remains at a local minimum in free energy, and so is resistant to small fluctuations. J. Willard Gibbs described two criteria for a metastable phase: that it must remain stable against a small change over a large area.[3]
^Binder, K (1987-07-01). "Theory of first-order phase transitions". Reports on Progress in Physics. 50 (7): 783–859. doi:10.1088/0034-4885/50/7/001. ISSN 0034-4885. S2CID 250879624.
^Gennes, Pierre-Gilles de. (1979). Scaling concepts in polymer physics. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press. ISBN 0-8014-1203-X. OCLC 4494721.
^Gibbs, J.W., Scientific Papers of J Willard Gibbs, 2 vols. Bumstead, H. A., and Van Name, R. G., eds. (Dover, New York, 1961) ISBN 0-918024-77-3
and 23 Related for: Spinodal decomposition information
Spinodaldecomposition is a mechanism by which a single thermodynamic phase spontaneously separates into two phases (without nucleation). Decomposition...
fluctuations in composition and density will lead to phase separation via spinodaldecomposition. Outside of the curve, the solution will be at least metastable...
solution. Phase-transition processes can also be explained in terms of spinodaldecomposition, where phase separation is delayed until the system enters the unstable...
temperatures ranging from 280 to 500 °C, especially at 475 °C, where spinodaldecomposition of the supersaturated solid ferrite solution into Fe-rich nanophase...
in supercritical fluids than in liquids, promoting nucleation or spinodaldecomposition over crystal growth and yielding very small and regularly sized...
lower concentration to a region of higher concentration, as in spinodaldecomposition. Diffusion is a stochastic process due to the inherent randomness...
Miller, H.D. (1975), "New computational method in the theory of spinodaldecomposition", Phys. Rev. A, 11 (4): 1417–1429, Bibcode:1975PhRvA..11.1417L,...
which leads to spectacular color interference of light [ru] on spinodaldecomposition structures commensurate with its wavelength. These properties of...
theory to be robust and accurate. Even some systems that undergo spinodaldecomposition have been shown to quantitatively obey LSW theory after initial...
coatings at temperatures typical for cutting tools operation due to spinodaldecomposition of TiAlN into TiN and cubic AlN The age hardening phenomenon has...
ISBN 9780521814157. "First order phase transitions and the dynamics of spinodaldecomposition". www.mhkoepf.de. Retrieved 2019-11-12. Kondepudi, Dilip; Prigogine...
coacervate droplets (when the binodal region is crossed slowly) and spinodaldecomposition. Associative LLPS is more complex to describe, as both solute polymers...
specifically for arrays for satellites. It is theoretically predicted that spinodaldecomposition of indium nitride should occur for compositions between 15% and...
miscibility gap. Separation into multiple phases can occur via spinodaldecomposition, in which a single phase is cooled and separates into two different...
temperatures ranging from 280–500 °C, especially at 475 °C, where spinodaldecomposition of the supersaturated solid ferrite solution into Fe-rich nanophase...
its coordination is higher. This diffusion process is similar to spinodaldecomposition. Eventually, clusters of more noble atoms form this way, and surrounding...
results from a spinodaldecomposition of the sodium-rich borate phase and the silica phase. This procedure is called primary decomposition. Using an initial...
the phase diagram. Miscibility gaps in liquid states can cause spinodaldecomposition, commonly referred to as oiling out, as commonly occurs in oil/water...
separation in IPNs can arise from both nucleation and growth and spinodaldecomposition mechanisms, with the former producing discrete phases akin to dispersed...
simulation work on how selective surface interactions influence spinodaldecomposition in a mixture. This paper led to a flurry of experimental activities...
Contribution to Alloy Materials Engineering by the Establishment of SpinodalDecomposition Theory 2015 Toyoki Kunitake [de] Japan born 1936 Pioneering Contributions...
colloidal gelation is triggered by a form of phase separation known as spinodaldecomposition, resolving a long-standing debate within the soft condensed-matter...
Global Information