Kinetic theory of nonisothermal binary nucleation: the stage following thermal relaxation

A kinetic theory is constructed for a nonisothermal binary nucleation at th e stage following the thermal relaxation of nuclei. The three-dimensional k inetic equation to be solved reaches beyond the framework of the Fokker-Pla nck approximation even if one of two components has a large value of conden sation heat. It is shown that, by successively applying the method of Ensko g-Chapman and the method of complete separation of variables to that kineti c equation, one can reduce the problem of constructing the three-dimensiona l kinetic theory to the well-investigated problem of solving an one-dimensi onal kinetic equation of first-order phase transition, in the nonstationary case as well as in the stationary one. For the steady state, the main char acteristics of nucleation, including the nucleation rate, are found. Theore tical results are numerically evaluated for the nucleation in ethanol-hexan ol system and compared with predictions of classical (isothermal) theory an d experimental data. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.