GAS-LIQUID NUCLEATION OF NONIDEAL BINARY-MIXTURES .1. A DENSITY-FUNCTIONAL STUDY

The binary gas-liquid nucleation of model Lennard-Jones mixtures is studied using density functional methods. It is shown that the ordinary "Ar"-"Kr" mixture shows stronger nonclassical nucleation behavior than previously thought. A more nonideal mixture is defined by modifying the usual mixing rules of the Lennard-Jones parameters. This fluid exhibits significantly stronger surface activity than the ordinary mixture. As with water/alcohol systems, classical nucleation theory produces nonphysical predictions for the nucleation of the surface active mixture. On the other hand, the predictions of the density functional theory are thermodynamically consistent. © 1995 American Institute of Physics.