Statistical thermodynamics of fluid phase equilibrium in a conformal polydisperse system

Abstract

Fluid phase equilibrium in a polydisperse system can be conveniently described by an extended theory of conformal solutions. The distribution of particles between coexisting phases appears more sensitive to the interparticle forces than to the equation of state. Under certain conditions a polydisperse system may separate into two liquid phases below an upper critical solution point. The relationship to phase transitions in electrostatically-stabilized colloidal dispersions is discussed.