Principles of Classical Thermodynamics (ePub)

The aim of this book is to present Classical Thermodynamics in a unified way, from the most fundamental principles to non-uniform systems, thereby requiring the introduction of coarse graining methods, leading for instance to phase field methods. Solutions thermodynamics and temperature–concentration phase diagrams are covered, plus also a brief introduction to statistical thermodynamics and topological disorder. The Landau theory is included along with a general treatment of multicomponent instabilities in various types of thermodynamic applications, including phase separation and order–disorder transitions. Nucleation theory and spinodal decomposition are presented as extreme cases of a single approach involving the all-important role of fluctuations.

In this way, it is hoped that this coverage will reconcile in a unified manner techniques generally presented separately in physics and materials texts.

• Foreword
• Introduction
• Basic Thermodynamics:
  • Thermodynamic Systems
  • Fundamental Laws
  • Thermodynamic Equilibria
  • Ideal Cases
  • Single-Component Equilibrium
  • Solutions
  • Introduction to Statistical Mechanics
• Materials Applications:
  • Temperature-Composition Phase Diagrams
  • Topological Disorder
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Point Defect Equilibrium
  • Interfaces
  • Non-Uniform Systems
  • Landau Theory
  • Thermodynamic Stability of Crystals
  • Nucleation and Growth
  • Kinetic Aspects
  • Summary and Conclusion
• Appendices:
  • Pfaffian Differential Forms
  • The Second Law and the TdS Derivation
  • Euler's Theorem on Homogeneous Functions
  • Constrained Extrema and Lagrange Multipliers
  • Jacobians in Thermodynamics
  • The Third Law in Statistical Mechanics
  • Proof of Triangle Equalities
  • Variational Calculus
  • Discrete Lattice Fourier Series
  • Symmetry of Tensors
  • Diagonalization of Quadratic Forms
• Index

• The main difference between this book and previous thermodynamics text is its attempt to present material of interest to both material science and to solid state physics communities
• In particular phase separation and spinodal decomposition are treated as two aspects of the same mechanism, and so are clustering and ordering reactions
• Extension to different thermodynamic mechanisms, such as ordering in magnetic and electrical systems are indicated