Thermodynamic Analysis of Brownian Motion-Induced Particle Agglomeration Using the Taylor-Series Expansion Method of Moments

Abstract

On the basis of binary perfectly inelastic collision theory, the time evolutions of kinetic energy and surface area for a particle agglomerate system, due to Brownian motion, are investigated by using the Taylor series expansion technology. The asymptotic behaviors over a long time period show a significantly negative power function of time. The thermodynamic constraints of this system are then obtained according to the principle of maximum entropy, which establishes a relationship of inequality between the first three particle moments and some physical parameters (i.e., surface tension and temperature). In the thermodynamic equilibrium state, this function provides a new approach for estimating the effect of molecular structure on surface tension of liquid polymers.