The rate of evaporation of droplets. Evaporation and diffusion coefficients, and vapour pressures of dibutyl phthalate and butyl stearate

Abstract

The rate of evaporation of drops of dibutyl phthalate and butyl stearate of radius approx. $0\cdot 5$ mm. has been studied by means of a microbalance over a range of atmospheric pressures down to approx. $0\cdot 1$ mm. of mercury. Wide departures from Langmuir's evaporation formula were found to occur at these low pressures, but results are in good accordance with the theory of droplet evaporation advanced by Fuchs which hitherto has not been tested experimentally. This experimental verification of Fuch's theory for droplets of medium size evaporating at low pressures shows that the theory can be applied to the evaporation of very small drops at atmospheric pressure. The vapour pressures of the above liquids have been measured by Knudsen's method and the evaporation and diffusion coefficients calculated from the experimental data.