Measurements of homogeneous nucleation in normal-alkanes

The homogeneous nucleation of normal-alkanes with carbon numbers 15⩽n⩽60 is studied by scanning calorimetry, using the droplet technique. Pure, nonemulsified samples show near-zero undercoolings below the melting point, Tm, except for both ends of the n-range, where undercoolings ΔT of up to 2 °C are observed. The emulsions have much larger undercoolings. The relative undercoolings show three regimes: A fast decreasing one, up to n=17, an anomalously low constant one, ΔT/Tm≈0.04, for 17⩽n⩽30, and a gradually increasing one for 32⩽n⩽60. A value of ΔT/Tm≈0.086 is reached at n=60. The connections of these results with the bulk rotator phases and the recently discovered surface freezing effect are discussed. Strong intrinsic interrelations among these are indicated.