Composition transients and saturation phenomena at a liquid metal-vapour interface: an advanced theoretical approach and an application to the oxidation of tin in a vacuum.

This work is aimed to advance the understanding of interfacial saturation phenomena for liquid metal surfaces. The interactions between a liquid metal drop and an oxidising atmosphere can be described by a physical–mathematical description of the liquid metal interface/surrounding environment interface evolution. The closed system and equilibrium assumption were rejected and reference was made to a liquid metal drop as an open system and its related time variation conditions (stationary drop assumption). A better demonstration of the experimental relevance of evolution times towards the stationary condition, in particular for liquid tin is done.