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interphase and interface

interphase and interface

interphase and interface

(OP)

I"ll appreciate if anyone can indicate what is the right word to use when referring to the discontinuity plane or surface located between two insoluble liquid phases: interface or interphase ?

RE: interphase and interface


I would use interface to indicate a boundary between discrete items. I have only met interphase as a period in cell mitosis or as an electrical term.

Good Luck
johnwm
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RE: interphase and interface

Interesting question 25362.
A solid is a shape that may have a number of free standing (sur)faces. Can it be said liquid has a face? A liquid has a surface, but no free standing faces.
For me, I would lean towards inter-phase zone rather than interface.

RE: interphase and interface

When two phases are dispersed(like air bubbles in water), then I would, from now onwards, call it interphase

RE: interphase and interface

(OP)

I've seen in specialized technical books "interface" used to indicate the phase discontinuity when dealing with liquid level controllers in decanters and extraction columns. Is this wrong ?

RE: interphase and interface

It is true that interface is used abstractly to describe almost any opposing whatsits so it's probably not wrong to describe an area where imiscible faceless liquids meet as an interface. It's just soooo tantalising to describe imiscible meeting liquid phases more correctly as inter-phase or as quark writes one better, interphase.

RE: interphase and interface

In Materials Science and Engineering, we study multi-phase materials.  The word interface is used to describe the boundary between these regions.

Regards,

Cory

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

RE: interphase and interface

Hmmm...

I've been working with Dual-Phase steel. This material changes phase (locally) after deformation.

Would it then be correct to describe the material under dynamic plastic deformation as interphase ?

regards,

Hydroformer

RE: interphase and interface

Interphase would indicate a something that is in the process of changing phase. This is how it is used in cell mitosis.  

I was in Hawaii a few weeks ago. Still can't figure out how they can call those highways interstates.

RE: interphase and interface

Right.  Interface is the boundary.  Interphase would be some kind of mixed or intermediate state (which one might get if the interface isn't so well-defined).

Hg

Eng-Tips guidelines:  FAQ731-376

RE: interphase and interface

Interesting terminology...

Because, with dual-phase steel the change is brought about by deforming material AND not all of the material is deformed (flat portions) then, at the transition zones we'll see an interphase interface.

I know it's not quite that cut and dry. We likely have more of a homologation of the two phases tapering in concentration from one to the other.

regards,

Hydroformer

RE: interphase and interface

A number of on-line dictionaries show only the biological definition for interphase.

The same sources turn up a wider variety of definations for interface, but many cite the boundary between two fluids that do not mix.

RE: interphase and interface

"   I"ll appreciate if anyone can indicate what is the right word to use when referring to the discontinuity plane or surface located between two insoluble liquid phases: interface or interphase ?"
Phase boundary, singular or plural I believe answrs the question and avoids the problem.

RE: interphase and interface

I would think phase boundary would be applicable to ice in a glass of water.  

He's talking about two different substances both in liquid phase.  Since they're both liquid phase, I can't see calling it a phase boundary.

Edward L. Klein
Pipe Stress Engineer
Houston, Texas

"All the world is a Spring"

All opinions expressed here are my own and not my company's.

RE: interphase and interface

StressGuy,

Thermodynamically speaking, two immiscible liquids are two phases, so phase boundary is appropriate.

Regards,

Cory

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

RE: interphase and interface

Well, that's why I hang out around here - to learn new things and relearn old things that I don't use very often.

Edward L. Klein
Pipe Stress Engineer
Houston, Texas

"All the world is a Spring"

All opinions expressed here are my own and not my company's.

RE: interphase and interface

(OP)

CoryPad is right.

Three of the most characteristic properties of liquids, related to the strengths of the intermolecular forces, are their ability to flow, which is shared by gases, their tendency to vaporize exerting a vapor pressure, and their possession of a sharply defined surface, which distinguishes them from gases.

Thus, interface appears to be the logical word for the interphase boundary as HgTX and Hydroformer have indicated.

RE: interphase and interface

25362
I am unsure about one aspect of fluids possesing a sharply defined surface. Any surface they have, assuming gravity is present, is completely reliant on the vessel that contains said fluid. Therefore the sharply defined surface is after the fact.

RE: interphase and interface

25362
I am unsure about one aspect of a fluid possessing a sharply defined surface. Assuming gravity is present, any surface it has completely relies on the vessel shape that contains said fluid. The sharply defined surface is not self sustaining and therefore must after the fact.

RE: interphase and interface

Huh???  "Sharply defined" is not the same as "rigid".  Pour some water into a glass.  Add some oil.  There are sharp boundaries between the water and the oil, and between the oil and the air.

However, doesn't "fluid" mean either liquid or gas?

Hg

Eng-Tips guidelines:  FAQ731-376

RE: interphase and interface

Hg
Yes, fluid is an error. Should be referring to liquids.
The overall shape of the oil & liquid as well as the location of the boundary between them rely on the shape of the glass. If the glass is removed, all the sharply defined surfaces change.

RE: interphase and interface

rnd2- but they are still sharply defined.

RE: interphase and interface

The location of the boundary may depend on the shape of the container, as well as how much of the heavier substance is present, but as NickE states, the boundary is still sharply defined, and does not change.

RE: interphase and interface

So the boundary may change but the interface between liquid phases remains sharply defined.

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