Melting temperature depression

In our research group an device was developed that is suitable for accurate, cost- and time-efficient automated detection of the melting temperature in a high pressure carbon dioxide atmosphere.

The melting point of most compounds increases with mechanical or hydrostatic pressure, but some high-pressure fluids can dissolve into the solid sample, causing a decresase in melting temperature. This phenomenon is exploited in a number of applications, such as in polymer industry for easier machining and in the development of controlled size particle producing, such as PGSS (Particles from Gas Saturated Solutions). The design and optimisation of these and similar high-pressure operations can be supported by the knowledge of the pessure and temperature dependence of thermodynamic parameters.