Thermo-Mechanical and Mechano-Thermal Effects in Liquids Explained by Means of the Dual Model of Liquids

Abstract

We pursue to illustrate the capabilities of the Dual Model of Liquids (DML) showing that it may explain crossed effects notable in Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics (NET). The aim of the paper is to demonstrate that the DML may correctly model the thermodiffusion, in particular getting formal expressions for positive and negative Soret coefficient, and another “unexpected” mechano-thermal effect recently discovered in liquids submitted to shear strain, for which the first-ever theoretical interpretation is provided. Both applications of the DML are supported by the comparison with experimental data. The phenomenology of liquids, either pure or mixtures, submitted to external force fields is characterized by coupled effects, for instance mechano-thermal and thermo-mechanical effects, depending on whether the application of a mechanical force field generates a coupled thermal effect in the liquid sample or vice-versa. Although these phenomena have been studied since their discoveries, dating back to the XIX century, no firm theoretical interpretation exists yet. Very recently the mesoscopic model of liquids DML has been proposed and its validity and applicability demonstrated in several cases. According to DML, liquids are arranged on a mesoscopic scale by means of aggregates of molecules, or liquid particles. These structures share the liquid world with a population of lattice particles, i.e., elastic waves that interact with the liquid particles by means of an inertial force, allowing the mutual exchange of energy and momentum between the two populations. The hit particle relaxes the acquired energy and momentum due to the interaction, giving them back to the system a step forward and a time-lapse later, alike in a tunnel effect.