Thermodynamics of mixtures and phase field theory

The phase field model is considered as a special case of thermodynamics of a binary mixture. The customary \delc\(2)-term in the free energy is thus recognized as a term that represents the kinetic energy of the diffusive motion of the two phases. This interpretation deviates from the usual one by which the \delc\(2)-term represents a smeared-out interfacial energy. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.