A New Four-Parameter Generalized van der Waals Equation of State: Metastable State of Group IV Elements

A new four- parameter generalized van der Waals equation of state has been proposed and employed to calculate the spinodal (Metastable State) and the thermodynamic limit of superheat of the of silicon, germanium, lead and tin. It is established that silicon, germanium, tin and lead obey the single parameter law of corresponding states. It is established that the new parameter introduced in the attractive term of the equation of state is a thermodynamic similarity parameter. It has been established that silicon, germanium, tin and lead can be superheated, under rapid heating, up to temperatures 4481K, 7975K, 7161K, and 4333K, respectively. Above these temperatures, silicon, germanium, tin and lead undergo explosive boiling by virtue of homogeneous nucleation. This fact is to be taken into account when silicon, germanium, tin and lead are subjected to rapid heating.