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This content has been automatically translated from Ukrainian.
What is sublimation and why does it occur?
Each substance has its own «phase diagram, which shows the state in which it is at different temperatures and pressures. This diagram has a special triple point — right there, the substance can be solid, liquid and gaseous at the same time.
Sublimation occurs when the pressure and temperature conditions are lower than this triple point. In such conditions, the liquid phase simply has no chance of existence. Instead, solid molecules, receiving energy, «break out» from their bonds and immediately enter a gaseous state. This process is endothermic, meaning it absorbs heat from the environment, often resulting in cooling. That is why low pressure (vacuum) contributes so much to sublimation, because it reduces the «resistance» of molecules that tend to break away from the solid surface.
Sublimation in our daily lives
We face sublimation more often than we can imagine. Remember the winter: even in severe frosts, when the thermometer is far beyond zero, snow and ice on the roads sometimes disappear without leaving puddles. It works sublimation. Water molecules from the solid state turn directly into water vapor, evaporating directly into air. Thanks to the same phenomenon, underwear can dry in the cold.
Another vivid example of — is dry ice (solid carbon dioxide). It does not melt, but «smokes», turning into gas, which makes it ideal for cooling products or creating special effects at events. Also, solid air fresheners or naphthalene balls, they slowly disappear«, filling the space with aroma or scaring away moths, are examples of sublimation in action.
Sublimation in industry and innovation
When considering industry, sublimation reveals its full potential, turning into a powerful tool. The most popular application is freeze-drying, or lyophilization. This process is a lifeline for heat-sensitive products. Food, pharmaceuticals, biological samples are first frozen, and then in a vacuum the water from them sublimates, leaving a dry, light and nutritious product. This is how instant coffee, sublimated fruits and berries are made for breakfast or snacks. These products retain almost 100% of their beneficial properties, taste and aroma, and are still preserved for a long time.
For bright and durable images on fabrics, mugs or souvenirs —, this is due to sublimation printing. Special inks, heating up, turn into a gaseous state and penetrate deeply into the structure of the material, becoming part of it. Thanks to this, the images do not fade, do not crack and remain saturated for a long time. Even in the world of archaeology, sublimation plays an important role, helping to preserve fragile artifacts like sunken wooden vessels, preventing them from collapsing when drying.
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