Theoretical studies in support of the 3M-vapor transport (PVTOS-) experiments
Results are reported for a preliminary theoretical study of the coupled mass-, momentum-, and heat-transfer conditions expected within small ampoules used to grow oriented organic solid (OS-) films, by physical vapor transport (PVT) in microgravity environments. It is show that previous studies made restrictive assumptions (e.g., smallness of delta T/T, equality of molecular diffusivities) not valid under PVTOS conditions, whereas the important phenomena of sidewall gas creep, Soret transport of the organic vapor, and large vapor phase supersaturations associated with the large prevailing temperature gradients were not previously considered. Rational estimates are made of the molecular transport properties relevant to copper-phthalocyanine monomeric vapor in a gas mixture containing H2(g) and Xe(g). Efficient numerical methods have been developed and are outlined/illustrated here to making steady axisymmetric gas flow calculations within such ampoules, allowing for realistic realistic delta T/T(sub)w-values, and even corrections to Navier-Stokes-Fourier 'closure' for the governing continuum differential equations. High priority follow-on studies are outlined based on these new results.