There were two major objectives for the work. The first objective was the experimental measurement and thermodynamic modeling of ternary vapor liquid equilibria of carbon dioxide systems of interest to the natural gas industry. The second objective was the measurement and thermodynamic modeling of solid-liquid-vapor phase behavior in binary carbon dixide systems.

Solid-liquid phase equilibria studies were used to investigate possible compound formation in solutions of (i) N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and (ii) N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA) with a series of halogenated hydrocarbons that were selected to give a wide range of acceptor properties. Solid 1:1 intermolecular compounds were identified from solutions of (i) DMF and (ii) DMA with CCl_4, CBrCl_3, and C_6H_5CCl_3. The intermolecular compounds (DMF)_2•CCl_4 and (DMF)_2•CBrCl_3 were also found. The results suggest charge transfer from DMF or DMA to the chlorine atoms of the acceptor molecule as the process for compound formation. Thermal methods were used to determine with high precision the solid-liquid phase equilibria diagram for the sodium-cesium system. Results differ greatly from those of earlier workers, especially near the eutectic composition where differences in melting points as large as 35°K occur. Although not conclusive, results support the proposal that the peritectic halt results from the formation of an Na_2Cs intermetallic compound by a very sluggish reaction. Thermal methods were also used to determine the mesophase transition temperatures for cholesteryl formate.

In recent years very active research has been going on to understand the physics and chemistry of clusters, an intermediate state of matter between atoms and solids. Great excitement has been added to these efforts with the recent discovery of a new form of carbon, the fullerene and its aggregates, and subsequent observations of superconductivity with alkali doping. This volume critically reviews the recent progress made in the area of clusters and discusses the new problems opened up with the ongoing developments in fullerenes.