Abstract:
The kinetics of adsorption ofthe thermal dimer oflinoleic acid from dodecane onto three metal surfaces
have been examined. The rate of desorption of the surface species into pure dodecane has also been
investigated. A general rate equation previously formulated to explain the behaviour oflinoleic acid has
been applied to the dimer acid adsorption kinetics.
The existence ofsurface-coverage-dependent activation energies for adsorption and desorption has been
postulated to explain the kinetic behaviour. Activation energies for adsorption were lower than for the
monomer. The overall adsorption process is exothermic at zero coverage but adsorption entropies are
positive as for the monomer. These results are discussed in relation to the overall adsorption process.
