The existence of thermodynamic constants characterizing the properties of substances and materials in spontaneous processes

Abstract

The equations of nonequilibrium thermodynamics show that one of the higher time derivatives of the maximum thermodynamic work remains constant along the trajectory of a spontaneous process. The theoretical prediction is confirmed by experimental data on mechanical motion with friction. The constant characterizing the friction process is called the coefficient of thermodynamic friction losses (KTL). In contrast to the friction coefficient in mechanics, the KTL does not depend on the velocity and acceleration of relative motion of parts of the frictional pair on the trajectory of spontaneous slowing down. The KTL may be regarded as a nonequilibrium thermodynamic parameter specifying at a given temperature the properties of materials involved in the friction process. The usefulness and advantages of utilizing the KTL in engineering computations are noted.