Spinodal

The term "spinodal" is primarily used in the context of thermodynamics, specifically in phase separation processes in materials science and physical chemistry. It refers to a specific type of phase transition that occurs when a mixture is unstable and can separate into two or more distinct phases. In a broader sense, spinodal decomposition is a mechanism that describes how a homogeneous mixture becomes unstable. The spinodal curve defines the limits within which phase separation can occur spontaneously, even without nucleation.