Hendrik-Willem Bakhuis Roozeboom: Equilibrium and phase topology

Hendrik-Willem Bakhuis Roozeboom (1854–1907) is well known for his applications of the phase rule to the study of heterogeneous equilibrium and its representation using the projection of the P-T-x space into the P-T and T-x planes. Together with van der Waals, he put Gibbs’ abstract studies of phase equilibrium in a language that any chemist could understand and use. The graphical representation of the phenomena of equilibrium had a profound influence in the study of the phase rule and the variety of its applications. With its help, Bakhuis Roozeboom was able to improve significantly the original phase diagram for the system iron-carbon presented by Roberts-Austen. Bakhuis Roozeboom may well be considered one of the pioneers of phase topology.