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Substrate Dependence of the Freezing Dynamics of Supercooled Water Films: A High-Speed Optical Microscope Study
E Pach1, L Rodriguez1, A Verdaguer2
1Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC and The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B
|September 19, 2017
Summary
Investigating supercooled water films revealed new freezing details. Substrate properties influence ice morphology, offering potential for controlled ice formation beyond anti-icing.
Area of Science:
- Physical Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Surface Science
Background:
- Understanding the freezing of water films is crucial for various applications, including climate science and materials engineering.
- Previous studies have described general freezing stages but lacked detailed insights into the underlying phenomena.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the freezing process of supercooled water films on diverse substrates.
- To elucidate the distinct phenomena occurring during film freezing, including dendrite growth, ice domain formation, and air bubble entrapment.
- To determine the influence of supercooling temperature and substrate properties on these freezing processes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a high-speed camera integrated with an optical microscope for detailed observation.
- Analyzed two-dimensional dendrite growth, vertical dendrite growth, ice domain evolution, air bubble trapping, and surface freezing.
- Correlated observed phenomena with supercooling levels and substrate characteristics.
Main Results:
- Identified and analyzed distinct freezing phenomena: 2D/vertical dendrite growth, ice domain formation, air bubble trapping, and surface freezing.
- Demonstrated that all observed freezing processes are contingent upon both supercooling temperature and the substrate employed.
- Observed that ice dendrite growth depends on substrate thermal properties, though not unequivocally.
- Established a direct relationship between early-stage dendrite morphology (substrate-dependent) and final ice surface roughness/shape at low supercooling.
Conclusions:
- The freezing of supercooled water films involves complex, substrate-dependent phenomena.
- Substrate properties significantly influence ice morphology, offering avenues for controlling ice formation.
- This research opens possibilities for utilizing surfaces and coatings to engineer ice structures, extending beyond traditional anti-icing applications.
