Multi-Parameter Characterization of Liquid-to-Ice Phase Transition Using Bulk Acoustic Waves

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Acoustics
• Physical Chemistry

Background:

• Detecting the liquid-to-ice phase transition is crucial for numerous scientific and industrial applications.
• Existing methods may lack the multi-parameter characterization required for precise transition analysis.
• Acoustic wave propagation properties differ significantly between liquid and solid states, offering a potential detection mechanism.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and validate a novel method for multi-parameter characterization of the liquid-to-ice phase transition.
• To utilize bulk acoustic waves (BAWs) for probing the physical properties during phase change.
• To develop and test a dual-sensor system for simultaneous analysis of phase transitions in multiple liquid samples.

Main Methods:

• Employed bulk acoustic waves (BAWs) with longitudinal (L) and shear vertical (SV) polarizations.
• Measured velocities and attenuations of L-BAWs and SV-BAWs in ice within the 1-37 MHz frequency range.
• Determined parameters for Rayleigh surface acoustic waves and Poisson's modulus, assessed sample homogeneity, and tested a dual-sensor setup with distilled water and a NaCl solution.

Main Results:

• Successfully measured velocities and attenuations for L-BAWs and SV-BAWs in ice.
• Derived key parameters including Rayleigh surface acoustic wave properties and Poisson's modulus for ice.
• Demonstrated the capability of the dual-sensor system to analyze simultaneous two-phase transitions in different liquids.

Conclusions:

• The proposed BAW-based method provides a robust approach for multi-parameter characterization of the liquid-to-ice transition.
• The technique is effective in analyzing phase changes in both pure water and saline solutions.
• The developed dual-sensor system shows promise for simultaneous monitoring of phase transitions in multiple samples.