An experimental study of freezing of supercooled water droplet on solid surface

Abstract

Results of experimental investigations of the freezing of immobile water droplet on an aluminum plate are presented. The process was studied with the aid of a high-speed photo camera. The freezing of supercooled water contained in the surface droplet proceeds in a few stages: (i) preliminary heating of water and nucleation of ice microcrystals, (ii) relatively fast formation of the ice–liquid system with a transition to the state of thermodynamic equilibrium near the freezing temperature, and (iii) slow process of complete freezing. The rate and duration of each stage and the time of delay between the moment of action upon the supercooled droplet and the onset of freezing are estimated. Processes of supercooled and nonsupercooled water solidification are compared.