Precrystallisation Theory Applied to Surface-Free Energy of the Water-Ice Interface

Abstract

According to precrystallisation theory, supercooled liquid is assumed to have a "solid phase" in form of freezing nuclei suspended in the liquid phase. On this basis the physical properties of supercooled liquids have been found dependent on the specific surface-free energy of the liquid-solid interface, σ. Calculations have been made for the some of these properties (refractive index, density and viscosity) in the ease of water using different available sets of σ. Calculated values of these properties do not agree fully with the available experimental values by using one particular set of σ. To satisfy these properties at different temperatures, a new set of σ has been derived.