Effects of Polymers on Secondary Nucleation of Ice Crystals

Abstract

ABSTRACT The kinetics of ice crystallization in various polymer solutions were studied by the thermal response method in a batch crystallizer. Polymers suppress the secondary nucleation of ice crystals, depending on the kinds of polymer and concentration. The decrease of the nucleation rate constant in polymer solutions was related to the increase of viscosity. The effects of polymers on the nucleation rate were also observed in solutions containing low molecular weight compounds.