Freeze-etching: Freezing velocity and crystal size at different locations in samples

Abstract

Freezing velocity was studied experimentally as well as theoretically in relation to sample size and location within the sample. Crystal sizes in a freeze-etch replica displaying the complete fracture area of a sample were compared to the experimental and theoretical results concerning freezing velocities at different locations in such a sample. The freezing velocity was found to be higher in the center and near the surface than halfway between the center and the outer surface of the sample. Also, the crystals in the center and near the border appear to be small as compared to the crystals in the other fracture domain.