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2021.02.22
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[Ice Crystal]
Pattern Formation during Ice Crystal Growth

  • Physical Science
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ISS Science for Everyone

SCIENCE OBJECTIVES FOR EVERYONE

The Pattern Formation during Ice Crystal Growth (Ice Crystal) investigation examines the effect of microgravity on the pattern formation of ice crystals by a method of in-situ observation.

SCIENCE RESULTS FOR EVERYONE

How fast do your arms grow? The dendrites, or arms, of ice crystals grown from low-super-cooled heavy water grew faster than models suggested, while those grown from high-super-cooled heavy water agreed with models. This suggests growth velocity is influenced more by face growth than tip asymmetry. Researchers also measured growth rates of crystal thickness and found that it changed suddenly with time, indicating growth rates of the two faces are not identical. This different growth rate has been suggested as a cause of distortion that leads to a hexagonal dendrite growing from a round ice crystal. Better understanding of ice crystal growth could be applied to their use in pharmaceuticals and development of new materials.

Experiment Description

RESEARCH OVERVIEW

  • Crystals that are grown on Earth are affected by gravitational forces that disturb the fluid that surrounds the growing crystal. Crystals that are grown in microgravity are able to form without the influences of gravity.
  • The Pattern Formation during Ice Crystal Growth (Ice Crystal) investigation examines the mechanisms that cause the instability in ice crystals by observing the formation as it occurs.

DESCRIPTION

In order to precisely analyze the factors concerning the pattern formation of crystal growth, an ice crystal growing freely in supercooled bulk water will be observed in-situ using an interference microscope under microgravity condition, in which the free convection in the growth chamber cannot occur. Three-dimensional patterns of ice crystals and the thermal diffusion field around the crystal will be analyzed from the experimental results.

Media Gallery

Initial image of Ice Crystal formation on the ISS during Expedition 18. Image courtesy of JAXA.
Ice Crystal formation on the ISS during Expedition 18. Image courtesy of JAXA.
Ground Support team at the JAXA Control Center during Ice Crystal operations on board ISS. Image courtesy of JAXA.

Publications

For more information

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S)

FURUKAWA Yoshinori [Hokkaido University]

JAXA’s Utilization Themes List

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