When water freezes before it solidifies

TL;DR

This paper presents a fluid dynamics video demonstrating a kinetic-dominated phase change in a water drop on a cold surface, highlighting a metastable stage that occurs before solidification begins.

Contribution

It introduces visual evidence of a metastable phase change in water drops, emphasizing the kinetic-dominated process prior to solidification.

Findings

Identification of a metastable phase before solidification

Faster propagation of the phase change compared to solidification growth

Visualization of the interface dynamics during phase transition

Abstract

We present a fluid dynamics video which illustrates a kinetic-dominated phase change just prior to solidification inception for a static drop situated on a cold solid substrate. This metastable stage initiated from solid-vapor-liquid interface and propagates through drop volume at much faster speeds than solidification growth stage.