How ice bridges the gap. Issue 5 (12th December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nath, Saurabh; Ahmadi, S. Farzad; Boreyko, Jonathan B.
• Is Part Of: Soft matter. Volume 16:Issue 5(2020)
• Page Start: 1156
• Page End: 1161
• Publication Date: 2019-12-12
• Subjects: Soft condensed matter -- Periodicals; 530.413
• DOI: 10.1039/c9sm01968e
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1744-683X

Abstract

Abstract : We develop models to rationalize the growth of inter-droplet ice bridges that govern condensation frosting on chilled surfaces. Abstract : When supercooled dew droplets form on a chilled surface, the subsequent freezing process is driven by a fascinating phenomenon of propagating inter-droplet ice bridges. Here, we explore the range of conditions under which an individual ice dendrite can successfully bridge the gap from a frozen droplet to its nearest liquid neighbor. Ranging the droplet sizes from 1 μm–10 mm, we find that the criterion for ice bridging is purely geometric and independent of temperature, ambient humidity, and surface wettability. We model the growth of individual ice bridges as well as the global speed of percolating fronts sweeping across large droplet populations. We also give a dynamical law for dry zone formation when ice fails to bridge the gap.