Quantitative evaluation of the effects of poly-vinyl alcohol on supercooling phenomena of water

The effect of poly-vinyl alcohols (PVAs) on the supercooling of water was investigated experimentally for varying sample volumes and degrees of polymerization and saponification. A statistical analysis was carried out on the experimental results and a quantitative evaluation of the inhibition effect of PVA on release of the supercooled state was attempted by introducing a coefficient representing the inhibition effect of PVA. Experimental results and the values calculated from the statistical analysis agreed well and it was found the statistical analysis could be applied to the freezing of supercooled water containing PVA. Moreover, the effects of the PVA on the release of the supercooled state were evaluated quantitatively, using the statistical analysis. The effect of the degree of polymerization is insignificant but it was found that the inhibition effect of PVA increased with increasing degrees of saponification.

► The effect of PVA on the supercooling of water was investigated experimentally.
► Sample volume was varied with the degree of polymerization and saponification.
► Effects of PVA on the release of the supercooled state was evaluated quantitatively.
► Inhibition effect of PVA increased with an increase in the degree of saponification.