Study on measurements of frost crystals dimensions/distribution and frost scraping force using a scanning probe microscope (Investigation on influence of surface temperature of cooling solid surface)

Since frosting to a cooling solid surface has caused many serious accidents accompanied by economic losses, it is necessary to clarify the mechanism of frosting to the cooling solid surface both scientifically and technologically. Thus, at first clarification of frosting from generation to primary stage of growth is very important. And considering the size of frost crystals until the primary stage, it is essential to investigate frost crystals in nano/micro scale field. In this paper, using a scanning probe microscope (SPM), frost crystals dimensions/distribution and scraping force of frost crystals were measured based on the method proposed by one of authors, under a fixed humidity varying cooling solid surface temperatures. And then, the correlations among frost crystals dimensions/distribution and scraping force were clarified.

► Frost dimensions/distribution/scraping force until the primary stage were measured. ► Characteristics of frosting process until the primary stage were clarified. ► Influences of surface temperature on frosting were clarified. ► The correlations among frost dimensions/distribution/scraping force were clarified.