Effects of shapes of electrodes on freezing of supercooled water in electric freeze control

In order to clarify the effects of electric charge on freezing of supercooled water, experiments were carried out. Two kinds of shapes were used for tips of electrodes. One was the sharp end surface. The other was the flat end surface. Aluminum was selected as the material. Water sample was kept in a test tube and cooled down at a constant cooling rate. When the water sample was maintained under a supercooling state, an electric charge was applied to the water sample with a small electric current. The degree of supercooling and the electric current were measured, continuously. Then the degree of supercooling at freezing was determined. It was found that the effects of electric charge were distinct according to the shapes of electrodes. The degree of supercooling at freezing was the lower in the case of flat end surface of the anode than that in the case of sharp end surface of the anode.