Biomaterial Database

Ultra-rapid freezing by spraying/plunging: pre-cooling in the cold gaseous layer. 1991

Z H Chang, and J G Baust

Center for Cryobiological Research, State University of New York, Binghamton 13901.

A thermophysical model is established to analyse the influence of pre-cooling of a biological specimen in the cold gas layer associated with spray-freezing techniques. The basic principles governing the process of pre-cooling are provided. It is concluded that pre-cooling is one of the major limiting steps in attaining an overall ultra-rapid cooling rate. Pre-cooling has a substantial influence on the nature of the final frozen specimens. In order completely to avoid crystallization before entry into the liquid cryogen and maximize the overall cooling rate of the specimen, precautions should be taken to control the height of the gaseous layer and the size of the specimen. The probability of the specimen being frozen in the cold gaseous layer is reduced by increasing the entry speed. The effectiveness, however, becomes less marked at speeds greater than 10 m s. In order to minimize the risk of misinterpreting the measured cooling rate, it is necessary to specify the pre-cooling conditions. The pre-cooling effect is much more evident in liquid helium than in cryogens such as propane, ethane, Freon 12, 13 and 22.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008962	Models, Theoretical	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of systems, processes, or phenomena. They include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment.	Experimental Model,Experimental Models,Mathematical Model,Model, Experimental,Models (Theoretical),Models, Experimental,Models, Theoretic,Theoretical Study,Mathematical Models,Model (Theoretical),Model, Mathematical,Model, Theoretical,Models, Mathematical,Studies, Theoretical,Study, Theoretical,Theoretical Model,Theoretical Models,Theoretical Studies
D005615	Freezing	Liquids transforming into solids by the removal of heat.	Melting
D006652	Histological Techniques	Methods of preparing tissue for examination and study of the origin, structure, function, or pathology.	Histologic Technic,Histologic Technics,Histologic Technique,Histologic Techniques,Histological Technics,Technic, Histologic,Technics, Histologic,Technique, Histologic,Techniques, Histologic,Histological Technic,Histological Technique,Technic, Histological,Technics, Histological,Technique, Histological,Techniques, Histological
D013696	Temperature	The property of objects that determines the direction of heat flow when they are placed in direct thermal contact. The temperature is the energy of microscopic motions (vibrational and translational) of the particles of atoms.	Temperatures
D013997	Time Factors	Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations.	Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor