Final Report Summary - FREECO (Freezing Colloids)
The freezing of colloids is an amazingly common phenomenon encountered in many natural and engineering processes such as the freezing of soils, food engineering or cryobiology. It can also be used as a bioinspired, versatile and environmentally-friendly processing route for bioinspired porous materials and composites exhibiting breakthroughs in functional properties. Yet, it is still a puzzling phenomenon with many unexplained features, due to the complexity of the system, the space and time scales at which the process should be investigated and the multidisciplinary approach required to completely apprehend it.
In this project, we progressed towards a deep understanding of the freezing of colloids through novel in situ observations approaches and a physical model that describes the freezing of concentrated particle suspensions. In situ confocal microscopy observations provided unprecedented insights into the dynamics of crystal growth and particle redistribution, and their impact on solidification microstructures. We developed a methodology to evaluate the ice-shaping properties of novel compounds, which was used in particular to evaluate a compound with promising cryopreservation properties. Finally, hierarchical porous composites materials have been be processed and their structure/properties relationships investigated and optimized.
This project, at the borderline of materials science, offered a unique integration of approaches, competences and resources in materials science, chemistry, physics, and technological developments of observation techniques.
In this project, we progressed towards a deep understanding of the freezing of colloids through novel in situ observations approaches and a physical model that describes the freezing of concentrated particle suspensions. In situ confocal microscopy observations provided unprecedented insights into the dynamics of crystal growth and particle redistribution, and their impact on solidification microstructures. We developed a methodology to evaluate the ice-shaping properties of novel compounds, which was used in particular to evaluate a compound with promising cryopreservation properties. Finally, hierarchical porous composites materials have been be processed and their structure/properties relationships investigated and optimized.
This project, at the borderline of materials science, offered a unique integration of approaches, competences and resources in materials science, chemistry, physics, and technological developments of observation techniques.