A Thermodynamic Analysis of Enhanced Metastability in Isochoric Supercooled Liquids
Why freezing liquids in sealed containers keeps them liquid longer
Summary
Keeping a liquid at constant volume instead of letting it expand prevents ice crystals from forming — even at temperatures well below freezing. The researchers proved this thermodynamically by showing that sealed containers create a weaker push toward solidification than open ones do, making ice nucleation exponentially less likely.
Why it matters
Supercooled liquids (water that's frozen solid in temperature but still liquid in structure) have real uses in cryopreservation and medical storage. Understanding how to keep them stable longer without chemical additives could improve organ transplant viability and reduce biological sample damage during freezing procedures.