Cutting ice: Nanowire regelation

Teemu Hynninen, Vili Heinonen, Cristiano L. Dias, Mikko Karttunen, Adam S. Foster, Tapio Ala-Nissila

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Even below its normal melting temperature, ice melts when subjected to high pressure and refreezes once the pressure is lifted. A classic demonstration of this regelation phenomenon is the passing of a thin wire through a block of ice when sufficient force is exerted. Here we present a molecular-dynamics study of a nanowire cutting through ice to unravel the molecular level mechanisms responsible for regelation. In particular, we show that the transition from a stationary to a moving wire due to increased driving force changes from symmetric and continuous to asymmetric and discontinuous as a hydrophilic wire is replaced by a hydrophobic one. This is explained at the molecular level in terms of the wetting properties of the wire.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number086102
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume105
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 19 2010
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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