POLYVINYL ALCOHOL COMPOUNDS FOR INHIBITION OF ICE GROWTH

摘要

Polyvinyl alcohol and related compounds are provided that inhibit the freezi ng of water and water solutions. These synthetic compounds preferentially bind and inhibit ice nucleating surfaces in a manner similar to natural antifreez e proteins. The resulting inhibition allows water and water solutions to supercool without ice formation to temperatures below the thermodynamic freezing point. The freezing inhibition occurs at concentrations as small as one part per million, although concentrations up to one part per hundred are preferred. These polyvinyl alcohol additives are very useful for enhancing t he performance of antifreeze formulations, biological cryopreservation solution s, and for preventing frost damage to plants and other industrial products and processes.