NUCLEATION OF CLATHRATES FROM SUPERCOOLED THF/WATER MIXTURES SHOWS THAT NO MEMORY EFFECT EXISTS.

The liquid-to-crystal nucleation temperature is measured for clathrate-forming mixtures of tetrahydrofuran and water using both an automatic lag time apparatus (ALTA) and a ball screening apparatus. Our results are conclusive evidence that no so-called “memory effect” exists. Either the solid form melts fully or it does not. If it does not, then no supercooling is possible on the next cooling down of that sample, and if it does then the second cooling run and freezing on a sample is just as likely to have a colder nucleation temperature as a hotter one.

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