Cutting ice: nanowire regelation.
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.
Hynninen
Teemu
T
Department of Physics, Tampere University of Technology, PO Box 692, FI-33101 Tampere, Finland. teemu.hynninen@tut.fi
Heinonen
Vili
V
Dias
Cristiano L
CL
Karttunen
Mikko
M
Foster
Adam S
AS
Ala-Nissila
Tapio
T
D005782:Gels; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D007053:Ice; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation; D053770:Nanowires / Q000737:chemistry*
D005782:Gels; D007053:Ice