Determination of the ice quantity by quantitative microscopic imaging of vitrification solutions.

Abstract

Based on Boutron's semi-empirical crystallization theory, a quantitative microscopic imaging method was developed to determine the quantity of ice in thin films of vitrification solutions. A universal equation was obtained for various vitrification solutions. The new method was applied to determine the ice quantity and critical cooling rates (Vcc) for two new vitrification solutions. Results reveal that the new quantitative imaging method is reliable. This new method has several advantages including the fact that it is cheaper than differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and that it can be used to study vitrification solutions with Vcc values extending beyond the maximum cooling rate of a typical DSC system. Also, this method should permit quantitative imaging of the volume fraction of ice in space and time in microscope samples.