undercool
Cool past freezing
Undercool means to cool something below a normal threshold without triggering an expected change.
In physics, to undercool a liquid is to lower its temperature below its freezing point while it remains liquid—a metastable state that can persist until disturbed.
The term appears in materials science and thermodynamics: The researchers undercooled the metal alloy to study crystallization.
Also called supercool.
Exceeding dissolution equilibrium limits
- nucleationInitial cluster formation
- solidificationTransition to firm state
- metastableStable but not permanently
- quenchingRapid cooling process
microstructure · grain · alloy · steel · casting · precipitation · diffusion · tempering
Initial cluster formation
- supersaturationExceeding dissolution equilibrium limits
- supercoolingLiquid chilled below freezing
- solidificationTransition to firm state
- crystal growthSolid lattice formation process
phase transition · metastable · kinetics · seed crystals · solubility · precipitation · saturation point · thermodynamics
Liquid chilled below freezing
- refrigerationHeat removal for preservation
- coolantTemperature-regulating fluid
- cryogenicsUltralow temperature science
- freezing pointTemperature of phase transition
heat transfer · thermometer · thermostat · frost · subzero · insulation · hypothermia · freezer
Heat-softening of metals
- viscosityFluid's flow resistance
- moltenLiquefied by extreme heat
- silicaSilicon dioxide compound
- borosilicateHeat-tolerant glass compound
soda-lime · furnace · vitrification · frit · cullet · blowing · lampworking · glassblower
supersaturation
Exceeding dissolution equilibrium limits
- nucleationInitial cluster formation
- solidificationTransition to firm state
- metastableStable but not permanently
quenching · microstructure · grain · alloy · steel · casting · precipitation · diffusion · tempering · hardening
nucleation
Initial cluster formation
- supersaturationExceeding dissolution equilibrium limits
- supercoolingLiquid chilled below freezing
- solidificationTransition to firm state
crystal growth · phase transition · metastable · kinetics · seed crystals · solubility · precipitation · saturation point · thermodynamics · crystallography
supercooling
Liquid chilled below freezing
- refrigerationHeat removal for preservation
- coolantTemperature-regulating fluid
- cryogenicsUltralow temperature science
freezing point · heat transfer · thermometer · thermostat · frost · subzero · insulation · hypothermia · freezer · chill
annealing
Heat-softening of metals
borosilicate · soda-lime · furnace · vitrification · frit · cullet · blowing · lampworking · glassblower · glory-hole