Stress accumulation around ice in a temperature gradient

Abstract: When materials freeze, they often undergo damage due to ice growth. Although this damage is commonly ascribed to the volumetric expansion of water upon freezing, it is usually driven by suction of water towards growing ice crystals. The freezing of this additional water can cause a large build up of stress. Here, we study this process by producing a stable ice/water interface in a controlled temperature gradient, and measuring the deformation of the confining boundary. Analysis of the deformation field reveals stresses applied to the boundary with $\mathcal{O}(\mu\mathrm{m})$ resolution. Globally, stresses increase steadily over time as liquid water is transported to more deeply undercooled regions. Locally, stresses increase until ice growth is stalled by the confining stresses. In accordance with the Clapeyron equation, the local limiting stress is proportional to the local undercooling. These results are closely connected to the crystallization pressure for growing crystals and condensation pressure during liquid-liquid phase separation.