3:45–4:45 pm
GCIS W301 929 E. 57th Street
The solidification of liquids containing insoluble particles, whether rigid or soft, is a fundamental phenomenon with widespread relevance in both natural and industrial contexts. Investigating how the interplay of particle rejection and engulfment shapes the microstructure of the solidifying material is essential for numerous applications. In this presentation, we delve into the intricacies of this process using dilute oil-in-water emulsions and glass particle suspensions as experimental model systems, while gradually freezing them. We will showcase how initially spherical oil droplets assume pointy, tear-like shapes during their incorporation into ice, why some particles tend to cluster once frozen whereas others separate, and how multi-component compound drops can undergo sudden topological transitions within the ice, leading to unexpected changes in the local microstructure.