Microstructural Characteristics of Frazil Particles and the Physical Properties of Frazil Ice in the Yellow River, China

Frazil particles, ice crystals or slushy granules that form in turbulent water, change the freezing properties of to create “frazil ice”. To understand microstructural characteristics these particles and physical frazil greater depth, an situ sampler was designed collect Yellow River. The crystal (morphology, size, air bubble, sediment) were observed under a microscope, their nucleation mechanism analyzed according its microstructure. (ice microstructure, density, sediment content) also observed. results showed microstructures can be divided into four types: granular, dendritic, needle-like, serrated. size measured ranged from 0.1 25 mm. Compared with columnar ice, microstructure is irregular, mean diameter less than 5 mm extending all directions. grain density are smaller but bubble content larger.