A method for preparing an ice crystal structure observation sample, an ice crystal observation method

Abstract

The present application belongs to the technical field of cryosphere observation, and particularly relates to a preparation method of ice crystal structure observation sample and an ice crystal observation method. The present application prepares the ice crystal structure observation sample in a low-temperature environment not higher than-10 DEG C. The present application cuts the ice sample to be measured to obtain ice flake with a thickness of 2-4 mm. The ice flake is horizontally placed on a glass slide at 30-40 DEG C. The ice flake and the glass slide melt at the contact surface after being contacted, and the obtained first semi-finished product is subjected to low-temperature-20 DEG C freezing treatment. Then, water drops at 0 DEG C in the ice-water mixture are added to the edge of the ice flake, and finally, freezing treatment and cutting are performed. The present application can avoid melting or damage of the ice crystal and has high light transmittance under low-temperature conditions, and is suitable for collecting, observing and analyzing the morphology and structure of the ice crystal under low-temperature environment, and is particularly suitable for studying the formation process of freshwater ice crystal and sea ice crystal under different environmental conditions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of cryosphere observation technology, specifically relating to a method for preparing ice crystal structure observation samples and a method for observing ice crystals. Background Technology

[0002] The study of ice crystals is of great significance in understanding the formation process, structural characteristics, and physical properties of freshwater and sea ice. Ice crystals are a key element in understanding ice structure and physical properties. Whether freshwater or sea ice, the morphology, arrangement, and formation process of ice crystals significantly influence the ice's strength, thermodynamic properties, and optical properties. By studying ice crystal structure in depth, scientists can better predict changes in ice layers, the impact of glacial melting on sea-level rise, and the feedback effects of ice ablation on the climate system. This has important practical applications for climate change research, marine engineering, safety assessment, and polar resource development. Therefore, the efficient preparation of ice crystal observation samples has become a critical technical requirement.

[0003] However, due to the lack of mature manufacturing processes, the production efficiency and success rate of existing ice crystal observation samples are generally low. At the same time, thin sections are prone to problems such as frost formation, poor light transmission, and brittle damage in practical applications, which restricts the observation results. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a method for preparing ice crystal structure observation samples and a method for observing ice crystals. The preparation method provided by this invention can avoid melting or damage to ice crystals and has high light transmittance under low temperature conditions. It is suitable for collecting, observing and analyzing the morphology and structure of ice crystals in low temperature environments, and is particularly suitable for studying the formation process of freshwater ice crystals and sea ice crystals under different environmental conditions. It solves the problems of complex manufacturing process and low yield of existing ice crystal structure observation samples in low temperature environments.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0006] This invention provides a method for preparing an ice crystal structure observation sample, wherein the ice crystal structure observation sample is prepared in a low-temperature environment, the temperature of which is not higher than -10°C, and includes the following steps:

[0007] The ice sample to be tested is cut to obtain ice flakes, the thickness of which is 2-4 mm;

[0008] Soak the acrylic glass slide in warm water at 40~55℃ for 3~10 minutes. After taking it out, wait for the temperature of the acrylic glass slide to drop to 30~40℃. Place the cut ice slice horizontally on the acrylic glass slide at 30~40℃. The ice slice will melt at the contact surface after contacting the acrylic glass slide. After melting is complete, the first semi-finished product is obtained.

[0009] The first semi-finished product was placed in a low temperature environment of -15~-20℃ for freezing treatment. Then, water droplets at 0℃ in the ice-water mixture were added to the edge of the ice sheet and then frozen to obtain the second semi-finished product.

[0010] The ice sheet of the second semi-finished product is cut until the ice crystal structure can be clearly observed, and an observation sample of the ice crystal structure is obtained. The cutting is carried out with a planer, and the angle between the planer and the ice sheet is ≤20°.

[0011] Preferably, the plexiglass slide is an acrylic slide.

[0012] Preferably, after the horizontal setting, when there are air bubbles between the ice sheet and the plexiglass slide, the method further includes: adding water at 0°C from an ice-water mixture to one side of the ice sheet, and absorbing the water with absorbent paper on the other side of the ice sheet to remove the air bubbles.

[0013] Preferably, the freezing time is ≥30 min; the freezing time is ≥2 h.

[0014] Preferably, when the thickness of the ice sheet is ≤0.5mm during the cutting process, the angle between the planer and the ice sheet is ≤15°.

[0015] Preferably, the temperature of the warm water is 50°C; and the soaking time is 5 minutes.

[0016] Preferably, the temperature of the plexiglass slide is reduced to 35°C.

[0017] Preferably, the size of the cut ice sheet is determined by keeping the shortest distance between the edge of the ice sheet and the edge of the plexiglass slide at 5 to 15 mm.

[0018] This invention provides a method for observing ice crystals, wherein the ice crystal structure observation sample used in the method is prepared according to the preparation method described in the above technical solution.

[0019] This invention provides a method for preparing an ice crystal structure observation sample. The ice crystal structure observation sample is prepared in a low-temperature environment, the temperature of which is not higher than -10℃. The method includes the following steps: cutting the ice sample to be tested to obtain ice slices with a thickness of 2-4 mm; immersing an acrylic glass slide in warm water at 40-55℃ for 3-10 minutes, and then allowing the temperature of the acrylic glass slide to drop to 30-40℃; and placing the cut ice slices horizontally on the acrylic glass slide at the 30-40℃ temperature. When an ice flake comes into contact with an acrylic glass slide, it melts at the contact surface, yielding a first semi-finished product. This first semi-finished product is then frozen in a -15 to -20°C environment. A drop of 0°C water from an ice-water mixture is added to the edge of the ice flake, followed by freezing to obtain a second semi-finished product. The ice flake of the second semi-finished product is then cut until the ice crystal structure is clearly observable, yielding an ice crystal structure observation sample. The cutting is performed using a planer, with the angle between the planer and the ice flake ≤20°. This invention optimizes the preparation of the ice crystal structure observation sample by ensuring the temperature does not exceed -10°C, thus ensuring high adhesion and strength of the ice crystal observation sample, making it less prone to detachment or damage during cutting. This invention controls the thickness of the ice flake to 2-4 mm during cutting, avoiding excessively thin flakes that are prone to breakage and hinder subsequent melting adjustment of the contact surface, while excessively thick flakes reduce the efficiency of subsequent ice surface cutting. This invention selects plexiglass, which has low heat sensitivity, high mechanical strength, and high transparency, as the substrate for the glass slide. The plexiglass slide exhibits good toughness and low heat sensitivity at low temperatures, resulting in good adhesion between the slide and the ice surface, further ensuring the stability and safety of the ice cutting process at low temperatures. Simultaneously, this invention controls the temperature of the glass slide to 30-40°C, placing the ice sheet horizontally on the plexiglass slide. This ensures an effective water film forms between the ice and the slide as an adhesive, while preventing excessive melting of the ice sheet and its impact on observation. After obtaining the first semi-finished product, this invention freezes it in a -15 to -20°C environment. Then, 0°C water droplets from an ice-water mixture are added to the edge of the ice sheet, followed by another freezing treatment. This ensures that the edge of the ice sheet adheres and solidifies to the glass slide without melting the ice sheet and damaging the ice crystal structure. After obtaining the second semi-finished product, this invention adjusts the cutting angle during the ice sheet cutting process to ensure uniform cutting along the thickness direction of the ice sheet, maintaining the flatness and integrity of the ice sample, facilitating subsequent observation of the ice crystal structure under a polarizing microscope.In summary, this invention selects plexiglass, a material with low thermal sensitivity and high mechanical strength and transparency, as the substrate for the glass slide. Through refined and optimized preparation processes, it ensures high efficiency in observing ice crystal structures in low-temperature environments. Simultaneously, this invention effectively avoids ice crystal melting, breakage, and structural changes caused by temperature variations and human error, guaranteeing the efficient acquisition of clear and stable ice crystal images. This invention is not only applicable to ice crystal structure research in polar expeditions and low-temperature laboratories, but can also be widely applied to climate change research, ice layer assessment in marine engineering, ice and snow physics research, and other fields for observing and analyzing ice crystal structures in low-temperature environments.

[0020] Furthermore, in this invention, after the horizontal setting, when air bubbles exist between the ice sheet and the plexiglass slide, the method further includes: adding 0°C water from an ice-water mixture to one side of the ice sheet, and absorbing the water with absorbent paper on the other side of the ice sheet to remove the air bubbles. This invention utilizes 0°C de-bubbling water from an ice-water mixture to remove air bubbles that may appear in the adhesive water film between the ice sheet and the slide. Simultaneously, this temperature of de-bubbling water can also be used to bond and fix the edges of the ice sheet. The water at this temperature will not excessively melt the ice sheet, thus maintaining the integrity of the ice crystal structure.

[0021] Furthermore, in this invention, the cutting temperature is -15 to -10°C. By optimizing the cutting temperature, this invention avoids the thin ice flakes from becoming too hard due to excessively low temperatures, which would affect the cutting efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the processing tools and operating platform used in the method for preparing ice crystal structure observation samples provided by the present invention;

[0023] Figures 2-4 This is an example of the observation results of the ice crystal structure observation sample prepared in Example 1. Detailed Implementation

[0024] This invention provides a method for preparing an ice crystal structure observation sample, wherein the ice crystal structure observation sample is prepared in a low-temperature environment, the temperature of which is not higher than -10°C, and includes the following steps:

[0025] The ice sample to be tested is cut to obtain ice flakes, the thickness of which is 2-4 mm;

[0026] Soak the acrylic glass slide in warm water at 40~55℃ for 3~10 minutes. After taking it out, wait for the temperature of the acrylic glass slide to drop to 30~40℃. Place the cut ice slice horizontally on the acrylic glass slide at 30~40℃. The ice slice will melt at the contact surface after contacting the acrylic glass slide. After melting is complete, the first semi-finished product is obtained.

[0027] The first semi-finished product was placed in a low temperature environment of -15~-20℃ for freezing treatment. Then, water droplets at 0℃ in the ice-water mixture were added to the edge of the ice sheet and then frozen to obtain the second semi-finished product.

[0028] The ice sheet of the second semi-finished product is cut until the ice crystal structure can be clearly observed, and an observation sample of the ice crystal structure is obtained. The cutting is carried out with a planer, and the angle between the planer and the ice sheet is ≤20°.

[0029] In this invention, unless otherwise specified, all raw materials / components used in the preparation are commercially available products well-known to those skilled in the art. In this invention, the ice crystal structure observation sample is prepared in a low-temperature environment, the temperature of which is no higher than -10°C. By controlling the low-temperature environment temperature during the preparation of the ice crystal structure observation sample to be no higher than -10°C, this invention ensures both the bonding strength of the ice sample and facilitates cutting operations.

[0030] This invention involves cutting an ice sample to be tested to obtain a thin ice sheet with a thickness of 2-4 mm. Preferably, a table saw is used for cutting. The size of the resulting ice sheet is preferably determined by maintaining a minimum distance of 5-15 mm between the edge of the ice sheet and the edge of the glass slide; in this embodiment, it can be 10 mm.

[0031] In this invention, an acrylic glass slide is soaked in warm water at 40-55°C for 3-10 minutes. After being removed, the temperature of the acrylic glass slide is allowed to drop to 30-40°C. The cut ice sheet is then placed horizontally on the acrylic glass slide at 30-40°C. The ice sheet melts at the contact surface after contact with the acrylic glass slide. After melting, the first semi-finished product is obtained.

[0032] In this invention, the plexiglass slide can be an acrylic slide. The plexiglass slide exhibits good toughness and low thermal sensitivity at low temperatures, resulting in good adhesion between the slide and the ice surface, further ensuring the stability and safety of the ice cutting process at low temperatures. In this invention, the temperature of the warm water can be 50°C; the immersion time can be 5 minutes. The temperature of the plexiglass slide can be reduced to 35°C. In a specific embodiment of this invention, the suitable temperature of the slide can be determined by touching the edge of the slide with bare skin; the absence of residual heat is considered the appropriate temperature. By controlling the temperature of the slide within the range of 30~40°C, this invention ensures that the thin ice sheet slowly melts on the slide to form a uniform water film adhesion layer, while preventing excessive melting of the ice sample from affecting ice crystal observation.

[0033] After obtaining the ice flakes and the acrylic glass slide cooled to 30-40°C, the present invention places the cut ice flakes horizontally on the acrylic glass slide at a temperature of 30-40°C. The ice flakes will melt at the contact surface after contact with the acrylic glass slide. After the melting is completed, the first semi-finished product is obtained.

[0034] In this invention, the acrylic glass slide is preferably placed horizontally on a horizontal worktable. A preferred embodiment of the horizontal placement of the ice sheet includes: holding one end of the ice sheet with tweezers, allowing the other end to first contact the glass slide on the horizontal worktable, and then slowly laying it flat. After the ice sheet contacts the acrylic glass slide at a temperature of 30-40°C, it melts at the contact surface, generating a water film that allows the two to adhere tightly.

[0035] In this invention, when air bubbles exist between the ice sheet and the plexiglass slide after the horizontal setting, the invention preferably further includes: adding 0°C water from an ice-water mixture to one side of the ice sheet, and absorbing the water from the other side of the ice sheet with absorbent paper to remove the air bubbles. This invention utilizes 0°C water from the ice-water mixture to remove air bubbles that may appear in the bonding water film, while simultaneously using water at this temperature to bond and fix the edges of the ice sheet. This temperature of water does not excessively melt the ice sheet, thus maintaining the integrity of the ice crystal structure.

[0036] After obtaining the first semi-finished product, the present invention places the first semi-finished product in a low-temperature environment of -15~-20℃ for freezing treatment. Then, water droplets at 0℃ from the ice-water mixture are added to the edge of the ice sheet, and then freezing treatment is performed to obtain the second semi-finished product. In the present invention, the freezing treatment temperature can be -20℃. In the present invention, the freezing treatment time is preferably ≥30min. After the freezing treatment is completed, water droplets at 0℃ from the ice-water mixture are added to the edge of the ice sheet, and then freezing treatment is performed. During the freezing treatment, the water droplets at 0℃ in the ice-water mixture solidify and can reinforce the periphery of the ice sheet, facilitating subsequent cutting. The freezing treatment temperature is preferably -15~-20℃. The freezing treatment time is preferably ≥2h. The present invention, through the freezing treatment and controlling the freezing treatment time, can ensure that the ice sheet and the plexiglass slide are fully bonded.

[0037] After obtaining the second semi-finished product, the present invention cuts the ice sheet of the second semi-finished product until the ice crystal structure can be clearly observed, and obtains the ice crystal structure observation sample. The cutting is carried out with a planer, and the angle between the planer and the ice sheet is ≤20°.

[0038] In this invention, the cutting is preferably performed on a wooden platform. During the cutting process, when the thickness of the ice sheet is ≤0.5mm, the angle between the planer and the ice sheet is preferably ≤15°.

[0039] This invention controls the angle α between the planer and the ice sheet during cutting to within 20° (preferably within 15°), ensuring uniform force and avoiding excessively large cutting amplitudes to prevent concentrated stress and breakage of the ice sheet. When cutting to within 1 mm thickness, the angle between the planer and the ice sheet should be appropriately reduced while maintaining the uniformity of the cutting surface. When the ice sheet thickness reaches within 0.5 mm, it is preferable to reduce the cutting angle α to within 15° to ensure efficient ice sample cutting and uniformity of the cut ice surface. Simultaneously, the slide is repeatedly placed on the polarizing stage during cutting to observe the clarity of the ice crystals; through continuous cutting and repeated adjustments to the flatness of the cutting surface, the ice crystal structure is observed clearly. This invention adjusts the cutting angle during the ice sheet cutting process to ensure uniform cutting along the thickness direction of the ice sheet, maintaining the flatness and integrity of the ice sample, facilitating subsequent observation of the ice crystal structure under a polarizing microscope.

[0040] In this invention, the angle between the planer and the ice sheet is ≤20°, preferably ≤15°. When the thickness of the ice sheet is 0.5mm, reducing the cutting angle can ensure the efficiency of ice cutting and the uniformity of the cut ice surface.

[0041] This invention provides a method for observing ice crystals, wherein the ice crystal structure observation sample used in the method is prepared according to the preparation method described in the above technical solution.

[0042] The present invention can use an optical microscope to observe ice crystal structure observation samples and obtain the structural information of the ice crystal structure observation samples.

[0043] The advantages of this invention are:

[0044] This invention uses plexiglass with low heat sensitivity to replace traditional glass slides, which significantly improves the adhesion between the ice sheet and the glass slide after contact and enhances the crack resistance of the glass slide in low-temperature environments.

[0045] This invention utilizes an acrylic glass slide at a temperature of 30~40℃ to melt the ice sheet it is in contact with. Due to the low heat sensitivity of the acrylic glass slide, the melting process can be slow and uniformly formed into a water film, achieving effective bonding between the two surfaces. At the same time, the 0℃ water in the ice-water mixture can be used to regulate the air bubbles.

[0046] This invention utilizes 0°C water in an ice-water mixture to reinforce the adhesion between ice flakes and acrylic glass slides, ensuring that the ice flakes can firmly adhere to the surface of the slides and preventing the ice flakes from sliding or falling off during subsequent processing.

[0047] In summary, the preparation method provided by this invention effectively reduces the possibility of ice crystal structure changes or melting due to temperature variations during the preparation process by controlling the thickness of the ice sheet and the ambient temperature conditions, thereby improving the yield and success rate of the sheet. This invention provides a standard method for preparing ice crystal observation samples, ensuring high-quality and reproducible sample preparation, and meeting the requirements for high-standard ice crystal observation.

[0048] To further illustrate the present invention, the technical solutions provided by the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments, but they should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0049] Example 1

[0050] This embodiment provides a method for preparing samples for observing ice crystal structures, including processing tools and operating platforms such as... Figure 1 As shown, the processing tools mainly include plexiglass slides, droppers, ice sheets, planers, and worktables. The preparation of samples for ice crystal structure observation was carried out in a low-temperature environment, with temperatures ranging from -15 to -10 °C (excluding freezing and thawing). The specific steps are as follows:

[0051] (1) First, use a table saw to cut the ice sample to be tested into a size that the glass slide can support. The shortest distance between the edge of the ice sheet and the edge of the glass slide should be 10 mm. While ensuring the integrity of the ice sheet, the ice thickness should be 2-4 mm when cutting the ice sample. If the ice sample is too thin, it is easy to break during processing and it is not conducive to subsequent contact surface melting and adjustment. If it is too thick, it will reduce the efficiency of subsequent ice surface cutting.

[0052] (2) Soak and clean the acrylic glass slide in warm water (50°C), remove it with tweezers and wipe it clean with non-woven paper towels. Wait for it to cool down to 35°C at the working environment temperature. This can be judged by touching the edge of the acrylic glass slide with bare skin. The basic standard is that no residual heat can be felt.

[0053] (3) Hold one end of the ice sheet with tweezers and let the other end first touch the glass slide on the horizontal worktable and then slowly lay it flat. After the ice sheet comes into contact with the acrylic glass slide at 35 ℃, it will melt on the contact surface and produce a water film so that the two are tightly attached. At this time, if air bubbles appear between the ice sheet and the acrylic glass slide, add water at 0 ℃ from the ice-water mixture to one side of the ice sheet and quickly absorb the water with absorbent paper on the other side to remove the air bubbles.

[0054] (4) Place the sample obtained in step (3) horizontally and freeze it for more than 30 minutes at a freezing temperature of -20℃. Then use a dropper to drop 0℃ water from the ice-water mixture onto the edge of the ice sheet. After the 0℃ water solidifies, it can reinforce the periphery of the ice sheet and facilitate subsequent cutting. After completing the above operations, quickly store the sample in a low temperature environment of -20℃ for freezing and preservation for more than 2 hours to ensure that the ice sheet and the acrylic glass slide are fully bonded.

[0055] (4) In an environment of -15~-10℃, place the sample from step (4) flat on a wooden workbench, such as... Figure 1 As shown; a planer is used to cut a thin sheet of ice, and the angle between the planer and the thin sheet of ice during cutting is... Keep the angle within 15°, apply force evenly, and avoid excessive cutting amplitude each time to prevent the ice sheet from breaking due to concentrated force. When cutting to a thickness of less than 1 mm, the angle between the planer and the ice sheet should be appropriately reduced, and the uniformity of the cutting plane should be maintained.

[0056] (5) When the thickness of the ice sheet reaches 0.5 mm, the cutting angle should be adjusted. To reduce the sharpness of the ice crystals, the slide was repeatedly placed on the polarization stage during the cutting process to observe the clarity of the ice crystals. Through continuous cutting and repeated adjustments to the flatness of the cutting surface, the ice crystal structure was observed clearly.

[0057] Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 An example image of the observation results of the ice crystal structure observation sample prepared according to the method of this embodiment of the present invention.

[0058] As can be seen from the above embodiments, the preparation method provided by the present invention effectively reduces the possibility of ice crystal structure changes or melting due to temperature changes during the preparation process by adjusting the thickness of the ice sheet, increasing the bonding strength between the ice sheet and the glass slide, optimizing the ice sheet cutting process, and controlling the working environment temperature. This improves the yield and success rate of the thin sheet and provides a standard process flow for cutting, bonding, reinforcing, and cutting, ensuring the high quality and repeatability of the ice crystal structure observation sample preparation, and meeting the high-standard ice crystal observation requirements.

[0059] In summary, this invention selects plexiglass, which has low thermal sensitivity and high mechanical strength and transparency, as the substrate for the glass slide. Through refined process optimization, it ensures that the ice crystal structure observation sample is prepared in a low-temperature environment, which can effectively avoid problems such as ice crystal melting, sample breakage and crystal structure changes caused by temperature changes, ice sheet cutting and other factors, thereby obtaining clear and stable ice crystal image information.

[0060] Although the above embodiments have provided a detailed description of the present invention, they are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Other embodiments can be obtained based on these embodiments without creative effort, and these embodiments all fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for preparing an ice crystal structure observation sample, characterized in that, The ice crystal structure observation sample was prepared in a low-temperature environment, the temperature of which is no higher than -10℃, including the following steps: The ice sample to be tested is cut to obtain ice flakes, the thickness of which is 2-4 mm; Soak the acrylic glass slide in warm water at 40~55℃ for 3~10 minutes. After taking it out, wait for the temperature of the acrylic glass slide to drop to 30~40℃. Place the cut ice slice horizontally on the acrylic glass slide at 30~40℃. The ice slice will melt at the contact surface after contacting the acrylic glass slide. After melting is complete, the first semi-finished product is obtained. The first semi-finished product was placed in a low temperature environment of -15~-20℃ for freezing treatment. Then, water droplets at 0℃ in the ice-water mixture were added to the edge of the ice sheet and then frozen to obtain the second semi-finished product. The ice sheet of the second semi-finished product is cut until the ice crystal structure can be clearly observed, and an observation sample of the ice crystal structure is obtained. The cutting is carried out with a planer, and the angle between the planer and the ice sheet is ≤20°.

2. The preparation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plexiglass slide is an acrylic slide.

3. The preparation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, When air bubbles exist between the ice sheet and the plexiglass slide after horizontal placement, the method further includes: adding water at 0°C from an ice-water mixture to one side of the ice sheet, and absorbing the water with absorbent paper on the other side of the ice sheet to remove the air bubbles.

4. The preparation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The freezing time is ≥30 min; the freezing time is ≥2 h.

5. The preparation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the thickness of the ice sheet is ≤0.5mm during the cutting process, the angle between the planer and the ice sheet is ≤15°.

6. The preparation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The temperature of the warm water is 50°C; the soaking time is 5 minutes.

7. The preparation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The temperature of the acrylic glass slide dropped to 35°C.

8. The preparation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The size of the ice sheet obtained by cutting is determined by keeping the shortest distance between the edge of the ice sheet and the edge of the plexiglass slide at 5 to 15 mm.

9. A method for observing ice crystals, characterized in that, The ice crystal structure observation sample used in the ice crystal observation method is prepared according to the preparation method described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

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