Effect of electric fields on adhesion of ice to mercury

摘要

We report a strong and fully reversible effect of a small de bias (- 6 to + 6 V) on ice adhesion to mercury. The effect was observed in ices doped with KOH, HF, and NaCl and was absent in very pure ice grown from deionized water. The ac voltage of up to 40 V did not cause any noticeable changes in ice adhesion. Different physical mechanisms of ice adhesion to metals and possible explanations of the effect are discussed. The phenomenon was used to estimate the contribution of electrostatic interactions to ice adhesion to metals. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. References: 22