Polyvinyl alcohol compounds for inhibition of ice growth
US6391224B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 21, 1999 |
| Grant date | May 21, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 21, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC09K5/20
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Polyvinyl alcohol and related compounds are provided that inhibit the freezing of water and water solutions. These synthetic compounds preferentially bind and inhibit ice nucleating surfaces in a manner similar to natural antifreeze proteins. The resulting inhibition allows water and water solutions to supercool without ice formation to temperatures below the thermodynamic freezing point. The freezing inhibition occurs at concentrations as small as one part per million, although concentrations up to one part per hundred are preferred. These polyvinyl alcohol additives are very useful for enhancing the performance of antifreeze formulations, biological cryopreservation solutions, and for preventing frost damage to plants and other industrial products and processes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.