Crystal zone fusion

Figure 3.3 shows a typical freezing curve which results when heat is removed at a continuous rate from foodstuffs and the temperature decreases. The curve has three zones first, the removal of sensible heat from the food between the initial temperature and the freezing temperature second, the removal of the latent heat of fusion leading to a change of state and the formation of ice crystals and third, further sensible heat removal down to the required storage temperature. A number of features of the freezing curve require explanation. Whilst... 

Recent calculations of the authors (37) have shown that about 16 displacements will be produced in the slowing down process in molecular crystals, and that the volume raised above the melting temperature includes about 4000 atoms. A similar volume for the hot zone can be obtained from a consideration of the latent heat of fusion. For a recoil energy of 300 ev, and a bond energy of 4 ev, about 240 ev will be left for melting the crystal. Taking a latent heat of fusion of 0.1 ev, this corresponds to a final molten zone of about 2400 molecules. 

---