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How mussels stay ice-free in an icy world (interesting applications)
Phys.org ^ | 3/3/2022 | by Max Planck Society

Posted on 03/03/2022 11:42:54 AM PST by LibWhacker


Due to a regular surface structure on the mussel "Adamussium colbecki" ice adheres to it only very weakly and can be easily washed away by currents. Credit: Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research

Antarctic waters have conditions in which objects and living creatures can freeze even under water. This is a major problem for marine travel in polar regions. So-called supercooled water has a temperature just below the freezing point. Due to the high salt content, water in Antarctica has a freezing point of about -1.9 °C, but is about 0.05 °C colder. The smallest disturbances such as grains of sand or surfaces can cause this supercooled water to freeze—with sometimes fatal consequences for creatures that cannot survive frozen.

The Antarctic scallop "Adamussium colbecki" resists this, as chemist Konrad Meister knows. Meister is a professor at the University of Alaska and heads a research group in Mischa Bonn's department at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPI-P) in Mainz. During an expedition in Antarctica, divers drew his attention to the scallop with the efficient ice protection mechanism. "Our divers reported that they had never observed large-scale ice on the surface of this native scallop species," Meister says.

The international research team, consisting of members of several MPI-P research groups as well as the University of Oregon, suspects that the scallop species developed a special surface structure during evolution that protects it from icing. While scallops in warmer regions have disordered or smooth shell surfaces, the Antarctic species has a microscopic, very regular structure.

The microscope reveals small ridges that run in a radiating pattern on their shell. These ridges ensure that water freezes preferentially there. If the freezing process continues, a continuous layer of ice forms, resting only on the ridges. Due to the low adhesion between ice and shell, the smallest underwater flow can therefore wash off the ice again and the scallop does not freeze.

In addition to microscope studies, the research team also conducted icing experiments with the Antarctic and with a scallop from warmer regions. It was found that far less force is needed to remove the ice layer on the Antarctic scallop than for the other species.

"It is exciting how evolution has obviously given this scallop an advantage," says Konrad Meister. "New technological applications based on the principle of bionics are conceivable from the knowledge of the ice-free shell. For example, non-icing surfaces could be highly interesting for polar shipping."


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Science
KEYWORDS: aircraft; applications; ice; mussels
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"New technological applications..."

I notice they mentioned application of this to polar shipping, but NOT to reducing icing on aircraft wings, e.g., which seems to me, a non-expert on all things, to be a far more important technological application. Hmm... perplexing. But interesting anyway.

Can you think of other possibly important applications for this "discovery"?

1 posted on 03/03/2022 11:42:54 AM PST by LibWhacker
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To: LibWhacker

This could be used to prevent icing on power lines so they do not get weighed down.


2 posted on 03/03/2022 11:52:10 AM PST by Erik Latranyi (We are being played by forces most do not understand)
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To: Erik Latranyi

THAT’S a good one, thanks!

Brought to you and me, and all of us, by the lowly mussel.


3 posted on 03/03/2022 11:55:38 AM PST by LibWhacker
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To: LibWhacker

There have been several attempts at making ice-free surfaces for various applications such as aviation. Many of them involve using engineered nanostructured surfaces.

The problem with nanostructured surfaces, or even larger, microscopic surface features is that they wear off very quickly. Kind of like Rain-X on you windshield. It lasts for a while but gradually small bits of dust blast the coating away.

I have a project at work which involves freezing a solution. We wanted to use metal molds but have found ice sticks to all metals and even Teflon. Can’t use nanostructured surfaces because the molds would wear out too quickly.


4 posted on 03/03/2022 11:58:52 AM PST by packagingguy
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To: packagingguy
Very informative, thank you. Definitely hadn't thought of that! They need to find mussels that don't allow ice to form on their shells, yet fly around at supersonic speeds, got it! :-)

Seriously, thank you.

5 posted on 03/03/2022 12:21:16 PM PST by LibWhacker
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To: LibWhacker
That method does not appear to work for ALL mussels.


6 posted on 03/03/2022 12:37:00 PM PST by moovova
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To: LibWhacker

The article doesn’t make any sense. Anything will freeze whenever it’s temperature goes below it’s own freezing point. It doesn’t matter what the condition of its surrounding material is. It could be solid, liquid, or gas. The article seems to indicate that the mussels’ surface can shed ice particles easily, but it doesn’t explain at why it doesn’t itself freeze.


7 posted on 03/03/2022 12:45:54 PM PST by norwaypinesavage (Capitalism is what happens when you leave people alone.)
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To: LibWhacker

Puget Sound Mussels simmered in coconut milk and lemon grass.
Mighty fine eatin’.


8 posted on 03/03/2022 1:02:22 PM PST by dainbramaged (Use it up, wear it out. Make it do or do without.)
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To: LibWhacker

I love scallops.


9 posted on 03/03/2022 1:07:43 PM PST by NavyShoe
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To: packagingguy
I have a project at work which involves freezing a solution. We wanted to use metal molds but have found ice sticks to all metals and even Teflon. Can’t use nanostructured surfaces because the molds would wear out too quickly.

Could you use a thin metal mold, then briefly heat it enough that the ice comes loose enough to be taken out?

10 posted on 03/03/2022 1:14:44 PM PST by PapaBear3625 (We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so stupid people won’t be offended)
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To: norwaypinesavage

My understanding... It freezes, but it doesn’t adhere. It flakes off easily.


11 posted on 03/03/2022 1:20:31 PM PST by LibWhacker
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To: PapaBear3625

Yes that can be done, as it is for popsicles. However we have found a blast freezer can freeze so quickly that silicone molds work fine. The trick is the air must flow quickly to remove heat rapidly.


12 posted on 03/03/2022 1:24:07 PM PST by packagingguy
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To: dainbramaged

Yum, I want some! I LOVE seafood. Wife hates it. She accommodates me. I accommodate her. So we never eat it, LOL.


13 posted on 03/03/2022 1:26:21 PM PST by LibWhacker
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To: moovova

These mussels are stressed and not thinking Warm


14 posted on 03/03/2022 1:35:17 PM PST by butlerweave
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To: LibWhacker

I’m hungry.


15 posted on 03/03/2022 1:57:58 PM PST by Jeff Chandler (THE ISSUE IS NEVER THE ISSUE. THE REVOLUTION IS THE ISSUE.)
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To: dainbramaged

Puget Sound Mussels simmered in coconut milk and lemon grass.
Mighty fine eatin’.


Puget Sound Mussels, having filtered through the secondary sewage treatments release into the Sound. Chop away.

There is so much sewage in the Sound that underwater looks like floating bits of TP, but are really algae blooms on even smaller bits of s...t paper. Salmon are forced into the upper water columns and become easy prey for Seals and Sealions


16 posted on 03/03/2022 2:05:59 PM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: PIF

That sounds like a lot of bull scat.

Suspect the sound is a lot cleaner than it was 40-50 years ago when sewer pipes went straight out.


17 posted on 03/03/2022 2:22:18 PM PST by zek157
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To: zek157

That sounds like a lot of bull scat.

Nope - Sea/Tac only does secondary treatment - you must have tertiary to produce clean water (a very expensive process - one which few cities do). Secondary releases lots of particulate matter, which produces blooms in warm weather. Just ask any one who uses nets to fish about algae blooms and the origins.


18 posted on 03/03/2022 2:34:56 PM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: PIF

Nonsense.


19 posted on 03/03/2022 2:46:07 PM PST by dainbramaged (Use it up, wear it out. Make it do or do without.)
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To: LibWhacker

20 posted on 03/03/2022 2:51:49 PM PST by Boogieman
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