Low density amorphous ice - Definition and Overview

When water is cooled below its normal freezing point, it normally freezes to form hexagonal ice, or Ice I. If it is very pure and cooled carefully, it may be supercooled to about -42°C. If water is cooled very rapidly then it forms an amorphoric glass.

LDA, Low-density amorphous ice, may be prepared from hyperquenched glassy water, as above, or by warming high-density amorphous ice (HDA) to just above 120 ˚K at normal atmospheric pressure. LDA shows behavior more similar to a crystalline material rather than the amorphous glass it is. LDA is expected to be an extension of supercooled liquid water.

See Also

• high density amorphous ice
• very high density amorphous ice
• amorphous solid water
• hyperquenched glassy water