Thermodynamics of interface in the freezing of colloidal suspensions: from macroscale to the microscale

A long controversy of ice lensing exists in the research of frost heave. By elucidating the mechanical and thermodynamics equilibria at the interface, we present the thermodynamics of the water/ice interface from macroscale to microscale for the freezing of colloidal suspensions. The application of the Clapeyron equation is confirmed both at macroscale to microscale via curvature effect. The thermodynamics at the interface indicates the initial of ice lensing/banding from the growth of pore ice, determined by the critical curvature undercooling instead of the critical fracture of frozen fringe. It is also proposed that the packing status of the porous structure in the particle layer ahead of the water/ice interface determines the ice lensing behaviors. The results presented here are different scenarios from previous investigations of freezing colloidal suspensions, and may shed light on the researches of this area.