On the metastable nature of amorphous ice near melting point

Abstract

The coexistence of the amorphous structure and crystalline hexagonal structure of ice near its melting point at normal pressure is confirmed by comparing the diffraction patterns of diffuse X-ray scattering for different amorphous structures. The diffuse X-ray scattering at an ice sample maintained at a temperature of–10°C is continuously recorded for a long time. Continual variations in the nature of diffuse scattering until its complete disappearance are revealed. The disappearance of diffuse scattering indicates the metastability of amorphous ice near its melting point with a lifetime of about 15 days.