Vitrification

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Vitrification (also called vitrification , from Latin vitrum 'glass') is the solidification of a liquid by increasing its viscosity while it is being cooled - whereby crystallization does not take place and an amorphous material (glass) is created. This can e.g. B. can be achieved by extremely rapid cooling (e.g. in liquid nitrogen ) in conjunction with additives that prevent crystallization (so-called cryoprotectants ).

Vitrification (model test)

Applications

  • When producing glass , the melt is cooled sufficiently quickly to prevent crystallization.
  • In cryopreservation and cryonics
  • For the homogeneous and crystallization-free freezing of egg cells in the area of social freezing

See also

literature

  • S. Al-Hasani, K. Diedrich et al .: Cryopreservation of human oocytes . Hum Reprod 1987; 2: 695-700.
  • MJ Ashwood-Smith, J. Farrant: Low temperature preservation in medicine and biology . Pitman Press, Bath, 1980.
  • K. Elliot, J. Whelan, CIBA Foundation Symposium 52: The freezing of mammalian embryos . Elsevier / North Holland, Amsterdam, 1977.

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