The equilibrium and non-equilibrium thermal behaviour of aqueous ternary solutions based on complex physiological support media, containing NaCl, and dimethyl sulphoxide or glycerol

The effects of substituting a physiological support medium for water on phase diagram relationships in ternary systems composed of an aqueous component base (water or Eagle's minimum essential medium), NaCl, and a cryoprotective agent (glycerol or dimethyl sulphoxide) have been studied by differential thermal analysis. Primary solidification and eutectic transformations were observed, and both the transition temperatures and devitrification behaviour of non-equilibrium glassy phases were recorded. For most solutions it was found that substitution of the complex support medium for water had very little effect on equilibrium phase relationships. However, the aqueous component substitution resulted in small but measurable changes in the thermal behaviour of non-equilibrium glassy phases. In general, glass stability is enhanced. It is believed that the formation of stable glass phases plays a significant role in cryoprotection. © 1977 Chapman and Hall Ltd.

Duke Scholars

Author F. Hadley Cocks Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materia ...