RAMAN MICROPROBE SPECTROSCOPY OF ICING ON METAL-SURFACES

A simple optical low-temperature icing cell was fabricated to obtain the in situ Raman spectra of ice layers forming on metallic substrates. The icing cell is optically coupled to a micro Raman multi-channel spectrometer. The Raman spectra of the initial ice layers show characteristics of a disordered phase resembling low-density amorphous ice. The crystalline phase develops gradually as the thickness of the ice layer increases. The disorder in the initial ice layer may be caused primarily by the rapid thermal cooling, and appears to be independent of the type of metal substrate.