METASTABLE CRYSTALLIZATION PRODUCTS AND METASTABLE PHASE-DIAGRAM OF THE GLASSY AND SUPERCOOLED AQUEOUS IONIC-SOLUTIONS OF LICL

The metastability towards crystallization of glassy and supercooled aqueous ionic solutions of LiCl has been explored as a function of temperature and concentration by a combination of differential scanning calorimetry and neutron scattering experiments. A metastable phase diagram obtained under well specific sample thermal treatment has allowed us to define two narrow concentration ranges (or deep wells) for good glass formation. A good description of the metastable phase diagram is given by the suspension of two binary diagrams, H2O/LiCl 4H2O and LiCl 5H2O/LiCl 2H2O. The metastable crystallization end products such as LiCl 2H2O have been identified by their diffraction pattern which has been measured for the first time. In particular the metastable form of ice, cubic ice, Ic, could be produced in a controlled manner in its transformtion to ice Ih accurately followed.