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Directional freezing

Thermodynamic process

Wikipedia contributorsAdapted for Fathomly · View authors
1 min read
Source updated November 4, 2025

Directional freezing freezes from only one direction.

Directional freezing can freeze water, from only one direction or side of a container, into clear ice.

Directional freezing in a domestic freezer can be done by putting water in a insulated container so that the water freezes from the top down, and removing before fully frozen, so that the minerals in the water are not frozen.

F Hoffmann La Roche AG, Roche Diagnostics GmbH has a 2017 directional freezing patent for drying solid material.

Watch videos about Directional freezingExplainers and documentaries on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

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This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Directional freezing”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

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