Crystal growth of ice Ih by revapor-deposition and diffusion suppression of monomolecular water in a polymer solid: spectroscopic observation of phase transition of water sorbed into solid polystyrene

Monomolecular water in a solid polymer, which has no effective hydrogen bonding sites, was revealed by temperature-variable Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to be condensable and crystallizable. Ice Ih formed in the polymer matrix was grown by vapor deposition and was reduced by sublimation. Moreover, rapid cooling induced crystal growth by vapor deposition during heating (revapor-deposition). These results indicate the requirement of a change in the generally accepted understanding of the thermal responses of water in a polymer matrix and give rise to a problem for general interpretation of the category of water in a polymer matrix based on calorimetrical analysis at very low water contents.