Effect of unidirectional freezing using a thermal camera on polyvinyl (alcohol) for aligned porous cryogels

Unidirectional freeze casting for polymers and ceramics has been performed extensively; however, the mechanisms involved in unidirectional freezing are not thoroughly understood and therefore, in this study, polyvinyl (alcohol) hydrogels were freeze-thawed by unidirectional freezing and the resultant freezing profile was investigated using thermal imagery to comprehend the physical mechanism involved in the production of these aligned cryogels....