art · 2021
ASAPeople
A material exploration of 'hot ice' (sodium acetate) — sculpting with a liquid that freezes on demand into a solid while giving off heat.
Hot ice sculpture · 2021
ASAPeople is an exploration of “hot ice” — sodium acetate.
The material
Sodium acetate trihydrate (SAT, CH₃COONa·3H₂O), the same compound found in reusable hand warmers, is a phase-change material that moves between a liquid solution and a solid crystal. Pour the liquid onto a tiny seed of solid SAT and it instantly grows into an ice-like sculpture while releasing heat — the phenomenon known as “hot ice.”
Food for thought
A sodium-acetate printer (“ASAPrinter”) is a tempting next step: a fast way to build ice sculptures, and a forgiving one — if I don’t like a result, I can melt it in the microwave and reuse the same solution for the next attempt. Building on top of existing sculptures, or joining two with fresh liquid, could be just as interesting. The real challenge is control: getting the solubility right and keeping the syringe from clogging.
Thickness test — 25 mm height, different nozzle sizes.