In an effort to overcome this problem, Kumano
et al. [54] experimentally studied the effects of a polymer
additive on the subcooling of water. The samples were prepared
by dissolving poly-vinyl alcohols (PVAs) in water (tap water, pure
water and ultra pure water were used as solvents). Subcooling
was inhibited by adding PVA to water (from 3 wt.% to 5 wt.%). Furthermore,
the study done by Matsui et al. [48] found that the addition
of more than 15 wt.% sodium oleate or sodiumlaurate to the L–C
acid system was extremely effective for suppressing subcooling and
for controlling the phase change temperature between 4 and 7 C.