WATERS CHARACTER FROM DIELECTRIC-RELAXATION ABOVE ITS T-G

To determine the merits of the conjecture for a distinct phase of liqu id water below 160 K, and of its computer simulation [Nature 380, 328 (1996)], the dielectric relaxation times of pure bulk water and pure w ater sequestered in the pores of various polymer matrices are examined . The new data combined with the literature values show that the molec ular kinetics of pure water at 273 K is connected by a continuous path with that of sequestered water at 160 K and below. This finding seems to remove the basis for the conjecture of a distinct phase of water i n the 136-160 K range, and for its phase transformation to normal wate r in the 160-230 K range. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.