Anti-frost mat for freezer... snake oil?

[Lobster]

Spotted an advert in this morning's paper for a device which purports to
keep your freezer free of ice...

(see http://www.hssantifrostmat.co.uk)

My immediate reaction is that it's total and complete bullshit,
particularly having read the blurb under 'How antifrost mats work':

"An Anti Frost Mat is a specially-coated mat on the bottom of your
freezer is marketed as preventing frost from forming. It also minimizes
blockages in freezer drainage tubes that can lead to "icebergs".

In physics, heat is the transfer of energy from one part of a substance
to another, or from one body to another by virtue of a difference in
temperature. Heat is energy in transit; it always flows from a substance
at a higher temperature to the substance at a lower temperature, raising
the temperature of the latter and lowering that of the former substance,
provided the volume of the bodies remains constant. Heat does not flow
from a lower to a higher temperature unless another form of energy
transfer, work, is also present.

If solid surfaces in contact with the air are chilled below the
deposition point (frost point), then spicules of ice grow out from the
solid surface. The size of the crystals depends on time and the amount
of water vapor available."

So that explains it then... (?!)

Comments?
David

 

[john]

Spotted an advert in this morning's paper for a device which purports to
keep your freezer free of ice...

I'll exchange it for some Slick 50! I wouldn't bother with it, it seems a
bit far fetched to me.
There are materials and specialist coatings around that will prevent water
and ice sticking to them, but your whole freezer would be extremely
expensive.

 

[Andy Hall]

Spotted an advert in this morning's paper for a device which purports to
keep your freezer free of ice...

(see http://www.hssantifrostmat.co.uk)

My immediate reaction is that it's total and complete bullshit,
particularly having read the blurb under 'How antifrost mats work':

"An Anti Frost Mat is a specially-coated mat on the bottom of your
freezer is marketed as preventing frost from forming. It also minimizes
blockages in freezer drainage tubes that can lead to "icebergs".

In physics, heat is the transfer of energy from one part of a substance
to another, or from one body to another by virtue of a difference in
temperature. Heat is energy in transit; it always flows from a substance
at a higher temperature to the substance at a lower temperature, raising
the temperature of the latter and lowering that of the former substance,
provided the volume of the bodies remains constant. Heat does not flow
from a lower to a higher temperature unless another form of energy
transfer, work, is also present.

If solid surfaces in contact with the air are chilled below the
deposition point (frost point), then spicules of ice grow out from the
solid surface. The size of the crystals depends on time and the amount
of water vapor available."

So that explains it then... (?!)

Comments?
David

Not very convincing is it? They have placeholders for testimonials -
always a bad sign - but don't have any.

This does seem to be at a price point where people will chuck it if it
doesn't work rather than send it back.

 

[Bovvered?]

Spotted an advert in this morning's paper for a device which purports to
keep your freezer free of ice...

(see http://www.hssantifrostmat.co.uk)

My immediate reaction is that it's total and complete bullshit,
particularly having read the blurb under 'How antifrost mats work':

"An Anti Frost Mat is a specially-coated mat on the bottom of your
freezer is marketed as preventing frost from forming. It also minimizes
blockages in freezer drainage tubes that can lead to "icebergs".

In physics, heat is the transfer of energy from one part of a substance
to another, or from one body to another by virtue of a difference in
temperature. Heat is energy in transit; it always flows from a substance
at a higher temperature to the substance at a lower temperature, raising
the temperature of the latter and lowering that of the former substance,
provided the volume of the bodies remains constant. Heat does not flow
from a lower to a higher temperature unless another form of energy
transfer, work, is also present.

If solid surfaces in contact with the air are chilled below the
deposition point (frost point), then spicules of ice grow out from the
solid surface. The size of the crystals depends on time and the amount
of water vapor available."

So that explains it then... (?!)

Comments?
David

It's complete bollox. The only rational explanation is that it's some
kind of silica gel pouch but if that's the case it won't last very
long anyway if you open your freezer as often as we do. It's a shame
that internet advertising isn't covered by the ASA.

 

[RobertL]

It's complete bollox.  The only rational explanation is that it's some
kind of silica gel pouch but if that's the case it won't last very
long anyway if you open your freezer as often as we do. It's a shame
that internet advertising isn't covered by the ASA.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Could it be a mat whose internal structure has a lot of spiky surfaces
that encourage ice to form there rather than elsewhere on the smoorth
surfaces of the freezer. When it's full of ice you take it out and
dry is on the clothes rack, then put it back?

Robert

 

[Lobster]

It's complete bollox. The only rational explanation is that it's some
kind of silica gel pouch but if that's the case it won't last very
long anyway if you open your freezer as often as we do. It's a shame
that internet advertising isn't covered by the ASA.

It was advertised in the Times originally - the URL was in the advert.

David