X-Message-Number: 5233 Date: Wed, 22 Nov 1995 10:38:43 -0800 (PST) From: Doug Skrecky <> Subject: vitrification proposal blows up I have recieved a personal communication, which has prompted me to rewrite the following article. First I would like to apologize to those who were on the cryonet several years ago, when apparently this same proposal was discussed in depth by individuals far better qualified than I. Among other criticisms propane constitutes unfortunately an extreme fire hazard. For example I imagine Steve Bridge would not be too happy if someone dropped a match while experimenting and instigated a propane detonation at Alcor HQ. See there, is it a flying saucer? Is it superman? NO!, it is a big foot dewar blown into orbit! The cryonauts have become astronauts! I have been informed "Doug, you are dumb, dumb, DUMB". However this vitrification proposal still has its intriguing points despite that fact that my original suggestion using propane has blown up in cyberspace. Fortunately nobody has gotten hurt and I would here like to amend the article with an ecologically incorrect, but scientifically defensible substitute before leaving the topic. As before the following article may be reprinted in any cryonics oriented newsletter or magasine, whose editor wishes to do so: A VITRIFICATION PROPOSAL By Doug Skrecky Any attempt to vitrify with relatively low and non-toxic concentrations of cryoprotectant would require cooling rates in excess of that acheivable by immersing the entire body in any coolant. I would like to here outline a possible way out of this impass. The cardiovascular system has an internal area over 300 times that of the external bodily surfaces. Using the cardiovascular system as a heat exchanger would allow cooling rates considerably in excess of that achievable by whole body immersion. Coolant circulating through veins, arteries and capillaries would have to have a freezing point lower than the annealed glass transition of glycerol (-100 C) if glycerol is selected for the cryoprotectant, as well as a boiling point of at least 0 C. The coolant must also be nontoxic - which seemingly eliminates simple solvents such as ethanol (freezes -130 C) from consideration. However freon 11 or trichlorofluoromethane freezes at -111 C, boils at 23.7 C, is chemically fairly inert, nonflamable and insoluable in water. After perfusion with freon 11 cooled to 0 C, we could rapidly inject freon cooled to -100 C, thereby achieving very high cooling rates and hopefully vitrifying the body. Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=5233