Thermal Shock And Awe And How Not To Crack Your Nice Mug

We’ve all experienced a hot summer afternoon, grabbing a handful of ice cubes from the freezer, dropping them into a drinking glass, adding a lemonade or coke and *crack* *crack* go the ice cubes.

This is thermal shock.

Wikipedia: Thermal shock occurs when a thermal gradient causes different parts of an object to expand by different amounts.

How to keep your nICE mug from cracking:

1. After freezing your nICE mug mold, Let your nICE mug mold sit on the counter a couple minutes before popping out the nICE mug from the mold.  Don’t use water.
2. If you are stockpiling nICE mugs, take your nICE mug ice glass out of the freezer and let it sit on the counter a couple minutes until it starts to sweat, then pour in your favorite beverage.
3. For faster service, take your nICE mug ice glass out of the freezer, add only an ounce or two of cold water to your nICE mug glass and swirl it around to “wet” the nICE mug.  Drink the water or toss it, then pour in your favorite beverage.

None of the above tips are a big deal and, like home brewing or candle making, are examples of the engagement that nICE mug offers.  nICE mug: a celebration of non-conformity, nature, and fun.

Don’t let your nICE mug freak out (expand) from a temperature extreme (thermal gradient).