Carbon freezing

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Ugnaught technicians prepare the carbon freezing chamber on Cloud City

"Oh, they've encased him in carbonite. He should be quite well protected. If he survived the freezing process, that is."

―C-3PO^[src]

Carbon freezing is the process of freezing stored tibanna gas in carbonite to preserve it while it is being transported over long distances.

[edit] Overview

A cut away shows the inner workings of a carbonite block used for transporting tibanna gas.

In the freezing process, the gas is pumped into a freezing chamber where it is mixed with molten carbonite into a solid block. The gas is released later at its destination or at the processing center.

Darth Vader ordered the modification of a freezing chamber on Bespin's Cloud City so that he could freeze Luke Skywalker—eliminating any chance of escape—to transport him to the Emperor. As a test, the process was tried on Han Solo, who survived the freezing process and was eventually freed from his trap. ^[1] Other people unfortunate enough to be frozen in carbonite include Trioculus, Chihdo, Czethros, Keto, Roni von Wasaki, Sintas Vel, Grees and Mathal^[2].

During the Galactic Civil War, a large number of Sith Troopers and possibly a Sith Master, frozen in carbonite, were discovered by the Nightsister Silri with the help of a Sith Holocron stolen from Jabba the Hutt by Tyber Zann.

Additionally, bodies were sometimes preserved in carbonite, as in the case of the Senatorial Tombs on Coruscant.

Carbon freezing could induce hibernation sickness after being released, as was the case with Han Solo^[3].