Based on the adsorption-inhibition theory, a statistical mechanics model is proposed to investigate the thermal hysteresis activity of the type I antifreeze protein. The thermal hysteresis activity is evaluated by determining the AFP molecule coverage rate on the ice surface and the Gibbs function of the system. As examples, the calculated results for the thermal hysteresis temperatures of AFP9, HPLC-6(TTTT) and AAAA2kE as functions of the concentration of the AFP solution are obtained and discussed. The theoretical results are in agreement with the experimental data. (C) 2009 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.