Experimental investigation of frost heaving in aluminum reduction cells using a water model

In aluminum reduction cells, cathode blocks heaving is known to reduce cells' life. Many phenomena can cause cathode blocks heaving, one of them could be frost heaving. However, such a phenomenon, which is related to melt solidification in porous materials, has never been experimentally verified up-to-date. In the present work, a water model is proposed based on melt solidification of highly concentrated aqueous salt solutions. Results obtained from the solidification of such solutions into alumina powder, under different cooling conditions and mechanical restrictions, are presented. Tt is suggested, based on these results, that frost heaving in a cell could intervene at a temperature between the melt liquidus and solidus, and is more likely to occur in the bedding mix.