Frost Action in a Hydrophobic Material

Abstract

Two series of reversed freezing tests were performed on two hydrophobic and two hydrophilic particulate materials. The tests were conducted to study the role of the adsorbed water film in the freezing and heavy process. The results demonstrate that it is possible to grow ice crystals and ice lenses in a hydrophobic material. During these reversed freezing tests, growth of ice crystals and frost heave occurred in both the hydrophobic and hydrophilic materials. Ice lenses formed as the temperature in the samples approached thermal equilibrium at 358 hours into the test. The coalescence of individual needlelike ice crystals, approximately 1 cm in length, were observed in the hydrophobic material. The experimental data suggest that frost heave occurs from the regeneration of water films on the surface of ice crystals during growth.