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Ice in a container

Rich Davis_2
Rich Davis_2 Member Posts: 121
in THE MAIN WALL
Does ice keep expanding as it get colder, or does it reach a point at ? deg and remains the same demenstions? I have a water tank that I didn't get emptied before this hard freeze. I've broken the ice on top and scooped it out along with most of the water. But, there is 6" thick ice on the sides, and I don't want the ice to buckle the sides the bottom might have an inch or so, I don't think that will hurt the bottom but, I'm not sure. Any answers would be kindly appreciated Thank,s and Everyone have a great Christmas Day and a Happy and prosper New Year.

Comments

  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 23,386
    Dump some salt in it
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • HomerJSmith
    HomerJSmith Member Posts: 2,635
    It can only expand so far. Ice like water expands in the direction of least resistance.
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 24,852
    If you've taken the still liquid water out, you should be OK. No guarantee -- but should be.

    A more complete answer to the question -- water has its maximum density at 4 Celsius, and gets less dense (expands) both below and above that. Ice has significantly less density that liquid water at any temperature (why an iceberg floats!) but has its maximum density at freezing.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • SlowYourRoll
    SlowYourRoll Member Posts: 187
    edited December 2022
    ice actually gets more dense the colder it gets. once the H2O molecules lock into their lattice as a solid, their intermolecular spacing is basically just a function of heat, with higher temps being more energy and greater intermolecular actions against each other. you know how everything "stops" at absolute zero? that also means zero intermolecular force, hence greatest density.

    https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/ice-thermal-properties-d_576.html

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