Carbon anodesCarbon anode used in aluminum smeltingAluminum smelting are made from a hot mixed paste of aggregateAggregates and coal tar pitchCoal tar pitch binder. Paste is then formed into green anodesAnode, most commonly by vibrocompaction at about 150–160 °C. After forming, hot green anodesAnode are cooled using methods such as air, water bath, water spray, or a combination of these media. Cooling enables the anodeAnode to retain shape after forming and be mechanically handled without damage. After cooling, green anodesAnode are baked by heating to ~1150 °C over ~6 days. During water bath immersion or spray cooling, anodesAnode absorb a significant amount of water. The vaporization of this water during bakingBaking may affect fuel efficiency, and/or damage the anodeAnode structure. AnodeAnode reactivity may also be modified by the reaction between water and carbonCarbon. During this initial study, the effect of water absorbed during green anodeAnode cooling on laboratory baked anode qualityAnode quality was investigated.