Cathode assembly for an electrolytic cell

An electrolytic cell for the production of a metal, comprising:

• a. an external envelope made of steel;
• b. a layer of an insulating material adjacent to the external envelope;
• c. a carbonaceous layer covering the layer of insulating material and protecting the layer of insulating material from an electrolytic bath intended to be contained in the electrolytic cell;
• and
• d. a cathode assembly for an electrolytic cell comprising:
• a cathode block having a first surface, at least one sealing groove opening onto the first surface, and a plurality of electrical contact plugs being mounted in electrical contact with the first surface of the cathode block;
• at least one current supply plate in electrical contact with at least one of the plurality of electrical contact plugs, and which is intended to be connected to at least one unit for connection to an electric current source;
• and
• at least one current supply bar sealed within the at least one sealing groove and fastened to the at least one current supply plate, the at least one current supply bar and the at least one current supply plate having a same coefficient of thermal expansion to prevent formation of cracks in the cathode assembly when the cathode assembly is heated at a use temperature.