De-icing reagents

Anti-icing agents – effective means to combat the formation of an ice crust on the pavement surface, relevant for the cold season. The basic principle of operation of anti-icing mixtures is based on the fact that water with salts dissolved in it has a lower freezing point than the ambient temperature.
Currently, the anti-icing products market contains both ready-made chemical reagents and special mixtures consisting of several components. You can also buy anti-icing reagents in liquid (solutions) and solid (loose) state. For example, in some countries crushed pebbles or gravel are actively used to fight ice.

Which reagents are used as deicers:

1. Technical salt
2. Calcium chloride
3. Sodium formate (potassium formate)
4. Magnesium chloride (Bishofite)

Of the advantages of the above anti-icing compounds, you can list:

• Efficiency
• Reliable
• Speed ​​of Impact
• Economic price
• Human Safety

Commercial salt is a time-tested deicer. It has been used in this purpose since 1960 as an anti-icing sand-salt mixture. After 1995, technical salt was used in its pure form. The advantages of industrial salt are low price, availability, long-term exposure and the ability to withstand low temperatures down to -20˚С. But at the same time, salt has a significant drawback, namely, the ability to corrode metals, rubber and accumulate in the soil, thereby negatively affecting the environment.

Calcium chloride has a much less negative impact than technical salt or its mixture with sand. At the same time, the consumption of calcium chloride is 20-30% less than sodium chloride and withstands temperatures lower, namely up to -35˚С. In addition, it has been scientifically proven that calcium chloride replaces technical salt and has a positive effect on the soil. Among the shortcomings can be listed – a shorter period of validity (about 3 hours), a negative effect on rubber and the ability to change the color of materials (whitening).

Another anti-icing material that has won its place among de-icer is =”color: #ff0000;”> bischofite or magnesium chloride</span >.

Bishofite anti-icing agent benefits:

1. It has a milder effect compared to sodium and calcium chlorides.
2. Twice as effective as sodium chloride
3. Will withstand temperatures down to -35˚C
4. Magnesium chloride is a trace element for crop production, so there is no negative impact on the soil
5. Contains less chlorine than calcium and sodium
6. Does not damage concrete or asphalt surfaces
7. Economical, has low consumption rates.
8. Effective in clearing snow, removing ice and snow crust.

Bishofite consumption at -20˚С is 90gr/m2.

Sodium formate or sodium formate – chlorine-free deicer. Included in the de-icer for aviation. It has established itself as an effective remedy against ice and snow cover, including rolled snow. It has good anti-corrosion properties and is capable of complete biodegradation in 1 month. Sodium formate withstands air temperatures down to -20˚С.
To achieve crystallization at lower temperatures, a combination of sodium formic acid with other salts is allowed. It is noteworthy that formate is able to reduce the corrosive activity and the negative impact on the road surface of other salts

Sodium formate consumption is 25g/m2.