Alternative Deicer Performance Characterization: Know Before the Snow

Details

• Creators:
  Druschel, Stephen J.
• Corporate Creators:
  Minnesota State University. Center for Transportation Research and Implementation
• Corporate Contributors:
  Minnesota. Department of Transportation. Office of Research & Innovation
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Brines Calcium Chloride Deicing Magnesium Chloride Performance Tests Potassium Chloride Sodium Chloride Winter Maintenance
• Publication/ Report Number:
  MN 2026-09
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States ; Minnesota
• Edition:
  Final Report
• Corporate Publisher:
  Minnesota. Department of Transportation. Office of Research & Innovation
• Abstract:
  MnDOT has been using alternative deicers (potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, and calcium chloride) to melt roadway ice at temperatures colder than sodium chloride can melt it alone. Using alternative deicers in brine form has been a way to leverage treatment techniques at temperatures below 15 degrees F. However, these alternative deicers have not yet had the “phase diagram” or “ice melt capacity relationship” developed to characterize their melting ability (potential and performance) by temperature and deicer concentration. Without these tools, MnDOT operators have been working on past observations, hunches and vendor recommendations, without the benefit of the science that guides their use of sodium chloride in rock salt brine. In colder regions of the state, the lack of scientific determination can be particularly troublesome as operators fight refreeze when either temperatures drop or deicer concentrations dilute down, which can result in either unsafe conditions or significantly extra material expense and environmental degradation. This project developed a phase diagram and assessed the ice melt capacity of the alternative deicer most in use by MnDOT, specifically: 1. Quantified the freeze point curve for each of ten mixtures at temperatures down to -34 degrees F. 2. Quantified the ice melting capacity for each of six mixtures at temperatures down to -20 degrees F. 3. Field tested and compared melt behavior of five mixtures, comparing performance and assessing synergies under actual winter maintenance operations.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  (C) 1055699
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:1968f14263e025069965670dae62878f9ed8609468c26bb95161958f424705a87b933d3fa4fdafdb3fb3508e896c01b28f97296e8b0dc89b6e4f88f78be51e0d
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/92362/dot_92362_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 11.01 MB ]