Evaluation of Liquid Ice Melting Additives for Winter Maintenance Applications

Winter weather can often pose difficulties for transportation agencies as they work to clear roads of snow and ice quickly so that motorists can travel safely and efficiently. Kentucky has made efforts to maximize efficiency within its winter maintenance program by focusing on optimized equipment usage and personnel time management. This study’s objective was to evaluate novel anti-icers and calculate how their performance compared to the current performance of brine and calcium chloride mixture. New brine additives claim to offer better results, but there is very little guidance about how to systematically evaluate new anti-icers. The author developed a testing methodology that could be performed in a laboratory setting to evaluate an anti-icer’s ability to “undercut”, or break the bond between pavement and ice. Four products were tested, as well as evaluated for price per lane mile when the additives were diluted with brine. The report concludes with a brief analysis of the environmental impacts of the additives, including effects on infrastructure and biosystems. Lastly, a priority ranking table summarizes the findings and provides an approach for other agencies to make their own decisions regarding anti-icing materials