De-icing reagents: production, characteristics and application

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:43

Anti-icing agents are modern tools that ensure the patency of roads in large cities. With their help, you can make roads safer, and the products themselves are environmentally friendly.

How do reagents work?

Most of these tools are designed to lower the melting point of snow. When sprinkling snow, anti-icing agents lead to the fact that the active substance releases heat, which quickly clears roads of icing and drifts. All mixtures are solid or liquid, in our country the first option is most often used, as it differs:

1. Ease of use.
2. No need to use special equipment and special staff training.
3. Low cost with large coverage area.

Solids are most often granular and have better melting power. In addition, some anti-icing reagents of this type can be used even at temperatures below 30 degrees. Some compositionssupplemented with corrosion inhibitors, which protect the road surface from destruction. Snow melts and is easily removed, and slip is reduced, making the road clear and safe.

From history

The need to use reagents arises every winter, as this is the easiest way to avoid ice formation on the roads in time. The production of anti-icing reagents is carried out in accordance with state standards, so that the final composition does not have a harmful effect on the natural balance, is easily removed from the soil and does not lead to damage to car tires. Due to the fact that modern technologies are improving, and the quantity and quality of raw materials used is growing, modern de-icing products are able to ensure environmental friendliness and safety of use.

It is noteworthy, but in recent years these compositions have changed significantly, and the usual sand-and-s alt mixture (92% - sand, 8% - technical s alt) has been replaced by more modern anti-icing reagents. Their composition is different, depending on the purpose of the product and the scope of its application. Over time, the use of a sand-s alt mixture became impractical, since in the spring sand remained on the roads, which clogged drains. Later, it was customary to use just technical s alt as a reagent, which quickly melted ice, was resistant to frost and had a permanent effect.

On the other hand, such anti-icing reagents - technical s alt, first of all -also had disadvantages. First of all, they were expressed in the erosion of car bodies, the shoes of passers-by, and where the soil turned out to be too saline, nothing grew.

Basic requirements

The principle of operation of most anti-icing products is simple: it absorbs moisture from ice, as it becomes saturated with water, the crystals turn into a liquid, heat up and melt the frozen crystals. Today, a different anti-icing agent can be used to treat the roadway - GOST for each material is different, as well as technical requirements:

1. Maximum safety for the environment.
2. No harm to the natural balance of the soil.
3. High efficiency: means products at low concentrations should work quickly at all temperatures.
4. Easy to use: most formulations are spread or sprayed on the soil.

Composition

De-icing reagents mostly consist of various s alts - chlorides, chlorates, hydrochlorides, which begin to act at extreme temperatures, and act instantly. The effectiveness of the reagents is enhanced by several components:

• anti-corrosion additives;
• biophilic ingredients that improve soil quality;
• accelerator additives that work in extreme temperatures;
• baking powder.

Calcium chloride

In recent years, more advanced anti-icing reagents have been used, the technical characteristics of which contribute to compliance with environmental standards. And the usual solid compositions were replaced by effective liquid ones, which are easy to apply and do not leave marks on the road, on wheels or on shoes. Most often, of the liquid analogues, CCM is used, which is consumed less, is able to melt ice even at low temperatures and prevents the appearance of ice.

On the other hand, calcium chloride-based de-icing agent had disadvantages:

1. It is valid for only three hours, so the road must be constantly processed.
2. Scientists who studied the composition of this tool came to the conclusion that when using it, the coefficient of adhesion of tires to the road surface decreases, that is, it turns out that XKM attracts moisture, while technical s alt repels it.
3. Calcium chloride also did not meet environmental requirements, as it could cause allergies and corrode the metal of vehicles.

Pros and cons

Specialists note that due to its hygroscopic properties, calcium chloride, when it comes into contact with snow, reacts with it and releases heat. Such anti-icing reagents, the technical characteristics of which are very different, do not harm the environment. Benefits of using this anti-icing agent include:

• ability to quickly and deeply penetrate the ice layer;
• promptly melting ice and fertilizing the soil;
• reducing the adhesion forces of ice and the road surface due to the formation of brine;
• reagent activity, resulting in lower consumption.

Icemelt

The use of anti-icing reagents is aimed at promptly clearing the streets of cities from snow. Icemelt is a modified substance that can act at the lowest possible temperature of -20 degrees. The use of this substance is advisable due to its effectiveness, economy, safety and the possibility of using it even on grass. The structure of the ice-breaking agent is gray crystalline granules, composed of calcium chloride, sodium chloride, a corrosion inhibitor that is needed to protect the surface.

Application of Icemelt

The composition of the material allows it to be used in two directions:

1. As a preventive measure. In this case, Icemelt is used in advance, even before the onset of winter, to treat the coating, which is most at risk of icing. It is best if the processing is carried out before precipitation. The substance should be evenly distributed over the surface.
2. For the fight against frost. In this case, the material is applied to the ice surface, dissolving the particles. Before processing, the coating must be cleared of loose snow.

These de-icing materials reagents have several features:

• easy to use;
• spent in a smallquantity;
• do not contain harmful substances and impurities, therefore, if used correctly, they will be safe for nature, people and animals.

Granite chips

This anti-icing preparation has been used in this capacity for a long time, since it does not contain harmful substances, and its cost pleases with its availability. For processing the road against ice, a crumb of a fraction of 2-5 mm is suitable, which is easy to distribute over the surface. Granite crumb is different:

• strength;
• durability;
• environmental and safety;
• usable at all temperatures.

Granite chips are produced by crushing crushed stone of granite rocks, after which the material is sieved and washed - this is necessary in order to rid the composition of granite dust. Of course, this is not a reagent in the truest sense of the word, since the crumb does not melt ice, but due to its high abrasiveness and good adhesion to the ice surface, the material has found wide application in this quality.

Sands alt

Perhaps the sand-and-s alt mixture is the most popular way to get rid of ice. It is a combination of river sand with technical s alt. The use of this composition is expedient due to its low cost and the possibility of application in any temperature conditions. The mixture is created taking into account certain proportions, which depends on the degree of frost and the characteristics of the treated surface. Usage efficiencyThis reagent is explained by several features:

• sand, due to its abrasiveness, contributes to a better grip of the wheels of vehicles and the surface of the roadway;
• technical s alt melts the ice, making it less slippery.

Among the benefits of using this compound are affordable cost, ease of use, fast action on the roadway and use in all conditions. But it is worth remembering that if low-grade sand is used, in which there are many small particles, this will lead to the formation of a mess on the road. A good mixture consists of purified fractionated sand. The second point is that the use of the composition is advisable only if the temperature is not lower than 20 degrees, since at lower temperatures the mixture will stick together and it will not be easy to evenly distribute it.

Liquid products

Today, liquid de-icing agents are becoming more and more popular. They are most often based on calcium chloride, and their main purpose is to deal with ice on a winter road, which accounts for a lot of traffic. The benefits of using liquid formulations include:

• effectiveness of impact on frost;
• facilitate mechanical snow removal;
• Ensuring road safety;
• quick surface distribution;
• easy to transport.

Technology Features

For the first time, liquid reagent technology wasused in Europe, and today it is popular in Russia. The essence of the process is that dry s alt is moistened with solutions based on calcium chloride, which increases its efficiency. Wetting technology is good because:

1. The reagent is evenly distributed over the road surface.
2. The adhesion of the compound and the roadway is getting better.
3. The reagent stays on the road and is not carried away by cars, unlike solid materials, so it is advisable to use liquid solutions on the road with high intensity.
4. Using a liquid reagent reduces the s alt load on the environment.

Selection rules

Before choosing an anti-icing material, you need to consider its characteristics such as:

1. High melting power. For example, calcium chloride is more effective than technical s alt in terms of impact on ice cover.
2. Sufficient crystallization temperature, which allows the reagent to be used for a long time.
3. Acceptable viscosity of the composition, which guarantees the safety of its use on the roadway. If the material contains calcium chloride, then it can be used even at extreme temperatures.

Remember that liquid reagents are more effective as surface wetting occurs. In addition, the use of such compositions is advisable due to the uniform distribution over the road surface, low consumption and a wide temperature range.operation.