Described in this paper are laboratory tests conducted to determine the ice-melting and ice-penetration characteristics of rock salt, calcium magnesium acetate (cma) manufactured by rad services, cma manufactured by chevron (ice-b-gon trademark), and a chevron cma/sand product. Ice penetration by the three cma products was very inferior to ice penetration by rock salt, and diminished to essentially nopenetration at temperatures at which rock salt continued to penetrate. Rad services cma melted ice in quantities, relative to rock salt, somewhat higher than estimated from theoretical differences at 15 deg f and 25 deg f, and exhibited an approximate lower temperature limit for melting of 10 deg f. Chevron ice-b-gon (trademark) cma melted ice in quantities, relative to rock salt, substantially less thanestimated from theoretical differences, and exhibited an approximate lower temperature limit for melting of 15 deg f. Results of ice-melting capacity tests indicate that in the 20 deg f to 25 deg f range, 1 ton of rock salt is equivalent to 2.5 To 3 tons of ice-b-gon (trademark) cma. Given the need for high application rates and high costs of cma relative to rock salt, simplified cost analyses do not indicate that benefits accruing from the use of cma will counterbalancethe high costs associated with general cma use for snow and ice control. This paper appears in transportation research record no. 1157, Deicing chemicals and snow control.
Abstract