Best Practices for Road Weather Management Version 2.0
Title:
Laboratory Melting Performance Comparison: Rock Salt with and Without Prewetting
Abstract:
Prewetting road salt with liquid deicing chemicals has been suggested as a way to improve the melting performance of the salt and potentially reduce the amount of salt required to clear a roadway. Forensic Dynamics Inc. undertook this research to explore these possibilities. A protocol for manufacturing repeatable compact snow and for trafficking this snow to simulate rolling tire compaction was developed following a literature review and experimentation. Tests were conducted at 4, 8, and 12 gallons of liquid chemical per ton of rock salt, and at -1, -5, and -10 degrees C. Three application rates were tested for most chemicals. Prewetting salt slightly decreased its performance at -1 and -5 degrees C. However, all of the prewetted mixtures were effective at -10 degrees C, unlike the dry rock salt. Melting was improved by increasing the ratio of liquid deicer to rock salt.
Source(s):
6th International Symposium on Snow Removal and Ice Control Technology, Transportation Research Circular, No. E-C063
http://trb.org/publications/circulars/ec063.pdf
Date: 2004
Author:
Luker, Rokosh, Leggett
Keywords:
Snow
Pavement friction
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