How Do Anti-Icing Methods Work?
Anti-icing techniques involve the application of chemicals—commonly called deicing chemicals—to the pavement to lower the freezing point of water. This prevents a strong bond from forming between the pavement surface and the frost or snow. As a result, the road stays wet or slushy, rather than icy. This makes driving safer and plowing operations easier.
In contrast, traditional deicing methods involve breaking the bond that has already formed between the precipitation and the pavement.
For an anti-icing strategy to work, the chemicals must be applied at the right time. By using advanced weather information technologies, highway departments can pinpoint exactly when and where to begin their anti-icing operations.
