Common De-Icing Chemicals

Sodium Chloride (salt) Brine, NaCl

Use

Pre-wetting other chemicals, anti-icing

Advantages

Low purchase price
Little to no residue on pavement
Doesn't draw moisture, so doesn't leave road wet and slick

Disadvantages

Corrosive to concrete and cars and bridges

Notes

Used primarily as pre-wetting and/or anti-icing agent
Works to –9.5° C (15° F)

Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA), Ca(O2CCH3)2, Mg(O2CCH3)2

Use

CMA liquid mixed with salt or sand
Liquid alone

Advantages

Less corrosive than salt
Reduces corrosion on steel bridges

Disadvantages

Use twice as much CMA as salt
High concentrations can reduce oxygen levels in streams and lakes
Pavement appears wet

Notes

Best thing going from an environmental standpoint
Works to –9.5° C (15° F)

Magnesium Chloride, MgCl 2

Use

Sprayed directly on road
Mixed with sand or other de-icers

Advantages

Attracts moisture from the air, which hastens dissolving and melting
Does not require post distribution clean up
Doesn't appear to contribute to air pollution

Disadvantages

Keeps pavement wet if it attracts too much moisture from the air
Cost
Corrosive to metal

Notes

Liquid used as an anti-icing agent when air temperatures exceed –12° C (10° F)
Can be applied to busy streets and intersections before light snow storms to melt snow as it hits the pavement
Works to –25° C (-13° F)
Costs approximately two times more than salt

Calcium Chloride, CaCl2

Use

Mixed with salt
Used to pre-wet salt
Straight/alone or in solution

Advantages

Releases heat when it dissolves
Reduces the amount of salt used by 10-15%
Attracts moisture so it helps snow melt
Less harmful than salt to vegetation

Disadvantages

Cost
Keeps pavement wet
Corrosive to metal
Leaves residue harmful to carpet

Notes

Can be used to pre-wet salt
Sprayed in approximately 32% solution for winter use
Must be covered and kept in a dry place
Works to –32° C (-25° F)
Costs approximately three times more than salt

Potassium Acetate, KO2CCH3

Use

Used as a pre-wetting agent for solids like sand, salt, urea, sand, or CMA

Advantages

Requires fewer applications
Performs very well
Safer than salt for structural steel and reinforcing steel
Non-corrosive and biodegradable

Disadvantages

Cost
Could cause slickness on pavement
Lowers oxygen levels in bodies of water

Notes

Liquid works best as a de-icer if applied in narrow bands
May be used alone if needed
Work to –59° C (-75° F)
Costs approximately eight times more than salt

Carbohydrate Based Solution (corn or beet based)

Use

Liquid typically mixed w/ MgCl2 and other salts

Advantages

Cost
No adverse effects on roads and infrastructures
Corrosion inhibitor

Disadvantages

Some products may have an odor

Notes

Liquid is thick
Biological and environmentally safe
Contains agricultural by-products

Sand

Use

Provides traction

Advantages

Cost

Disadvantages

Clean up cost of sediment in storm drains

Notes

Some products are available that have a mix of other de-icing materials and sand