COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF CALCIUM MAGNESIUM ACETATE AND ROCK SALT (WITH DISCUSSIONS AND CLOSURE)

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 no penetration 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 than estimated 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 counterbalance the high costs associated with general CMA use for snow and ice control.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1988/1157/1157-002.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=COMPARATIVE+EVALUATION+OF+CALCIUM+MAGNESIUM+ACETATE+AND+ROCK+SALT+(WITH+DISCUSSIONS+AND+CLOSURE)&author=A.+McElroy&author=R.+Blackburn&author=J.+Hagymassy&author=H.+Kirchner&author=D.+Stevens&publication_year=1988
• Availability:
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Winter Maintenance. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • McElroy, A D
  • Blackburn, Robert R
  • Hagymassy, Jules
  • Kirchner, Henry W
  • Stevens, Donald L
• Discussers:
  • Walters, D L
  • Chollar, Brian H
• Publication Date: 1988

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 12-19
• Monograph Title: Deicing chemicals and snow control
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1157
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Calcium magnesium acetate; Costs; Halite; Ice; Laboratory tests; Melting; Pendulum tests; Temperature
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; I62: Winter Maintenance;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00477429
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309046696
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Nov 30 1988 12:00AM