Title:
50 Shades of Deicers and Anti-icers
Author(s):
R. Douglas Hooton and Gustavo Julio-Betancourt
Publication:
Symposium Paper
Volume:
366
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
15-26
Keywords:
deicers, anti-icers; oxychlorides; concrete deterioration
DOI:
10.14359/51749230
Date:
10/1/2025
Abstract:
The increased use of alternative deicers to rock salt and introduction of anti-icing prior to winter events using concentrated brines has, in some cases, been associated with deterioration of concrete, especially at joints in pavements. While many commercial products are being used, most either are sodium, calcium, or magnesium chlorides, or mixtures of chlorides. In this study, the effects of different concentrations of calcium and magnesium chlorides on concrete are compared to that of sodium chloride. This study, completed in 2009, found that highly concentrated calcium and magnesium chloride brines caused damage to concrete exposed to low-temperature and freezing temperature cycles by formation of expansive oxychlorides. These results were confirmed by subsequent extensive research performed by others. This paper focusses on concrete performance when exposed to the different forms of chlorides.
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