It is primarily used as a fertilizer. As a deicer, it has a lower burn potential than potassium chloride. It causes little damage to concrete or plants and is used as an alternative to salts in environmentally sensitive areas. The shape of deicing particles affects the speed of their penetration through ice. Irregularly shaped particles tend to melt randomly in all directions.
Flake particles perform the worst because they melt as much horizontally as they do vertically.
By the time flake particles reach the pavement, they are often too diluted to effectively contribute to undercutting and disbondment. Corrosive effects of deicers on metals have been the subject of considerable research over the years. Deicers containing sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and potassium chloride can accelerate corrosion of iron and steel by holding moisture against metal surfaces. There is no significant difference among salts in their corrosive effect. Ordinarily, if the surface paint, chrome, or undercoating is not damaged or broken, corrosion will not occur.