Once snow has accumulated and bonded to the road or an ice storm has glazed road surfaces, deicing operations must begin to restore safe driving conditions. More than a dozen chemicals have been tested for deicing use. The most common products used are sodium chloride, calcium chloride and magnesium chloride. Choosing the Proper Application Salt can be applied in solid, prewetted solid, or liquid form. Application methods are determined by weather and road conditions as well as equipment available.
Salt needs moisture to provide melting action.
Deicing rock salt or solar salt dissolves in road surface moisture to form a brine which melts snow and ice to form more brine which continues the process. Once salt has penetrated the packed snow and ice to make brine on the pavement surface, the bond will be broken and removal operations can be successful in restoring bare pavement conditions. Forecasted conditions and road surface temperatures at the time of treatment determine whether winter maintenance materials should be applied in solid, prewetted solid or liquid form. The type of precipitation event, dry snow, wet snow, ice, sleet, freezing rain, etc. Keep in mind that changing conditions will affect operations.