De-icing agents and spreadable additives

When winter strikes, keeping roads, paths, and car parks safe requires the right de-icing agent. But not every product is equally effective. Here’s a clear overview of your options.

Anti-Slip Agents

Silica bricks and sand are mainly used in extremely low temperatures or on surfaces where snow cannot be removed.

• Pros: Environmentally inert and safe.
• Cons: Can block sewers during thawing and are often mixed with salt for easier spreading.

These agents are primarily used in high-altitude or extreme cold areas.

De-Icing Agents

The most widely used de-icing agent is sodium chloride (NaCl), thanks to:

• Availability
• Affordable price
• Efficiency
• Safety of use
• Low environmental impact

Types of Sodium Chloride

Vacuum Salt (Fine Road Salt):

• Extracted from underground brine via vacuum evaporation.
• High energy consumption makes it less eco-friendly.
• Fine grains can drift when spread, wasting product and polluting the surroundings.

Rock Salt:

• Quarried from underground deposits similarly to coal mining.
• Coarser grains make it more stable on roads compared to fine salt.

Sea Salt:

• Naturally evaporated from shallow salt ponds or lakes.
• Large, slightly moist grains stick to ice immediately, offering a longer-lasting effect.
• Production is entirely eco-friendly and sustainable, as almost all sea salt eventually returns to the ocean through waterways.
• Less drifting and immediate adhesion make sea salt highly effective on frozen surfaces.

Alternative De-Icing Agents

Other chemicals can also be used: calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium magnesium acetate, sodium formate, ethylene glycol, and urea.

• Advantages: Useful at lower temperatures where NaCl is less effective.
• Disadvantages:
• Highly corrosive, requiring careful handling.
• Hygroscopic, making storage challenging.
• More expensive than sodium chloride.
• Greater environmental impact, so typically used only in special areas where corrosion must be avoided.