Properly handling your deicer stockpile will not only save money and reduce waste, but it can also help your products perform at their best. How you store, formulate, and mix deicers affects how well they work both in your equipment and on the road surface.
Deicer Storage Tips
First, it is important to stay informed about any product you are using or storing. Make sure you follow the guidelines on each safety data sheet (SDS) or material safety data sheet (MSDS).
Storing Liquids Deicers and Anti-icers
Liquid deicers can breakdown under certain temperatures and will have stricter storage requirements than solid ice melt products. To protect the performance of anti-icers and liquid brines:
- Carefully note the recommended temperature ranges for all products you are storing.
- Keep liquids in a location where they will experience as little temperature variation as possible.
- Provide sun/UV protection for liquid products stored in IBC totes (opaque or transparent).
Storing Solid Deicers
Solid deicers are generally more stable in storage than liquids. While it is not always possible to keep stockpiles in enclosed places, keeping them protected from the elements will help preserve performance.
- Remember, salts (both acetates and chlorides) are naturally hygroscopic and draw in moisture from the surrounding air. Salt based deicers may develop an exterior crust. These clumps should be broken apart before you fill the spreaders in order for product to be applied properly.
- Use a “first in…first out” approach and store older products in a location where they can be used before new products.
- Some solid deicers contain dyes and other liquid additives that can leach out during storage. These products will likely have decreased performance if they are stored for too long.
Storing Agricultural Byproduct Deicers
Some deicers contain agricultural byproducts that contain carbohydrates (from beets, corn, etc.) and are more sensitive than inorganic solids like salt.
- Protect these products from spoilage, pests, and mold growth to help performance.
- Deicers containing biological ingredients will have a shorter shelf life and performance will decrease after long-term storage.
Moisture Management
Moisture can reduce the shelf life of some deicing products. If your shed does not have access to interior storage, take precautions for products stored outside.
- Keeping product dry will make sure you save the brining reaction for the roadway where it is needed most. (for exceptions, see pre-wetting deicer section below)
- For open sided sheds, divert runoff away from piled products to prevent seepage.
- Properly cover and seal moisture sensitive products with a waterproof covering.
- Repackage, reseal, or cover packages that have been torn or damaged.
Formulation/Mixing
Some teams formulate, treat, or mix their deicing products on site or directly in the spreader with specialized equipment. Let’s look closer at how these actions can affect performance.
Mixing Deicer with Aggregates
One practice mixes solid deicing products with abrasive aggregates like sand, gravel, or cinders. Here are some performance considerations to know when deciding to add solid abrasives:
- Solid aggregates can increase traction but reduce performance and melting power because you are diluting the chemical reaction of brining.
- Adding aggregates will require about 6x as much applied product. According to the Idaho Transportation Department:
“On average, one truckload of straight salt will treat the same length of highway as six truckloads of the salt/sand mixture.”
- Aggregate/deicer mixes should only be used when temperatures are colder than your chosen deicer’s effective range. The Minnesota Department of Transportation has found that:
“Since abrasives do not melt ice, sand alone often does not provide the level of service desired. It can be used to create short term traction on top of snow or ice at any temperature range. Abrasives are the only product available that will work during very cold temperatures when the deicers are ineffective.”
Liquid Additives
Coating solid deicer granules with liquid additives (like magnesium chloride or calcium chloride) is sometimes done in an attempt to boost performance at lower temperatures. Since this does not create a homogenous mixture, these coatings can leach and run off. Leaching decreases performance of coated/treated solid deicers.
Organic Liquid Additives
Organic products like beet juice, molasses, distillers’ solubles, and corn syrup are sometimes combined with deicers. However, these additives can actually decrease deicing performance:
“Organic additives do not melt snow or ice. If a deicer is diluted with organic additives, the total ice melt capacity will be decreased simply because there will be less deicer in the mix.” (Minnesota Department of Transportation)
Pre-wetting
Pre-wetting solid deicers can increase performance, decrease bounce and scatter, use less product, and kickstart the brining reaction. Product can be treated either in the stockpile right before use, or on board the vehicle with special equipment. Pre-wet deicer must be used right away in order for this to work.
Note: not all deicing products can give you pre-wet benefits; for example, pre-wetting liquid coated granules can leach these additives off and greatly reduce their performance.
Stable Storage With Ice Slicer®
If your stockpile looks like the image on the left, try stockpiling Ice Slicer next season!
Don't waste money on products that lose performance during storage. As an all natural, mineral product, Ice Slicer doesn't degrade or lose efficiency while you are waiting for the next storm.
Ice Slicer:
- Contains no leaching chemicals
- No decreased performance after storage
- No hazardous decomposition
- No hazardous polymerization
- GHS Classifications: physical (not hazardous), health (not hazardous), environment (not hazardous)
Ice Slicer® is proud to support snowfighting teams on site and out in the field. Give us a call today so we can keep your stockpile full and solve your supply chain woes!
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