Citation

Wood FO. Transp. Res. Rec. 1980; 762: 32-36.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1980, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The benefits and costs of road deicing and its resultant effects on motor vehicles are discussed. A dollar figure cannot be put on benefits such as lives saved in quicker response time to medical and fire emergencies and lives saved by reduced traffic accidents. Even without these factors, the benefit/cost ratio justifies the use of deicing salts. A carefully designed and executed test reported by the American Public Works Association appears to indicate that it is not possible to inhibit salt. Chemicals other than salt and nonchemical methods that have been considered for ice control are briefly described. Other methods, in addition to alternate deicing compounds, include Verglimit, hydrophobic substances, electrically heated pavements earth-heated pavements and geothermal heating, urethane foam and styrofoam insulation under bridge decks, air-jet plows, high-velocity sprays of deicing chemicals, infrared heating lamps, and underbody-bladed trucks. Salt, however, continues to be the least expensive deicer. Current techniques of corrosion protection in automobile manufacture are described.