Deicermedel

Deicermedel, or de-icer agent, is a chemical substance or mixture designed to melt ice or prevent ice formation on surfaces in cold weather. They are used on roads, sidewalks, runways, roofs, and aircraft to improve safety by reducing slipperiness and enabling movement.

Deicermedel serve two main purposes: de-icing, which removes existing ice and snow, and anti-icing, which forms a temporary protective layer to delay ice formation. Deicing is typically performed during or after ice accumulation, while anti-icing aims to prevent rapid icing before a warming event or use.

Common categories of deicermedel include inorganic chlorides (such as sodium chloride or rock salt, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride), organic salts (such as potassium acetate and calcium magnesium acetate CMA), and glycols (such as propylene glycol and ethylene glycol). These substances may be formulated as liquids, brines, or solid pellets, and are often used in blends or proprietary formulations. Glycol-based fluids are prevalent in aviation for rapid ice removal, whereas chloride-based salts are widely used for road and sidewalk applications.

Applications and methods vary: liquids are sprayed from specialized trucks or equipment, pre-wetted salts improve effectiveness, and solid pellets provide longer-lasting melting action. In aviation, de-icing fluids are applied to aircraft surfaces, with anti-icing fluids used as a preventive layer before takeoff.

Environmental and safety considerations include corrosion of metals and concrete, potential damage to vegetation, and aquatic toxicity from runoff. Chloride deicers increase salinity in water and can accumulate in the environment, while glycols pose toxicity to aquatic life. Regulations address storage, handling, application rates, and disposal of spent deicing fluids.