Effectiveness of of sodium chloride-based anti-icing filler in asphalt mixtures

The research deals with the laboratory evaluation of the effectiveness and durability of a sodium chloride-based anti-icing filler in asphaltic materials. Asphalt mastics and mixtures were prepared and tested to evaluate their de-icing and anti-icing characteristics and compared with samples containing a conventional calcareous filler. De-icing potential was measured using the ice melting capacity tests on asphalt mastics and an acceleration of the ice melting process was recorded in presence of the anti-icing filler. Similar results were determined with controlled thermal and moisture conditioning of the samples. In this case, the observed effect of the anti-icing filler was a delay of frost formation and evolution. Asphalt mixtures were also subjected to skid resistance measurements, freezing point determinations and cycles of washing and mechanical abrasion to simulate traffic and climate effects. Finally, the kinetic of sodium chloride release in water was analyzed in order to attain a preliminary evaluation of the durability of the anti-icing effects. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.