Transportation agencies are increasingly relying on the use of chemical deicers for winter roadway safety and mobility. However, excessive use of such deicers (mainly chloride-based salts) poses potential risks to the natural environment, transportation infrastructure, and motor vehicles. Previous research has indicated that a road paved with mixtures containing chloride-based deicing additives (Cl-DIA) exhibited a higher level of self-ice-melting capability than those paved with conventional asphalt mixtures. However, not only are there concerns regarding long-term effectiveness, but released chlorides can still pollute the surrounding environment and corrode the steel structures of vehicles and bridges. Therefore, there is a need to develop a more sustainable deicing additive for asphalt mixtures. The primary objectives of this project are to characterize the new formate intercalated Zn-Al-Layered double hydroxide (ZnAl-FA-LDH) additive and to evaluate its snow melting and ice de-bonding performance and its effects on the temperature performance and moisture susceptibility of the asphalt mixture.
Principal Investigators:
Xianming Shi, Civil and Environmental Engineering, WSU
Zhengxian Yang, Civil and Environmental Engineering, WSU
Sponsor: Center for Environmentally Sustainable Transportation in Cold Climates
Scheduled completion: July 2018