Ice pressure and icing volume expansion rate of acetate-based deicers under freezing conditions

Acetate-based deicers are frequently used as airport pavement de-icing fluids in cold regions. In this study, the ice pressure ( I p ), icing volume expansion rate ( Δ V P ), freezing point ( T 0 ), and undercooling degree of acetate-based deicers were investigated. The above mentioned indices were also compared with that of water and NaCl deicers. The results showed that the cooling process and ice crystal growing process of acetate-based deicers could be divided into five stages. Additionally, the stabilised values of I p and Δ V P decreased with the deicer concentration increases. Furthermore, the impulse concept of ice pressure ( IPI ) was proposed to evaluate the frost damage of concrete caused by deicers. The I p , Δ V P , and T 0 values of calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) deicer with different Ca/Mg mole ratios (i.e. 1/1, 0.91, 7/3, and 3/7) were tested in the ice pressure test. The value of CMA deicer with 3/7 Ca/Mg mole ratio was the lowest. However, the I p values of CMA deicers with 0.91 Ca/Mg and 1/1 Ca/Mg mole ratios were the highest. Among all the tested acetate-based deicers, CMA deicers had the lowest values of I p , Δ V P , and IPI . Moreover, the CMA deicer with 3Ca/7Mg mole ratio was recommended for deicing airport pavements to reduce the concrete frost deterioration caused by acetate-based deicers. In this study, we investigated the physical properties of acetate-based deicers, quantitatively analysed the destructive power of deicers in a freeze–thaw test, and studied the cause of freeze–thaw deterioration of concrete. Overall, this study provides a theoretical method for exploring new deicers.