What are liquid anti-icers and de-icers, and how do they work?
Anti-icers, or preventive winter road treatments, are liquid forms of salt compounds used to prevent the formation or development of bonded snow and ice for easy removal, and are used at the onset of a winter weather storm. They work by lowering the freezing point of water. De-icers, or reactive winter road treatments, are liquid forms of salt compounds used to break the bond of already existing snow and ice. They dissolve downward and penetrate until they reach the pavement. De-icers melt the ice and snow it may be easily removed by mechanical means such as plows. They are not necessarily intended to clear every bit of ice and snow on the road, though the goal is to keep roads wet. Both anti-icers and de-icers are winter road treatments that work as freezing-point depressants and are the most desirable and environmentally friendly way to treat winter weather roads.
