Winter maintenance strategies often include pre-wetting rock salt with liquid calcium chloride to enhance its performance, as well as anti-icing - the practice of applying ice melt prior to winter storms in order to lessen their impact. However, it’s important to note that wet, winter weather can also be addressed with dry (aka solid) calcium chloride in certain circumstances.
For instance, dry blending of rock salt with solid CaCl2 is a method especially useful for treating critical sections of roads like sharp turns, ramps, and bridges where it’s imperative to melt ice quickly to ensure safe travels.
Because solid calcium chloride attracts moisture and releases heat as it dissolves, dry blending it with salt breaks the bond between the ice and pavement much faster than salt is capable of doing alone, even in more frigid temperatures. This ability to speed up the melting process and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of rock salt not only increases safety in hazardous areas, but also reduces costs and time spent since fewer applications are necessary.
The fast-melting capabilities of dry blends make them helpful in emergency situations as well, like when thick accumulations of ice, such as burst water mains or ice dams, form and threaten safe conditions.
OxyChem Calcium Chloride’s DOWFLAKE™ Xtra 83-87% Calcium Chloride Flakes is a high-potency, dry ice melter that offers 10% more calcium chloride than other conventional flake products, allowing it to deliver greater pound-for-pound performance. Its flake form also tends to stay put, helping to reduce potential for “roll off,” which in turn reduces expenses as well as environmental impact.
Want to make DOWFLAKE™ part of your winter maintenance strategy? Smart move. Contact OxyChem Calcium Chloride today to learn more about how solid CaCl2 and dry blending can benefit your ice control plan.