Corrosive Effects of Alternative De-icing chemicals on Automobiles
Corrosive Effects of Alternative De-icing chemicals on Automobiles
(OP)
Is anyone aware of any automotive corrosion concerns associated with the use of Magnesium Chloride or Potassium Chloride as road de-icing agents?





RE: Corrosive Effects of Alternative De-icing chemicals on Automobiles
However, this is a complex subject because the physical properties - solubility, hydroscopic behaviour, etc. are also important in defining how harmful deicing salts are because they affect the time of wetness arising from wet salt depostits on the car. Most of the harm from road salt comes in the warmer months when residual deposits of salt stay conductive and corrosive because of the moisture they absorb and hold on the surface.
Much work has been done on automotive corrosion by salts(see R. Baboian's work, amongst others).
RE: Corrosive Effects of Alternative De-icing chemicals on Automobiles
Food for thought... the "body structure" in NOT the only section that has potential for being affected by de-icing agents.
Aircraft are particullarly vulnerable to deicing materials in/on the following:
a. electrical connectors [not fully sealed].
b. exposed sections of landing gear shock-struts and brake assemblies.
c. engine inlet and engine parts/sensors [high volume air intakes pull gobs of air/contaminates thru the engine and accessories].
d. mating parts with unsealed areas that trap fluids and dust particles [abrasion].
e. moisture/fluid puddling due to indaequate drainage... or blocked drains...etc.
f. fluid/air vents that trap/ingest fluids in reverse[drain-pipes, oil vent lines, etc] due to high pressure spray or rapid changes in air pressure [forced and cappillary].
g. contamination of sealed bearings/parts due to high pressure tire-spray fluid/particle spray intrusion [wheel, door, linkages, etc].
h. and tire traction can be significantly altered.
Regards, Wil Taylor