Product Data

GEOMELT® 55 Anti-Icing/Deicing Fluid

DESCRIPTION

GEOMELT® 55 anti-icing fluid is a natural, agricultural product that features ice control performance equal or superior to traditional brines, but less corrosive. GEOMELT® 55 anti-icing fluid is derived from renewable resources providing an attractive choice where environmental concerns are important. GEOMELT® 55 anti-icing fluid passes the strict specifications of the Pacific Northwest Snowfighters.


TYPICAL PROPERTIES
  Appearance: Brown
  Specific Gravity: 1.26
    10.5 pounds per gallon (1.26 kg per liter)
  pH: 8.5
  Water Miscibility: Complete

APPLICATIONS

GEOMELT® 55 anti-icing fluid is highly effective for anti-icing, prewetting, salt/sand stockpile treatment, and bulk material freezeproofing. The suggested usage levels should be considered as starting points and should be adjusted as needed based on operator experience and to meet local conditions such as current and expected road and air temperatures, precipitation, traffic volume, etc.

Anti-icing

  • Apply to 20 to 30 gallons per lane mile. (47 to 71 liters per kilometer).
  • Stream apply. Do not fan spray or mist.
  • Begin application when the pavement temperature is expected to drop to 32°F or below, ideally as precipitation is beginning.

Benefits:

  • Prevents ice and snow from sticking to the pavement, making removal easier.
  • Lowers maintenance costs be reducing applications/quantities needed.
  • No dust-causing abrasives needed.

Prewetting

  • Apply at 5 to 10 gallons per ton (21 to 42 liters per metric ton) at the spinner or directly to the salt/sand during loading.

Benefits:

  • Enhances the deicing performance of dry salt/sand.
  • Starts the deicing process immediately.
  • Reduces bounce and scatter losses during application from 30% loss down to only 4% loss. Prewetted salt/sand stays on the road.
  • Less salt/sand is needed for the same effectiveness.
GEOMELT® anti-icing/deicing fluids are produces under U.S. Patent #6,080,330. Additional patents are pending.

Salt/Sand Stockpile Treatment
  • Apply at 6 to 8 gallons per ton of salt (25 to 33 liters per metric ton) or 5 to 6 gallons per ton of sand (21 to 25 liters per metric ton). Mix well.

Benefits:

  • Keeps the stockpile free flowing. Prevents freezing or chunking.
  • Reduces the corrosive properties of treated materials.
  • Enhances the deicing performance of dry salt/sand.
  • Reduces bounce and scatter losses during application from 30% loss down to only 4% loss. Prewetted salt/sand stays on the road.
  • Less salt/sand is needed for the same effectiveness.
    •

Bulk Material Freezeproofing

  • Apply 2 to 4 pints per ton (1 to 2 liters per metric ton) by overhead spray to aggregates, coal, glass, or bulk materials for shipment.

Benefits:

  • Safe to use with many materials.
  • Keeps materials free flowing.
  • Prevents freezing or chunking during transfers and shipment.
  • Reduces the corrosive properties of treated materials.

Deicing

Although developed primarily as an anti-icer, GEOMELT® 55 anti-icing fluid is also an effective deicer when mixed with salt brine. Since overall chloride concentration is lower, corrosion is reduced.
  • Blend 1 to 1 with salt brine. Mix thoroughly.
  • Stream apply. Do not fan spray or mis.
  • Apply 20 to 30 gallons per lane mile (47 to 71 liters per kilometer) depending upon accumulation.
  • Allow to penetrate accumulation then plow as usual.

Benefits:

  • Eats through hardpack to spread along the pavement.
  • Breaks the bond between the ice and snow and the roadway.
  • Makes removal easier.
  • No dust-causing abrasives needed.


PERFORMANCE

GEOMELT® 55 anti-icing fluid is supplied ready to use and is designed as a direct replacement for salt brine in existing equipment. However, GEOMELT® 55 anti-icing fluid works at temperatures where salt brine is no longer effective. Anti-icing performance equal to salt brine can be achieved with less GEOMELT® 55 anti-icing fluid; therefore, fewer gallons are needed to achieve the same performance as salt brine. That means more lane miles per truckload with less equipment corrosion.

Freezing Point Depression

1. Effective of Dilution on Freezing Point - GEOMELT® 55 anti-icing fluid has a freezing point of –44.0° (-42.2°C), which is 38.8°F (21.5°C) lower than salt brine as shown in the following graph and table.

Freezing Point - °F (°C)

% Original strength 0% 25% 50% 75% 90% 100%
GEOMELT® D55F 32.0(0) 17.9(-7.9) 4.6 (-15.4) -13.8(-25.4) -30.0(-34.5) -44.0(-42.4)
23% NaCI Brine 32.0(0) 25.6(-3.6) 18.0(-7.8) 7.7(-13.5) 0.7(-17.4) -5.2(-20.7)

GEOMELT® 55 anti-icing fluid not only offers performance superior to salt brine, but its superior anti-icing performance remains even after subsequent precipitation dilutes the product. For example, referring to the above graph, when diluted to 72% of its original strength, GEOMELT® 55 anti-icing fluid still performs as effectively as freshly applied salt brine.

2. Phase Diagram – Refer to the attached graph for a phase diagram of GEOMELT® 55 anti-icing fluid, NaCI brine, and CaCI2 brine.


Viscosity

In addition to its superior ice-melting performance, GEOMELT® 55 anti-icing fluid is more viscous than salt brine, particularly at reduced temperatures, making it especially suited for anti-icing applications where runoff is a problem. However, GEOMELT® 55 anti-icing/deicing fluid is still fluid enough to flow readily during application. Viscosity profiles at various temperatures are shown in the following graph and table.

Viscosity(centipoise)

Temperature °F (°C) 5(-15) 15(-9.4) 25(-3.9) 75(23.9)
GEOMELT® 55        
100% Strength 41.0 33.0 29.0 9.5
90% Strength 21.0 18.0 16.0 7.1
75% Strength 11.0 11.0 9.0 3.7
23% NaCI Brine 1.7 1.5 1.5 1.2

Corrosion

Test results from an independent lab approved by the Pacific Northwest Snowfighters have shown GEOMELT® 55 anti-icing fluid to be four times less corrosive than salt brine. In face, GEOMELT® 55 anti-icing fluid when used with common anti-icing/deicing salts can help reduce equipment corrosion. GEOMELT® 55 anti-icing fluid can be an effective part of your corrosion control programs.


The information and recommendations in this publication are, to the best of the seller’s knowledge, accurate. However, because of numerous factors affecting test results, seller makes no warranty of any kind, express or implied, other than the product conforms to its applicable current standard specifications. Statements concerning the use of the products or formulations described herein are not to be construed as recommending the infringement of any patent.