Environmental and corrosion effects of different road salts

含氯化物的道路盐在加拿大冬季被广泛使用。然而，水道中高浓度的氯化物会耗尽水中的氧气，破坏生态系统，并通过从土壤中冲洗而增加重金属的存在。此外，大约50%的车辆腐蚀可归因于这些道路盐的使用，它们也对运输设施造成了严重的腐蚀损害。有替代的道路盐具有相当或更好的除冰性能，然而，加拿大没有对其腐蚀和环境影响的全面研究。此次合作的主要目标是全面比较和详细了解不同的道路盐，包括两种新的专用盐，包括其腐蚀性、环境影响和融冰性能。这是通过现场测试实现的，包括机动和轻型运输群体（如行人、骑自行车的人、轮椅）的性能，以及对不同道路盐对相关建筑材料的腐蚀机制的基本了解，以及这些盐与邻近环境相互作用时的行为和影响。这项研究将为工业界提供1)关于加拿大现有除冰器的性能和不利影响的深入、多学科的最新技术总结；2)关于公共空间公平获取和道路盐重要性的见解；3)公众和科学界了解无毒道路盐替代品的潜在好处，鼓励在加拿大各地进一步部署它们。在经济、环境和交通安全方面，这种伙伴关系的影响将是直接和长期的。

Chloride-containing road salts are widely used in Canada during the winter time. However, high chloride concentrations in waterways can destroy the ecosystem by depleting oxygen in the water and elevate the presence of heavy metals via flushing from soils. Also, about 50% of all vehicle corrosion can be attributed to the use of these road salts, which are also causing significant corrosion damage to the transport facilities. There are alternative road salts with comparable or better de-icing performance, however, there is no holistic Canadian study on their corrosion and environmental impact. The main goal of this partnership is to provide a holistic comparison and detailed understanding of different road salts, including two new proprietary salts, in terms of their corrosivity, environmental impact, and ice melting performance. This is achieved by field tests including performance for motorized and for light transportation groups (such as pedestrians, bicyclists, wheelchairs) along with a fundamental understanding of corrosion mechanisms of different road salts on relevant construction materials and the behaviour and impacts of these salts as they interact with the adjacent environment. This research will provide 1) industry with an in-depth, multidisciplinary state-of-the art summary on the performance and adverse impacts of existing de-icers in Canada, 2) insights on equitable access to public space and the importance of road salts, and 3) the general public and scientific community with potential benefits of non-toxic road salt alternatives, encouraging greater steps to-wards their deployment across Canada. The impacts of this partnership will be direct and long-term, in terms of economic, environmental, and traffic safety.