Correlating Lab Testing and Field Performance for Deicing and Anti‐icing Chemicals (Phase 1)

Laboratory tests are often used to evaluate deicer performance, but they have been shown to correlate poorly to actual field performance. This report provides a comprehensive review of literature related to laboratory and field testing of deicers, from deicer performance to friction. Laboratory testing has ranged from simple experiments with few parameters to more complex tests that mimic plowing, pavement type, and a range of temperatures. However, a laboratory experiment that would be expected to correlate well to deicer field performance was not found. Additionally, equipment used to measure friction in a laboratory was very different than the large‐scale, high speed devices used in the field. Finally, the state of practice regarding friction measurements in the aviation transportation sector may be de‐emphasized in light of complications posed by reliability, repeatability, time‐stability, and correlation to aircraft braking performance. After reviewing the literature and interviewing 13 experts with extensive experience testing deicers and measuring friction, the following recommendations were made. Melting rate should be measured. The parameters that should be included in the laboratory test are: air temperature, pavement temperature, relative humidity, pavement type, and uniform snow/ice. Traffic and a plowing mechanism should also be included. Finally, two or three ways to measure friction should be tried in the early stages to ensure reliable measurements for a variety of conditions.