Calcium and Magnesium chlorides have unique properties allowing them to be excellent agents for stabilizing bases, for dust control and for de-icing pavement surfaces. The application of a 35% water-based solution of CaCl₂ or 30% water based solution of MgCl₂ on unpaved roads ties down and controls dust. The hygroscopic chemicals bond fines to aggregates and absorb moisture from air and road surfaces. The moisture prevents unpaved surfaces from becoming dry and dusty. With the fines intact, the bonded gravel stabilizes the road crust into a dense, compacted surface. Improved stabilization increases load bearing capacity, firmness and resistance to potholing and other forms of deterioration. Further, they depress the freezing temperature, resulting in less damage from surface freeze-thaw cycling. They make excellent anti- and de-icers when sprayed on pavement before, during and after winter storms. CaCl₂ is the most effective at lowering the freezing temperature. A SHRP study showed that they (as well as salt) were most effective when applied before ice forms. The chlorides are environmentally-safe, with only minimal migration of the very low applications into soil that don抰 adversely affect plant or animal life.

Benefits of Calcium and Magnesium Chloride
 

• Improved road safety and visibility
• Reduced particulates in the air and their adverse health effects
• Slowed erosion of aggregates
• Resist potholing, dusty and muddy conditions
• Reduced added stone and grading costs on unpaved roads
• Stabilized and strengthened bases when mixed with the existing materials in full depth reclamation processes
• CaCl₂ and MgCl₂ both depress the freezing temperature of water many times more than salt, and our corrosion-inhibited products are less corrosive for anti- and de-icing (CaCl₂ is more effective than MgCl₂, lowering the freezing point of water by 60篎)
• No sediment problems in tanks, and easy equipment clean-up

Uses of Calcium and Magnesium Chloride
The 30% to 35% solids water-based solutions may be incorporated into reclaimed materials during full depth reclamation, they may be sprayed by a distributor onto graded, unpaved gravel roads for dust control, and they may be sprayed on pavements before, during and after winter storms to melt ice. These chemicals should not be applied for dust control or stabilization in the rain, which may wash them away in run-off water. Best results will be obtained when they are applied at the designed rate by a well-calibrated distributor, or our truck-mounted saddlebag system for de-icing. We supply the corrosion-inhibited solutions to suit your needs. Contact us for more information.