Windshield washer and deicer

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#FIG. 1 is a graph which shows a comparison of the ice-melting capacities of several deicing compositions of the present invention to alcohol:water deicing formulations: a, potassium succinate:water (50:50); b, ethanol:water (50:50); c, methanol:water (50:50); d, potassium succinate:ethanol:water (10:40:50); and, e, potassium succinate:methanol:water (10:40:50).

#FIG. 2 is a graph which shows a comparison of the ice-melting capacities of several deicing compositions of the present invention to alcohol:water deicing formulations and to RainX®, a commercially available premium windshield deicer/washer containing 35 wt % methanol in water: a, ethanol:water (35:65); b, methanol:water (35:65); c, potassium succinate:ethanol:water (17.5:17.5:65); d, potassium succinate:methanol:water (17.5:17.5:65); and, e, RainX®.

#FIG. 3 is a graph which shows a comparison of the ice-melting capacities of several formulations of the deicing compositions of the present invention: a, potassium succinate:methanol:water (5:65:30); b, potassium succinate:methanol:water (10:60:30); c, potassium succinate:methanol:water (15:55:30); and, d, potassium succinate:methanol:water (20:50:65).

#All patents, patent applications, government publications, government regulations, and literature references cited in this specification are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In case of conflict, the present description, including definitions, will control.

#Monohydric alcohols, in particular methanol, have ice-melting capacity and, therefore, have been useful in deicing applications. Recently, it was shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,480 to Berglund et al., which is assigned to common assignees, that succinate salts, in particular potassium, sodium, and ammonium succinate, have ice-melting capabilities and are less corrosive than conventional salt-based deicers. Now, it has been discovered that succinate salt solutions, particularly potassium succinate solutions, synergistically enhance the ice-melting capacity of alcohols such as ethanol and methanol when it is combined with the alcohol. As shown by the examples herein, compositions consisting of succinate salts, in particular potassium succinate, and alcohols, in particular methanol and ethanol, melt significantly more ice than any one of them alone or would be expected when in combination.

#Therefore, the present invention provides deicing compositions which are useful for a wide range of applications such as automobile windshield deicer/washer solutions and melting ice on the surfaces of aircraft, airport pavements, roadways, walkways, bridges, entrance ways, structures, canals, locks, components, vessels, nautical components, railroad switches, steps, motor vehicles, and the like. The deicing compositions of the present invention comprise in a water base at least one freezing point depressant selected from the group consisting of monohydric alcohols having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, polyhydric alcohols having 3 to 12 carbon atoms, monomethyl or monoethyl ethers of polyhydric alcohols having 3 to 12 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof and at least one hydrophilic organic acid salt, preferably a succinate salt, more preferably a succinate salt selected from the group consisting of potassium succinate (trihydrate), ammonium succinate (anhydrous), sodium succinate (hexahydrate), and combinations thereof. The compositions of the present invention are effective at temperatures well below freezing and melt significantly more ice than any of the constituents of the composition alone, particularly, the compositions comprising potassium succinate and methanol or ethanol. As shown herein, the compositions of the present invention are able to penetrate ice at temperatures to at least −10° C.