Method for deicing highways using starch-containing compositions and starch-containing compositions especially designed for deicing highways

Abstract

The invention hereof is a new highway deicing additive and a method for deicing asphalt highways. It has been discovered that a small amount of starch added to the salt/water sprayed on highways provides the unexpected property of retaining salt particles in the top portion of the "voids" in the asphalt roads for a period of 2 to 4 hours. The starch can be incorporated into water by mixing; biocides can be added if the starch/water mixture is to be stored more than 2 days. Salt is added to the water/starch mixture prior to deposition on the road. The new treatment works by increasing the viscosity of the aqueous fluid sprayed on the highway to form a water gel structure on the road providing a "platform" for the salt particles in the top portion of the asphalt. The new additive also reduces the need and cost of "follow-up" salt treatments. The additive and method are particularly useful for the new type of asphalt being used on highways in Europe which has a super-porous structure when laid as a road-bed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.