Funding/Research Supports
STAR鈥檚 TECH
Project Status
Active
Project Overview
Research highlights winter road maintenance as a critical challenge in Canada, where large quantities of conventional road salts are used annually to maintain safe mobility during snow and ice events. While effective for de-icing, traditional salts contribute significantly to environmental degradation, infrastructure corrosion, and increased maintenance costs. Existing alternative de-icing products often present their own environmental and performance limitations, creating the need for more sustainable and effective winter maintenance solutions.
To address these challenges, this research program focuses on evaluating environmentally friendly de-icing and anti-icing materials, including ECO-ST products, for Canadian winter road applications. The study investigates snow and ice melting performance, pavement friction, corrosivity, water quality impacts, and overall field effectiveness compared to conventional road salt and other alternatives. Both laboratory and multi-season field testing are employed to assess performance under realistic winter weather and pavement conditions.
The goal is to develop sustainable winter road maintenance strategies that improve roadway safety while reducing environmental impacts and infrastructure deterioration. The project will produce practical guidelines, decision-support tools, and application strategies for optimized use of alternative de-icing materials, supporting safer, greener, and more cost-effective winter maintenance operations across Canada.